In a Matchday 11 encounter of the Nigeria National League at the Lanre Leke Sports Complex in Ile Ogbo, Osun State, Igbajo United FC settled for a frustrating 0-0 draw with Edel FC. Chief Coach, Sule Isa Eroje lamented the missed chances that cost his side what he described as “two points dropped.”
The match started at a cautious pace with both teams struggling to find a breakthrough in the opening 15 minutes. Igbajo United’s ambitions were evident early on, as Mutiu Babalola’s glancing header from a corner in the 20th minute narrowly missed the target. Despite the early signs of promise, the home side was forced to make an early change when front man Mutiu Babalola was injured in the 37th minute, with Idam Sunday coming on as his replacement.
The break offered renewed hope as Igbajo United returned with renewed vigor. In the 46th minute, Kingsley Godwin stepped up to take a free kick from the edge of the box. However, the breakthrough remained elusive. A substitution in the 51st minute saw Rilwan Sadiq come on to replace Moshood Elewure, injecting fresh energy into the side. Yet, despite creating several promising opportunities, including a double miss when Michael’s powerful shot from a Mathias cross was blocked and a rebound by Adegboye Safiu that soared high, the team struggled to convert their chances.
Late in the game, further opportunities arose with Idam Sunday and Matthew coming close to breaking the deadlock.
Again in the dying minutes, night turned into a nightmare for teenager Matthew Ogunrinola, who squandered a clear opportunity from the edge of the box, sealing the fate of the match.
After the match, Eroje was blunt in his assessment:
“Without a doubt, it was two points dropped. We created more than enough chances to win, especially in the second half in this game. I thought it was quite tight in the first half; they were big, physical and they came for the point. Respect for them as well, I thought they defended really, really well. They defended their box well,” he explained.
He added, “The chances that we’ve created in the second half, we should have won the game. In the position that we’re in, to stay in touch with that pack and push for survival, it makes it difficult. We’ve had two League games in a row where we haven’t got maximum points, so I’d have to say it’s two points dropped today unfortunately.”
With the draw, Igbajo United FC now sit on 5 points as they close the first stanza of the season. The club is keen to bolster their squad in preparation for the second half of the campaign, understanding that every point is crucial in their bid to secure survival in the league.
The match, though devoid of goals, was a test of character and resilience for Igbajo United, who now face the challenge of translating their potential into points in the coming fixtures.
