Lobi Stars struggle to beat Cynosure FC for passage in Federation Cup

By Aderonke Ojo

Lobi Stars Football Club of Makurdi on Wednesday had to struggle so much before they could beat Nigeria National League (NNL) side Cynosure FC of Ebonyi 2-1 in Abuja.

The reward of this hard job at the Area 3 football pitch was to progress to the round of 16 of the 2023 Federation Cup competition.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the round of 32 match saw John Lazarus giving the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side the lead in the 32nd minute .

Ibrahim Abdullahi drew the game level in the 55th minute to justify the match’s high tempo which kept spectators on edge for most parts of the encounter.

As the game wore on, Cynosure FC started looking more contented with sitting back in defence and catching their opponents on the counter.

However, just when it seemed like the lower league side’s script was about being fully enacted, Barnabas Imenger Junior scored in the 85th minute for Lobi Stars.

Speaking after the match, the Chief Coach of Lobi Stars FC, Mohammed Babaganaru, said the win has rekindled his team’s desire to emerge the Federation Cup champions.

“We are now more focused, determined and we hope to achieve our target,” he said.

Babaganaru said the match against Cynosure FC was a good game which became difficult because they kept on missing their goalscoring chances.

“We did well in the first half but my players were relaxed in the second half until our opponents equalised to make us have to find it hard to win.

“It’s was a good game no doubt, but to be sincere it was a difficult experience we had today.

“However, we are building a winning momentum to secure a positive result at the end of it all. We all know the Federation Cup competition is a highly unpredictable tournament,” he said.

On his part, Nathaniel Anyawade, the coach of Cynosure FC, said it was regrettable that they did not lose to a better side because they were better than Lobi Stars.

He said he was surprised at the referee’s decision to allow the Lobi Stars’ second goal to stand.

“I am surprised at the referee’s decision, and it appears this is one of their ways  of suppressing NNL clubs to favour NPFL clubs.

“I am really surprised. During the game, my players performed well. It was just unfortunate that we lost.

“I am not happy about the game. The second goal scored by Lobi Stars was scored from an offside position.

“But I blame our goalkeeper, because he was supposed to have put into consideration the fact that a Lobi Stars player was standing in an offside position, which was even for more than 45 seconds.

“However, after this loss, we are going back to continue with our league games and we hope to win our two remaining matches so that we won’t be relegated,” he said.

(NAN)