Warri Wolves Football Club on Wednesday moved into the 2016 Federation Cup round of 32 after a 3-2 defeat of Nigeria National League (NNL) club side, Yarmalight FC of Gombe.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the match played at the Area 3 Sports Centre Abuja, saw Wolves coming from behind on two occasions to equalise before eventually winning the encounter.
Yarmalight opened score in the 3rd minute of the encounter through Awalu Mohammed before Wolves, a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) team drew level in the 18th minute through Victor Giwa’s strike.
Dabo Danjuma increased the tally for Yarmalight in the 21st minute to go ahead 2-1, but a poor defending from Yarmalight players saw Zinte Udeh level for Wolves with a powerful header in the 56th minute.
Udeh netted his second goal of the encounter in the 79th minute to put the premier league ahead.
All efforts by the Gombe team to equalise failed as Wolves defended the lead till the referee blew his final whistle.
Coach Ardsluis Dutch of Warri Wolves described the encounter as a great one, adding that his players got the good result they deserved.
“We were not good in the first half, but we changed the tempo in the second half and got the needed result; my target is to win the trophy,’’ he said.
Coach of Yarmalight Loveday Omoruyi told NAN that he was satisfied with the performance of his players in spite of the loss.
“Today’s game is a nice one and it is an eye opener to the players to always obey instructions.
“My players failed to mark the opponent strikers and they made use of all the dead-balls that came their way and we paid for it,’’ Omoruyi said.
In the other encounter, Crown FC of Ogbomosho defeated Sokoto United 3-1 to book their place in the round of 32. (NAN)