The Solid Miners, as Nasarawa United FC are nicknamed, in a hard-fought display of resilience and tactical poise, maintained their commanding position at the summit of the ongoing 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League table with a hard-earned goalless draw against their North Central Zonal rivals, Plateau United, in a pulsating match-day seventeen encounter held at the New Jos International Stadium, Plateau State, on Sunday evening.
Both sides went into the clash desperate to scoop all available points, with Nasarawa United needing their first away win against the Peace Boys in Jos, while the hosts wanted to overturn last Thursday’s abysmal result against visiting Rivers United who ran away with all three points.
Coach Mangut Mbwas, motivated by the presence of the Nasarawa State Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, alongside the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan, as well as other large delegation members from the State, returned to the venue that he last coached before joining Nasarawa United in the beginning of this campaign, guiding his side to temper their opponents’ fervour with astute defending and moments of offensive flair, approaches that helped his side share the spoils in a contest that kept supporters on the edge of their seats, their first point ever on the road against Plateau United in a league game decided in Jos.
Sunday’s result ensured that the Solid Miners remain atop of the league table with 31 points, one more point ahead of 2nd-placed Rivers United who have a game at hand, compounding Plateau United’s misery as they only moved one place above the drop zone via goal difference.
Up next for Nasarawa United is a weekend home game against newly promoted Barau FC of Kano, at the Lafia City Stadium.
POST-MATCH REACTION:
MANGUT MBWAS(T/A – NAS): “In every game, we plan to get the maximum points, regardless of the venue.
“We knew very well that after losing to Rivers United in their last home game, Plateau United would throw everything at us to return to winning ways, moreso that we hadn’t gotten points against them here before.
“We came with a game plan that I would say paid off to a large extent, even though they also had their playing time.
“Unfortunately, a share of the spoils was all we could each part ways with, which isn’t also bad.
“Plateau United aren’t a bad side. They are simply passing through transition which could happen to any team, but I know they will come out of their murky waters sooner than later.
“Our plan is to put our team in a very good position, but also, if opportunity presents itself, we could as well challenge for the title, no harm in doing so.
“But for now, the target is one game at a time.”
CAUTION(YELLOW CARD):
Ekeson Okorie(NAS)55′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Chinemerem Olughu, Abubakar Abdullahi, Mubarak Hussaini, Moyi Hassan(Nnoli Samuel 65′), Anas Yusuf(Akanni Lawal 80′), Garba Mohammed(Jofrank Istifanus 69′), Ekeson Okorie, Umar Ada(Collins Onovughe 65′), Utake Emmanuel, John Victor, John Joshua(Ugochukwu Leonard 80′).
UNUSED SUBS: Darlintin Ovunda, Ikemdinachi Prince, Gozie Umeh, Salomon Chigoziem.
CREDIT: Eche Amos(Fellow, CBS), Director of Media, Nasarawa United FC.