Niger Tornadoes' Technical Adviser, Coach Majin Mohammed, attributed his side's unexpected 2-0 loss to Nasarawa United in Lafia to underestimating their opponents, due to the hosts' low position on the league table.
Despite being aware of Nasarawa United's past performances, Coach Mohammed expressed his surprise at his team's display, noting they failed to execute their typical style of football effectively.
"The early penalty we conceded had a significant impact on our mental state and handed our opponents an important advantage right from the start," Coach Majin reflected.
He emphasized that Nasarawa United's performance contradicted their standing in the league, showcasing their quality and deserving of a better position than their current ranking.
In his post-match comments, he urged fans to remain patient and supportive, highlighting that the team is currently in a vital rebuilding phase with a focus on nurturing young talents into future stars.
"We're not seeking to place unnecessary pressure on ourselves, but I sincerely believe we will show noticeable improvement from last season," Majin assured the supporters.
The match marked the end of Niger Tornadoes' encouraging three-game unbeaten streak as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat against Nasarawa United during their NPFL Matchday 22 encounter at the Lafia City Stadium.
Anas Yusuf emerged as the standout player, netting two impressive goals that ultimately secured victory for the hosts.
The Solid Miners, starting the day at the bottom of the NPFL table, struck early when they were awarded a penalty just three minutes into the match.
Daniel Akanbek, on loan from Remo Stars, was adjudged to have fouled an opponent inside the box, prompting the referee to point to the penalty spot.
Anas Yusuf confidently converted the penalty, putting Nasarawa United ahead. Although Joshua Enaholo guessed the right way, he could not stop the spot kick.
Despite Niger Tornadoes' attempts to regain their composure and rhythm, they were consistently thwarted by the outstanding performance of the United goalkeeper, Detan Ogundare, who made several crucial saves to deny the visitors an equalizer before the halftime whistle.
When the second half resumed, the Niger Tornadoes' technical crew made strategic adjustments by introducing Emmanuel Olawale and Abdulrasheed Shehu Dabai, aiming to innovate their approach to the game. Their interventions initially appeared promising as the team seized momentum and began to dominate possession.
Niger Tornadoes thought they had equalized when Sabiu Ibrahim found the back of the net, thanks to a well-placed assist from Sarki Ismail. However, their celebration was short-lived as the linesman raised his flag for offside, dashing their hopes of leveling the score.
In a decisive moment, Anas Yusuf struck again with clinical precision from a well-delivered free kick, extending Nasarawa United's lead and solidifying their comfortable advantage.
Moreover, a penalty appeal from Niger Tornadoes was controversially dismissed when Olawale felt he was fouled by the United goalkeeper, but the referee remained unconvinced.
Meanwhile, Nasarawa United's Head Coach, Kabiru Dogo, expressed joy over the victory and set his sights on achieving a commendable result during their upcoming match against the Elkanemi Warriors in Borno.
In contrast, Niger Tornadoes now turn their focus to their next encounter, where they will host Plateau United as they aim to bounce back from this defeat.