By Gracious Akujobi Giwa FC on Thursday defeated Abia Warriors 6-5 on penalties to emerge Nigeria National League (NNL) champions.
The Jos side came back from a goal down to equalize through Ocheme Edoh after the Umuahia side went ahead through Peter Onyekachi .
The penalties went into sudden death before Giwa scored the winner to give them the trophy.
Speaking to Prompt News Online after the match, the winning coach Abdullahi Usman Biffor said “I am happy for the win, the players played according to instruction”.
He however promised that new players will be drafted to the side as the league commences.
“I am happy that as a privately owned club, we have been promoted to the elite division and we promise to do well there,” he assured.
For winning the trophy, Giwa got N300, 000 while Abia Warriors went home with N150,000. The Most valuable player (MVP) was awarded to Sikiru Kamaru of Giwa FC.
Taraba FC defeated Crown 2-0 to clinch the third place.
The Taraba boys opened scoring with Usman Mohammed putting them ahead while Bobby Abel doubled their lead to make sure of their victory.
Coach of Taraba FC, Peter Komi, says he is happy his team came third even though he would have wished they contest in the final.
His words, “I am happy we came third, but I am disappointed we did not play the final because my boys played good football but I cannot explain why we did not make it to the final.
“I am promising our fans and indeed the entire football lovers that they will see my boys play good football when the new football league season starts”.
