By Eche Amos

It is not always that you fined an Elephant in the field of play, but when Shammasu Mohammed see’s People’s Elephant in the Lafia City Stadium, he would not hesitate to gun them down, this time around, Enyimba International FC were the victims.

Nasarawa United avenged last season’s home defeat to eight-times league winners, Enyimba FC, as they recovered from an early goal to win 2-1 against the Aba Elephants in an entertaining and tension-soaked Nigeria Professional Football League matchday ten clash decided on Wednesday at the Lafia City Stadium.

The visitors started the game on a high note, opening scoring as early as in the 13th minute through Victor Mbaoma following a goal-mouth scramble.

Shortly after, United absorbed the pressure and got rewarded in the 18th minute. Debutant, Tolulope Oluwole pounced on an uncleared free-kick from Michael Tochukwu to restore parity.

Both sides pressed on to alter the scoreline before the half-time whistle, including Obioma Emeka striking the upright of the post and Chris Madaki causing ripples in the visitors’ goal area with his long range efforts, but nothing came out of the avalanche of chances created.

After receiving some pep talks from their coaches in the changing room, both sides restarted the second-half on a high pace, United, after some substitutions, posing more threat up front. Lawal Shehu was teed up by Michael Tochukwu after some beautiful football from the home side but the attacker’s effort from the final third got cleared out of the danger zone.

Few moments later, Ikenna Offor was the recipient of a delightful pass from Lawal Shehu, with the former locating Tolulope Oluwole inside the box, only that the debutant’s strike was devoid of the killer venom.

The twice Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) premier Champions League Winners regrouped, turning defence to attack. Austin Oladapo benefiting from an angle pass before releasing a thunderbolt, but like his previous efforts, the shot went haywire for a goalkick.

Former Nasarawa United player, Chigozie Obasi, also was unable to properly deploy his dead ball speciality as each of his attempts was well read by the defence of the home side.

Coach Bala Nikyu fortified his attack with a little less than a half-hour mark to regulation time, introducing Shammasu Mohammed in place of Ikenna Offor.

Hardly had the prodigy settled down than the first opportunity came his way, striking a shot from outside the box off a pass from fellow substitute, Ajibola Otegbeye but was denied by ill-luck.

Chidera Nduka continued the pressure after his defence-splitting pass almost found the well-positioned Abubakar but for the quick awareness of the visitors’ goalkeeper, Djeri Sabirou Bassa.

With five minutes of additional time, United got the anticipated winner. Rising sensation, Shammasu Mohammed put matters to rest from close range after being teed up by in-form right-back, Abubakar Abdullahi, in a build up that began with fans’ voted Man-of-the-match, Michael Tochukwu, the second time the youngster would be coming off the bench to win the game for his side after doing same against Katsina United in their last home game.

2-1 was the full-time score as the Solid Miners immediately returned to the path of winning at the detriment of the Coach Finidi George-led side, a result that sees them move to 10th position from 11th, with 15 points, seven points behind league leaders, Rivers United FC.

The Governor Abdullahi Sule Boys will be on the road for a date with Abia Warriors on Saturday, this weekend, at the Okigwe Township Stadium, the hosts’ temporary ground.