Second runner-up at the 2021 Higher Institutions Football League (HiFL), UNN Lions made bold their desire to clinch the title this year with an empathic 4-2 win over UNIPORT Sharks from the University of Port Harcourt.
In a commanding performance in the game played at the UNN Sports Complex in Nsukka, the Lions scored the first three goals within thirty minutes with goals from Onyedika Nwafor, Ikprama Somtochukwu and Odo Nonso in the 6th , 12th and 28th minutes respectively. The Sharks managed to score a goal in the 33rd minute to reduce the deficit going into the break.
In the 64th minute, Joshua Okai scored the second goal for the Sharks to raise the hope of securing a possible draw. But the Lions had other ideas as Ezea Luke of the Lions drew dagger into the hearts of the fans of Sharks when he scored on the of 90th minute to ensure that the Lions secured their first leg victory.
“Leading by three goals in the first half, my boys thought they could relax but they found that football game is not so as our opponents tried to come back,” Lions Coach Ike Chijioke noted. “However, realising the need to be consistent, my team scored the fourth goal to ensure that we won. We will prepare better for the second leg so we can win in Port Harcourt, the same way we did against UNIBEN Royals last year.”
In other games, LASU Blazers proved pundits wrong by winning their away game with the AAUA Luminaries by 2-0. Yahaya Subair scored the first goal for the Blazers in the 44th minute while Toyin Odufejo put a stop to the Luminaries quest for an equalizer in the 89th with a sublime finish.
HiFL reigning champion UNIMAID Desert Warriors were held to a 1-1 draw by BUK Stallions from Bayero University, Kano. 2021 fourth place team FUTMINNA Transformers were not feared at home as KSU Steelers from Kogi State University held them to a 2-2 draw.
HiFL organized by PACE Sports is supported by StanbicIBTC, Bold, LIRS and Indomie. The league is in its fourth active season.