Nasarawa United Set for NPFL Return after just a season at the NNL

By Amaechi Agbo

Nigeria National League, NNL side, Nasarawa United are set to make an immediate return to the Nigeria Premier Football League, just a year after spending a season in the lower division.
The Solid Miners defeated stubborn Sokoto United 2-1 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Monday afternoon to technically secure a remarkable swift promotion to the top flight.
The Coach Usman Adams’ side were three points ahead of Sokoto United in the Northern Conference table at the ongoing 2023/24 Nigeria National League Super Eight Play-off holding in Enugu and needed an outright win over the team that ousted them from the 2024 single knockout inter-club President Federation’s Cup in the round of 32 clash to seal a place in next season’s Premier League.
United were trailing 0-1 in the 8th minute of the first-half through Adama Samuel’s brilliant goal before Man-of-the-Moment, Anas Yusuf, drew parity for the Lafia landlords before the break.
Anas turned provider for the second goal after laying a superb pass to Ibrahim Umar Ada with the latter slotting the ball beyond the grasp of Goalkeeper, Abuchi Okeke, to give United a 2-1 lead, and in cruise control.
A handful of supporters of the Solid Miners were at the magnificent ‘The Cathedral’ edifice to chant the team to a return to the Premier League while thousands across the country watched the game online in earnest expectations.
The 2-1 full-time result forced the United’s fans across boards to celebrate the historic feat in the Club’s fortunes, while Sokoto United’s hopes of advancing to the elite league were shattered as they would remain in the 2nd tier division next season to fight back their promotion.
Anas Yusuf of Nasarawa United was voted Man-of-the-Match after a sensational showing with the Chairman of the League, George Aluo, presenting the gong to him.
In the other Northern Conference’s game, El-Kanemi Warriors who lost their first game to Nasarawa United two days ago were handed a lifeline after beating Sporting Supreme 2-1 on Monday evening.
The result pitched both teams on three points each as the Solid Miners headline the Group’s standings on six points, with the last games of the Conference to be played simultaneously on Wednesday, 12th June, 2024.
Nasarawa United would require just one point off Sporting Supreme to officially confirm their promotion and a place in the finale of the competition against the leaders of the Southern Conference.