UNIMAID beat FUTMinnna 1-0 as UNN walk tight rope

University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) Desert Warriors continued their steady march to the Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL) final with a hardfought 1-0 defeat of Federal University of Minna (FUTMinna) Transformers in the first leg of their semifinal encounter in Maiduguri.  

The Coach Dauda Daniel-led Desert Warriors met stiff opposition from the Transformers, led by Coach Usman Bosso, before Stanbic Man-of-the-Match, Bukar David, scored the only goal of the match in the 78th minute.

Recall that Coach Dauda Daniel led Desert Warriors ousted the 2018 champions, UAM Tillers, 3-1 in the last round.

In the second semifinal played at the University of Nigeria (UNN) Sports Complex in Nsukka, UNN Lions were held to a 1-1 draw by AAUA Luminaries from the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba.  

The Luminaries, led by Coach Joseph Abuo, scored the first goal in the 11th minute through Ayomide Akinlosotu, before Chinegwu Obinna equalised for the Lions in the 22nd minute.

The Coach Ike Chijioke-led Lions were restricted to long range shots as the Akungba boys showed their resilience in defence and held to their away goal advantage going into the second leg. 

In his reaction, Stanbic Man-of-the-Match, Destiny Onukafor of the Lions maintained that his team may be down but not out, promising that the Lions will re-strategise as they seek to get the desired return in the return leg in Akungba.

Excited at the level of competition and sportsmanship in the league, Beiersdorf’s Managing Director, Nigeria, Godwin Harrison said, “Nivea Men is thrilled to come on board as HiFL’s Official Men’s Grooming Partner in 2021.”

The partnership will enable us to support the nurturing of football talents among Nigerian youth while connecting with our young future consumers through a sport the whole country is passionate about.”  

Also, the Brand Manager, Minimie, Monica Jaiswal, said, “this is an opportunity for us at Minimie to appreciate what HiFL is doing by allowing our youths to express themselves. We see it as a great idea that needed to be supported to grow, hence our involvement in HiFL.”  

The second leg of the semifinals will hold today in Minna, where FUTMinna will attempt to return their 0-1 decifit against UNIMAID Warriors and Akungba, which is venue for the decisive tie between AAUA Luminaries and UNN Lions.