Kogi United ended the 2015/2016 Nigeria National League, NNL season with a 1-0 defeat to Katsina United in the final game played at the Karkanda Stadium, Katsina.
The lone goal which came through a counter in the 28th minutes saw Usman Bello latch onto a headed pass from Martins Usule from the edge of the Kogi United box.
Kogi United started the game with revenge on their minds as they intended to avenge their home loss to Katsina in the reverse fixture.
But it wasn’t meant to be as Katsina United needed an outright victory to stand a chance of nipping the sole ticket to the NPFL in Group A1 with the hope that other result would favor them.
Katsina drew the first blood with just eight minute into the game when Usule combined well with Joshua Agboola to attack Kogi’s defense and the latter’s close range shot went inch wide from goal.
Kogi United responded quickly with their own attack two minutes later when playmaker Ashadi Destiny teed Ibrahim Enesi in the middle, the lanky forward raced down the middle to face the goal but was denied from taking aim at goal as Katsina United keeper, David Yinka came out to clear.
It was Katisna again with another attack in the 12 minutes when Shola Sheshere was called to duty as he made a one handed save to parry wide Agboola’s 25 yard free kick.
Pressure came mounting on Kogi United defense as their hosts pumped more balls into their goal area.
Katsina broke the deadlock in the 28th minute when Kabir Janaidu took another long ball into Kogi United’s edge of the box, Usule headed down the ball for on rushing Usman who buried the ball past the stretching hands of Sheshere.
The Lokoja based club tried to push for an equalizer immediately but were unlucky in front of goal. Jerome and Enesi had opportunities for Kogi United to restore parity before the end of first half as Destiny’s piercing passes became too much to handle for Katsina United but the result remained unchanged till the end of first stanza.
The resumption of the game witnessed early upsurge from the boys of Coach Ishaya Jatau as Samson Pius tried keeper David Yinka with a thunderous shot at the edge of Katsina United’s box, the shot stopper had to gather twice before making a catch.
With just five minutes into restart, Kogi United were reduced to 10 men when their creative schemer Destiny was controversially sent off by referee Sanni Mohammed from Kaduna for an adjudged foul on Abdulrahman Isa.
That numerical deficiency denied Kogi United to really make any meaningful attack as their host took advantage of Destiny’s dismissal to gain more control.
And the Confluence Boys defended with all they’ve got to deny Katisna United from scoring another goal as the game ended with a slim victory, enough for Katsina to gain promotion to the apex league in the country.
Kogi United however ended the season with 18 points from 14 games and their final standing on the log would be determine after tomorrow’s game between FC Yarmalight and Kaduna United.
