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| Wikki Tourists coach Abdu Maikaba |
Wikki Tourists of Bauchi produced a defensive master class to hold their hosts Abia Warriors to a goalless draw in an NPFL Matchday 8 encounter decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Wednesday.
The Tourists who won here last season and are yet unbeaten against their frustrated hosts (after 5 league matches now) defended bravely for most of the duration, relying on occasional breaks to cause further problems for Warriors.
Goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu was at his imperial best to deny the Warriors with a couple of breathtaking saves, most notably a double save in the first half and a point blank save to deny Emmanuel Enize with the seconds ticking away.
"We are happy about it," started the former FC Abuja coach. "We are fortunate the match worked for us according to our plans. Abia Warriors are not a bad side and they were also unlucky in some instances but we tried to make it a little bit difficult for them by staying compact in defence." Maikaba posited.
Maikaba who further analyzed what his team's tactics was also remembered to shower encomiums on his team for staying focused all through the encounter.
"We forced them to go out so that we can have some vacuum in their own area of the field and we wanted to use that vacuum to see if we can get our goal which we almost did. Overall, I have to thank God and also my boys for maintaining focus to give us this important point." added Maikaba
STATS
Abia Warriors 0-0 Wikki Tourists
Shots (On target): 17 (10) - 8 (1)
Corners: 6 - 3
Fouls: 8 - 18
Offside: 1 - 2
Bookings: 1 - 0
Team lineups
Abia Warriors
22. Chinedu Anozie 23. Tare Oke 3. Valentine Nwabili 28. Henry Ochuba 30. Emmanuel Olowo 5. Chinedu Ozor 34. Anthony Okemmiri 7. Uche Ihuarulam 10. Chisom Chikatara 31. Shadrach Asiegbu 19. John Huan
Subs
1. Ihebueme Obumneme 14. Ogbonnaya Okemmiri 26. Kabiru Ayinde 4. Chima Uluocha 20. Joseph Essien 17. Emmanuel Enize 9. Michael Olaha
Wikki Tourists
Wikki Tourists XI
22. Emeka Nwabulu 15. Festus Umanah 29. Christopher Waziri 11. Abdullahi Musa 6. Peter Ambrose 14. Harrison Madu 24. Moh'd Guda Idris 33. Mubarak Umar 22. Godwin Obaje 26. Idris Sabo 18. Ahmed Mohammed
Subs
30. Gambo Gideon 4. Mustapha Ibrahim 8. Saidu Abdullahi 12. Habibu Yakubu 27. Manu Usman 13. Hamza Tiya 32. Emenike Onuoha
