BIFFO COMMENDS REFEREES AS ABIA WARRIORS LOSE TO GOMBE

UMUAHIA, Abia, Nigeria – Despite Abia Warriors 1-2 loss to hosts, Gombe United in a Nigeria Professional Football League encounter last Wednesday, Chief Coach of the Umuahia based side, Abdullahi Biffo has doffed his hat for the referees who handled the match for a job well done.

Speaking to sports writers shortly after the hotly – contested encounter at the Pantami Stadium, Biffo said the officials comprising Imam Malik Umar, Idris Nuhu, Abubakar Safiayanu and Shehu Saidu all from the Kano State Referees Council were fair, firm and in full control throughout the match.

“The officials were simply fantastic and had the game under control” Biffo said insisting that his team’s defeat had nothing to do with bad officiating but rather a result of loss of concentration and a bit of hard luck.

“I can’t still believe that we lost this match. We were fully in control and even held unto our lead until late in the game but things suddenly fell apart. Well, that’s football for you. We will now go back and correct the mistakes to avoid a repeat in our future games ” the former Niger Tornadoes gaffer said.

During the match, Afolabi Abdulwaheed and substitute, Sani Mohammed Abbani scored in the 79th and 85th minutes to overturn what looked like a helpless situation for the under pressure home team after Yakub Hammed had given the Warriors the lead in the 62nd minute following a good build-up that also involved Sunday Adetunji, Sherif Bashir and Shedrack Asiegbu.