Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia maintained their tradition of not losing their opening league game in Nigeria's top flight for five consecutive seasons when they defeated visiting MFM football club of Lagos 2-0 in the opening day of the Nigeria Professional Football League encounter decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium.
Based on MFM's pedigree, bookmakers had predicted that they must leave Umuahia with at least a point and it seemed their prediction could come to pass when versatile Ndifreke Effiong lost a second minute spot kick awarded Abia Warriors when rampaging Obi Samson was brought down inside the 16- metre box and the Akwa Ibom state born striker shot tamely into the waiting hands of MFM goalkeeper, Folarin Abayomi.
Abayomi's heroics brought out the best in the Olukoya Boys who remained resolute until the end of first half.
But when the boys came out from the tunnel, the Warriors became more adventurous in search of goal and their efforts paid off six minutes after resumption when Ndifreke made up for his earlier mistake by guiding the ball into the net for Abia Warriors first league goal of the season.
While continental bound MFM rose to the occasion by testing Abia Warriors' defence severally, they however failed to find the cutting edge and instead switched off again allowing Ndifreke to pounce on a loose ball inside the vital area to make hay, for his second of the day which made the game safe.
With the result, ABIA Warriors maintained their tradition of not losing their opening league game whether home or away since they qualified to play in Nigeria's top flight five seasons ago.
Within the period, the Warriors had won three of their opening day games with two draws.
In Abia Warriors first ever Premier League game decided at the Umuahia Township Stadium on Saturday, March 8, 2014, captain Chima Uluocha converted a penalty to score the Warriors first premier league goal while substitute, Bishop Onyeudo also netted as the Warriors began life in the top flight with a convincing 2-0 victory over Kaduna United.
In 2015, Abia Warriors first league game was against Giwa fc away in Jos, and the game ended goalless.
The following season in 2016, Abia Warriors were in Lagos where they took on newly promoted Ikorodu United in the league opener and the game ended 1-1 at the Onikan water front with Ndifreke getting the goal for the Warriors.
Last season, the Umuahia landlords came from a goal down to surprise then defending defending champions Rangers International 2-1 at the Soccer Cathedral, Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu with Emeka Isaac cancelling Fortune Omoniwari's opener to make it 1-1 while Godwin Zaki scored the winner as the Warriors started the season with a bang.
ABIA WARRIORS OPENING LEAGUE GAMES SINCE 2014.
Sat 08/03/14--A/W 2-0 Kad Utd
Sun 08/03,15-- Giwa 0-0 Abia W
Sun 21/02/16- Ikorodu 1-1 Abia W
Sun 15/01/17-- Rangers 1-2 Abia W
Sun 14/01/18--Abia W 2-0 MFM FC.
SUMMARY
Matches 5
Wins 3
Draws 2
Losses 0
Goal for 7
Goal against 2
Goal difference +5
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