The match kicked off in dramatic fashion at the University of Ilorin Main Bowl with the UNILORIN team immediately seizing control. Despite team ABU’s valiant efforts to curtail their opponents, it only took 22 minutes for Gbadebo Temitope, donning the number 9 jersey, to break the deadlock. His precise finish after some excellent build-up play gave Unilorin the early lead and they never looked back.

Throughout the first half, both sides fought for control. The possession was split nearly evenly, 52% to Unilorin and 48% to ABU. The midfield battle was intense but UNILORIN managed to create the major goal scoring chances of the game. The Ilorin team registered seven shots on goal, with four hitting the target compared to ABU’s two shots on goal throughout the game.

The second half saw UNILORIN continue their assault with Gbadebo Temitope playing a pivotal role once more. In the 53rd minute, he doubled his side’s lead having been assisted by Lateef Muritala much to the frustration of ABU’s defense. Muritala’s performance was nothing short of spectacular and this earned him the man-of-the-match award and a well-deserved ₦100,000 cash prize, courtesy of Moniepoint.

As the match progressed, it became clear that ABU wasn’t going down without a fight. In the 69th minute, Dotun Morakinyo pulled one back for the Zaria-based team reigniting hopes of a comeback. Morakinyo’s goal was a moment of brilliance and a lapse in the judgement of the goalie for the Unilorin team in what was otherwise a challenging day for ABU; a side which struggled to create clear-cut chances throughout the game.

Interestingly, one couldn’t help but notice the ill-fitted jerseys worn by the ABU players, a detail that became a talking point amongst the fans. Perhaps the baggy kits hampered their movement or affected their morale? It certainly looked like the players were more focused on adjusting their attire than on capitalizing on scoring opportunities. While it’s anyone’s guess if the jerseys were truly to blame for their loss, it did make for an amusing subplot.

Despite ABU’s spirited efforts in the closing minutes, they could not breach UNILORIN’s defense again.

This victory places UNILORIN in a strong position as they continue their Varsity Cup campaign. Having previously bested PAAU 2-0 in their opening fixture, they now sit comfortably in the top half of the group alongside the likes of JOSTUM.

ABU, however, finds themselves in a tough spot. Their second consecutive loss, having fallen 2-0 to JOSTUM in their opener leaes them languishing in the lower half of the table. They will need to regroup quickly and hope that their performance and perhaps their jersey fitting improves in their next outing