Nasarawa United Pip City FC To Pick Unity Pre-season Semifinal Ticket

The Solid Miners booked their place in the Semi-finals of the ongoing Unity Pre-Season Tournament taking place in Abuja.

Central defender, Emeka Onyema, was the unlikely scorer who made the difference against Nigeria National League side, City FC of Abuja, after he lifted highest to nod home a Nentaka Bangs' corner kick in the 59th minute of the tension-soaked encounter on Wednesday afternoon at the Area 3 Artificial turf.

Former Niger Tornadoes shot-stopper, Yinka David, had to be at his best to earn United the deserved victory after severally denying the opponents from drawing level.

Obasi Dennis, Anas Yusuf, Abubakar Abdullahi and Ayuba Francis each made attempts on goal to increase United's scoreline but were unlucky.

The Solid Miners will know their Semi-finals' opponents on Thursday (tomorrow) when SETRACO FC face Manahaim FC in the other Quarter-finals clash slated for the Area 3 football field.

All Semi-finals matches are billed for Friday, 28th October, 2022, at the Area 3 Football field, with the final scheduled for Saturday, October 29th, 2022, at the same venue.

Nasarawa United Head Coach Abubakar Arikya, while reacting after the victory said, "Thumbs up to both teams, even though our opponents played better.

"This is a preseason game, and our opponents today are a blended team, they have been together for a very long time. 

"We are still trying to blend our new players to adapt to our pattern of play and system, and this will take some couple of time to get it right.

"However, we will keep improving game-in, game-out until we get a well fortified team for the new football league season."

Coach Dayo Davies, City FC head coach was full of praises for his players despite losing to the NPFL side, "That's football for you. One team must win at a stage like this.

"Though we played better, but we lost.

"We had chances we couldn't convert, but it's a building process which is good for us as a Club.

"It's good for us playing against Nasarawa United, an NPFL side.

"To be frank, my boys proved what they can do, going forward, and I am hopeful we can do better in our future games."