Despite the convincing win, PAAU’s efforts were not enough to advance to the next round of the competition.

In a game that could be described as their best performance of the group stage, PAAU showed their attacking prowess early in the match. They controlled possession and dictated the pace of play. 

Abbasnil wearing the No.9 shirt was the star man up front, netting twice in the 28th and 67th minutes. 

His quick movement and sharp finishing carved through ABU’s defense who struggled to contain the PAAU forwards throughout the 90 minutes.

The opener came as Abbasnil found himself in space on the edge of the box. Latching onto a well-placed through ball, he took one touch to steady himself before slotting past ABU’s goalkeeper marking the start of PAAU’s dominance. 

His second goal was a result of excellent positioning as he capitalized on a defensive error, coolly finishing a low cross from the right.

Defender Julius Uchibiyo Ufaruna added the third goal in the 85th minute, heading home from a corner kick to put the game beyond any doubt. 

His goal was the final blow to an ABU team that struggled to impose themselves despite the physicality they brought to the match.

ABU Zaria, who had been underwhelming in earlier fixtures failed to improve their form in this game. They struggled for possession and created very few clear-cut chances throughout the match. 

Although they created 10 goal scoring chances, their accuracy faltered as only three attempts were on target. PAAU’s defense led by Julius and his teammates had no difficulty in keeping them at bay.

In terms of tactical discipline, PAAU were in control from the outset. They won 22 duels, dictating the midfield and ensuring ABU never found their rhythm. 

The scoreline would have been a lot more embarrassing but for the efforts of ABU’s goalkeeper who made 5 saves. His efforts were however in vain as PAAU’s relentless attack kept them on the back foot. PAAU finished the match with a total of 7 shots on goal, all of which were on target.

It was a different story for Yusuf Solomon, PAAU’s attacking midfielder, who was the orchestrator of many of the team’s attacking sequences of play. Solomon’s vision and passing accuracy were key in breaking down ABU’s defense.

Although his side failed to progress, he can take solace in his perfromance which earned him a deserved man of the match award cash prize of a hundred thousand naira sponsored by Moniepoint.

The victory despite its resounding nature was bittersweet for PAAU, as it wasn’t enough to secure their spot in the next round. Their earlier results in the tournament left them just short of the knockout stages, meaning this victory would only serve as a proud but unfulfilling moment in their campaign.

For ABU, it was a disappointing end to what had been an underwhelming tournament. Throughout the tournament, their performances lacked the cohesion and spark needed to compete at the highest level. 

For both teams, one thing is certain. They will have to return to the drawing board to restrategize and evaluate their performances so far.