In a recent NPFL showdown at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Niger Tornadoes faced off against the reigning champions, Enyimba, but failed to leave a mark.
The match, which ended in a goalless draw, left the head coach of Niger Tornadoes, Hamza Abara, expressing his disappointment at his team’s performance.
For the first time this season, Niger Tornadoes allowed two points sleep away from their hands in front of their home fans.
The outcome was attributed to missed scoring opportunities, particularly in the first half of the encounter.
Enyimba’s goalkeeper also played a pivotal role in preserving the stalemate by making crucial saves that denied Ikon Allah Boys from capitalizing on scoring opportunities.
While addressing the press shortly after the game, Coach Hamza candidly acknowledged that it was a bad day at the office for his team.
He had meticulously planned for the game, but regrettably, their plans did not materialize. He expressed his anticipation of a more hotly contested game.
The coach went on to reveal two primary reasons for his team’s struggle, particularly in the early minutes of the match.
The coach pointed out that the presence of numerous young players in his squad, who are still adapting to the team’s style of play, hindered the execution of his plans against Enyimba.
The second factor he cited was fatigue, as his team had endured a grueling journey, departing from Lagos at 4 am and arriving in Kaduna at 10:30 pm the day before the match.
Nevertheless, Coach Abara commended his team for their relentless effort and emphasized the positives from the match.
His squad managed to avoid conceding a goal and did not suffer a defeat, which he considered an achievement despite the challenging circumstances.
“I’ll give kudos to them for a job well done; at least we didn’t concede a goal, neither did we lose,” Abara said.
Moving forward now, Niger Tornadoes are determined to bounce back to winning ways as they prepare to face Shooting Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Sunday.
Coach Hamza and his boys remain optimistic about their prospects in the upcoming fixture.
