Kwara United boosted their survival hopes in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) on Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Wikki Tourists in a Matchday 28 fixture.
The crucial encounter was played at the MKO Abiola Stadium, where the Harmony Boys delivered a dominant performance from start to finish.
Kwara United controlled proceedings early, with Shola Abdulraheem and Akeem Akanni anchoring the midfield effectively, while Kabir Mohammed and Afeez Musa — both returned after a few matches out — dazzled fans with solid displays at the back.
The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when Akanni reacted quickest to slot home a rebound from Abdulraheem’s initial effort, sending the Harmony Boys into a deserved lead.
The hosts continued to press after the break in search of a second goal. Afeez Musa came close in added time before the break, but was denied by the Wikki goalkeeper, Godswill Utim.
Tactical substitutions at the start of the second half saw Philip Ozor, Abdulsalam Abdulsalam, and Mohammed replace Akanni, Issa Gata, and Abdulraheem.
Toheeb Gidado nearly doubled the advantage in the 66th minute on a swift counterattack, but his effort was parried away.
In the 88th minute, Kwara United were awarded a penalty after Gidado was pulled down in a goal-bound situation.
Arinze Ogbonna’s spot kick struck the crossbar, leaving the scoreline at a slender 1-0 at full time.
Speaking after the match, Kwara United head coach Ashifat Suleiman expressed relief at the long-awaited victory, describing it as a vital step toward retaining their league status.
“I’m happy with the result and satisfied with the performance of Shola Abdulraheem and Adeshina Gata, who just returned from injuries. Playing them will aid their full fitness,” he said.
Kwara United will next face Katsina United on Sunday as they continue their fight for survival.