By Our African Football Correspondent
THE intimidating atmosphere of the Warri Township Stadium proved to be the ultimate 12th man yesterday, but even a baying home crowd of 20,000 couldn’t steer Warri Wolves to victory in a pulsating 2-2 draw against Wikki Tourists.
Known throughout the NPFL as one of the most hostile venues for visiting teams, the “Township” lived up to its reputation.
From the first whistle, the air was thick with the scent of the nearby Niger Delta and the deafening roar of the “Seasiders” faithful, who packed the concrete stands to the rafters.
The pitch, a surface that has seen many a giant fall, played its part in a frantic opening.
Wikki Tourists, defying the hostile “Warri-no-carry-last” mantra, silenced the home support early on.
However, the Wolves, fueled by the energy of the Cemetery Road end, clawed their way back.
Every touch by a Wikki player was met with a cacophony of whistles, yet the visitors showed nerves of steel.
The Wolves turned the game on its head to lead 2-1, sending the stadium into a delirium that could be heard across the Delta State capital.
But the drama wasn’t over. In a venue where games are rarely settled until the final second, the Tourists found a late equalizer to deflate the local crowd.
Despite a late siege on the Wikki goal—spurred on by the relentless chanting of the Warri ultras—the visitors held firm.
For the Wolves, it is two points dropped in their own backyard. For Wikki Tourists, escaping the “Warri Cauldron” with a point is a result that will feel like a victory.
One thing is certain: the Warri Township Stadium remains the most electric, and exhausting, stop on the NPFL map.
