Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna on Sunday laboured hard to record a slim 1-0 win over visiting Plateau United FC of Jos.
The 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) matchday one encounter, was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin, the adopted home of Niger Tornadoes.
Niger Tornadoes started brightly with Daniel Edeh almost on the score sheet, as early as the 5th minute, from a free-kick.
Kabiru Adeniji, who played the first half of 2020/2021 season at Kwara United FC of Ilorin, capitalised on a defensive blunder, by Plateau United defenders to score the only goal of the match, in the 13th minute.
Niger Tornadoes goalkeeper, Lucky Abdul was well alerted in the 32nd minute when he quickly came off his line, to deny Mohammed Zulkifilu’s attempt at cross range.
Sunday Anthony headed wide Andrew Ikefe’s cross, in the 42nd minute, in one of the fewest chances the visitors created in the game.
Niger Tornadoes began the 2nd half of the game better than the first half, and defended well, denying the visitors their few scoring chances.
Adeniji again called Abiodun Akande into action to make a great safe, in the 56th minute, stretching the goalkeeper to his far-right to stop the hosts.
Niger Tornadoes, three minutes later, put up a scintillating defensive display, to deny Plateau United after several goal attempts.
With a few seconds on the clock before the final whistle, Andrew Ikefe glided an excellent opportunity to even the scores and left his bench in anguish.
Niger Tornadoes returned to the country’s apex league, after four years in the lower division, the Nigeria National League (NNL).
Speaking on the game, the coach of Plateau United, Fidelix Ikechukwu, said his team was trying to understand what they wanted to do.
“We conceded a goal by an error from the defenders, but I think we played better.
“Not fully comfortable with the performance of the boys, we have not done the best and we have not done the worse as well” Ilechukwu said.
Speaking after the match, Niger Tornadoes manager, Bala Abubakar, expressed happiness with the result, saying the buck of the players are new.
He said playing a big team like Plateau United in the first game of the season, had shown that the team would blend perfectly together, as the season unfolds.