By SCM SPORTS DESK
ABIA WARRIORS’ title charge hit a massive speed bump in Umuahia yesterday as they were held to a frustrating 1-1 draw by a resilient Wikki Tourists side. In a script that felt written by the football gods, it was a former hero who returned to haunt the home side and snatch away two precious points.
After a cagey first half that left the home faithful biting their nails, the match finally exploded into life just six minutes after the restart. Emeka Obioma, the Warriors’ talisman and former NPFL Golden Boot winner, proved why he’s the most feared man in the box.
Latching onto a pin-point delivery from Sunday Megwo, Obioma showed nerves of steel to slot home in the 51st minute, sending the Umuahia Township Stadium into a frenzy.
The Sting in the Tail
But the celebrations hadn’t even died down before the “Tourists” showed they weren’t just in town for the scenery.
Only five minutes later, the stadium fell silent as Taheer Abubakar—the man who used to lead the line for the Warriors—delivered a clinical sucker punch.
Abubakar pounced on a defensive lapse to fire past the helpless keeper, leveling the score in the 56th minute. In a class act of “muted celebration,” the striker refused to cheer against his old employers, but the damage was done.
Despite a late onslaught from Imama Amapakabo’s men, including a series of frantic goal-mouth scrambles, the Warriors couldn’t find a way through the Bauchi side’s defensive wall.
The result leaves Abia Warriors sweating in third place, missing a golden opportunity to leapfrog Nasarawa United into second.
For Wikki Tourists, this was a point earned with grit and local knowledge.
For the Warriors, it was a case of “what might have been” as their former son stole the limelight.
