By Amaechi Agbo

Nasarawa United’s stuttering start to the 2026/27 Euromatch Nigeria Premier Football League season continued today, Sunday, at the Lafia City Stadium, as they failed to bounce back from Thursday’s 2-1 away defeat to Rangers in Owerri, settling for a hard-fought 1-1 draw at home against Rivers United.

In the pulsating and tactical encounter, the Solid Miners dominated possession for large spells but lacked cutting edge in the final third, a theme that has haunted them in recent weeks, with Jofrank Istifanus, Sunday Aluku, and Umar Mohammed, missing target.

The game burst into life in the 68th minute when disaster struck for the hosts. Under pressure from a dangerous defence-splitting through pass from the visitors, Nasarawa United’s central defender, Harrison Ebah, in an attempt to clear, inadvertently diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper, Olughu Chinemerem, for an own goal to hand Rivers United a shock lead.

Roared on by the Lafia faithful, Coach Mangut Mbwas, rang the changes, introducing substitutes, Habibu Alakija who came in for the injured Mohammed Umar, Oche Bawa, Ugochukwu Leonard, and Musa Yakubu in for the injured Alao Danbani, to inject urgency into the attack. The tactical switch paid immediate dividend.

In the 83rd minute, the lively Alakija was brought down inside the box after a clever turn. The centre referee, without hesitation, pointed to the spot. Substitute, Musa Yakubu, stepped up with ice-cold composure, perfectly dispatching the penalty to restore parity and rescue a point for the Solid Miners.

The 1-1 scoreline held until full-time, leaving Nasarawa United with just four points from four games, and placed 13th position, a return that will concern the Technical Crew as they prepare for a tricky mid-week North Central Zonal derby against Kwara United away in Ilorin, by 4pm, as Rivers United dropped to 4th position with seven points.

Speaking after the game, Nasarawa United Technical Adviser, Mangut Mbwas, rued missed opportunities, and insisted his side were denied two clear penalties earlier in the encounter.

“Well, it was a well-balanced game, both sides expressed themselves. It was a kind of defensive error, we conceded the goal and we were able to come back. I’m not happy because of the scoreline, but I’ve seen a lot of improvements in my team.

“We kept on pressing until that error came, and after that error, we continued pressing.

“As far as I’m concerned, there were three penalties in our favour in this match. One in the first-half – they pulled my player from the shoulder when he was clear on goal, and the other one, the player was fouled from behind in the box.

“However, till the last minute of the game, we were still pressing, but we were very, very unlucky not to get the three points, even though it was not what we bargained for – four points from four games is poor”, Mangut stated.

On his part, Coach Finidi George of Rivers United, nonetheless, praised his players for their discipline, resilience, and tactical organization against a tough opposition like Nasarawa United, particularly making references to previous outcomes between the two sides.