By OUR MAN IN MAIDUGURI
IKORODU CITY’S title charge hit a massive roadblock in the Maiduguri heat as El Kanemi Warriors snatched a gritty 1-0 win to prove they are still the Kings of the North.
In a clash that had more bite than a desert sandstorm, the “Oga Boys” from Lagos arrived in the north dreaming of the summit, but they left empty-handed after a masterclass in defensive grit from the Warriors.
The decisive moment came early when the Warriors’ star man, Emmanuel Solomon, found a yard of space in a crowded box.
With the poise of a seasoned marksman, Solomon fired past the Ikorodu keeper to send the home faithful into raptures. It was a goal that didn’t just break the deadlock—it broke Ikorodu’s rhythm.
While Solomon grabbed the headlines with the winner, the real story was the “Great Wall of Maiduguri.”
Abbas Usman: The Warriors’ skipper was a titan at the back, winning every aerial duel and keeping the dangerous Ikorodu frontline on a short leash.
Ali Amin Umar: A livewire in midfield, Umar’s tireless energy ensured the visitors never had a second to breathe on the ball.
Marvelous Freedom: Despite the loss, Ikorodu’s Freedom lived up to his name, constantly trying to pick locks in the Warriors’ defense, but even his magic wasn’t enough to rescue a point.
”We knew they were coming for our throat,” said a beaming El Kanemi boss Kabiru Dogo after the whistle. “But this is our house. You don’t come to Maiduguri and take three points easily.”
For Ikorodu City, this was a bitter pill to swallow. Having been the league’s surprise package this season, the Lagos side looked a shadow of the team that has dominated the southern fixtures.
Their star striker, Shola Adelani, was largely isolated, cut off by a Warriors midfield that hunted in packs.
The result leaves Ikorodu City sweating in the title race, while El Kanemi continues their climb away from the danger zone, proving once again that in the NPFL, the “Stars” aren’t just the names on the back of the shirts—they’re the teams that can survive the toughest trips.
