The Solid Miners recovered from their last double tragedy to reclaim the first position on the table of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League campaign after coming from a goal down to beat the league’s defending champions, Remo Stars 2-1, in a rescheduled match-day ten tie, decided at the Lafia City Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
The visitors, wounded and evicted from the CAF Champions League competition, opened scoring in the 5th minute through Michael Ibeh, following a defensive error.
The home side responded with a classy equalizer through John Joshua after a beautiful build-up in the 31st minute.
Both sides went back to the locker room with the scoreline tied at 1-1.
After effecting some tactical changes, Nasarawa United went ahead via player-of-the-match, Jofrank Istifanus, who tapped the ball into the net following a goal area scramble in the 72nd minute, situation that threw the Lafia City Stadium into raptures.
The Solid Miners, motivated by the presence of the Deputy Governor of Nasarawa State, Dr. Emmanuel Agbadu Akabe, alongside the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu, State Legislator and Chief Whip, Hon. Larry Ven Bawa, and other high-profile personalities of the Nasarawa State Government, jealousy defended the 2-1 scoreline till regulation time, earning the maximum points and returning to the summit of the league table, with twenty-two points from eleven games, one more point ahead of second-placed Abia Warriors.
Nasarawa United will host visiting Kwara United on match-day twelve fixture on Sunday, 9th November, 2025, at the Lafia City Stadium at 4pm.
POST-MATCH REACTIONS:
COACH MANGUT MBWAS (NAS): “It’s been a very difficult period for us, especially the last three weeks, but we are glad to return to winning ways again.
“We lost two straight matches on the road, which was difficult to swallow.
“We believe that we will improve more in our next game against Kwara United, this weekend, even though we know that the league is getting tougher.
“Our game against Kwara is a different ball game in its entirety.
“We will approach the game with a different mindset because the next opponents are also a good side.
“We want to remain in contention in the league this season, which is why we are not taking any game lightly.
“The presence of the State’s Deputy Governor in today’s game was a huge motivation for us, and we are glad we made his presence worth the visit.
“We also thank the Honourable Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Kwanta Yakubu, and other government functionaries, who came to cheer us to victory today, not forgetting our wonderful supporters and fans.
“We will continue to give our best to get the desired results.”
FIRST ASST. COACH SULAIMAN FOLARIN(REM): “It’s a difficult day for us here today, but it wasn’t a bad game altogether, because both sides did their best, however, mother luck fell on Nasarawa United and they grabbed the three points.
“We lost many goalscoring chances in today’s game, but we will return to our base to correct those grey areas.
“Our target remains to defend the league title.”
JOFRANK ISTIFANUS(Winning Goalscorer/NAS): “It feels really wonderful to score my first goal in Nasarawa United’s colours and in the league because this is my debut season in the elite league.
“I have been fighting for this chance, thank God I got it today, through the help of my teammates and coaches.
“The push from the first-half onto the second half was superb, which made me put in extra effort, and I got it.
“With today’s goal, the door for more goals has been opened for me, God willing.”
CAUTION(YELLOW CARD):
Adebiyi Obassa (REM)3′
Faisal Sani(REM)26′
Ebuka Anthony(REM)72′
NASARAWA UNITED LINE-UP: Chinemerem Olughu, Abubakar Abdullahi, Mubarak Hussaini, Chidera Nduka, Utake Emmanuel, Victor John, Anas Yusuf(Garba Mohammed 59′), John Joshua(Collins Onovughe 71′), Ekeson Okorie( Abubakar Aliyu 59′), Jofrank Istifanus, Umar Ada(Ugochukwu Leonard 59′).
UNUSED SUBS: Darlintin Ovunda, Benson Abbey, Moses Tsehuan, Salomon Chigoziem, Akanni Lawal.
*Eche Amos (Fellow, CBS)*,
Director of Media,
Nasarawa United FC.
06/11/2025
