Kwara United experienced frustration on Saturday as nine-man Katsina United held the Harmony Boys to a 1-1 draw at the Kwara State Stadium Complex in Ilorin.
Despite dominating the first half and securing a lead through Issa Gata just before halftime, Kwara United faced disappointment when Michael Ibe-Okoro’s late corner kick goal leveled the score, piercing the hearts of the home fans.
Despite Katsina United being reduced to nine men following the red cards shown to Sunday Akinmoladun and Mathew Okoko in the 80th and 90th minutes respectively, they managed to withstand the home side’s onslaught in the second half.
Led by former Technical Adviser of Kwara United, Bala Muhammed, Katsina United capitalized on Kwara’s numerical advantage and secured a valuable point. Speaking after the game, Bala acknowledged Kwara State as his second home and expressed confidence in his team’s ability to perform.
While disappointed with the red cards shown to his players, Bala remained positive about their chances in future games and aimed for a top-ten finish in the league.
Despite recruiting ten new players during the mid-season transfer, Kwara United’s draw marks their tenth in the current NPFL season, inviting criticism from fans and pundits alike.
Chief Coach of Kwara United, Tunde Sanni, expressed surprise at the equalizing goal and remained optimistic about their upcoming match against Abia Warriors.
With 25 points from 21 games, Kwara United currently sits 13th on the log, while Katsina United occupies the 9th position with 31 points from the same number of games
