Good morning, folks!
It’s the morning after derby day, and what a day it was! A trip to the capital city filled with drama, sunshine, and just enough tension to remind us why this clash is no ordinary game. The Abia Derby never disappoints, and Sunday’s edition was no exception.
From the moment the day broke, the buzz was electric. Messages flooded my inbox, with fans from every corner of Abia asking how they could catch the game. This isn’t just a football match; it’s an event that suspends everything else in the state. Form? Pedigree? Class? Forget it. When the whistle blows, it’s all about who wants it more on the day.
The energy was palpable well before kickoff. Our supporters’ club arrived over two hours early, as they always do, turning the stadium’s surroundings into a carnival with their drums, chants, and endless energy. By the time the fans started pouring in—first in trickles, then in waves—the atmosphere was ready to explode. Even the sun decided to get in on the act, refusing to hide behind a single cloud until the final whistle.
Yema’s lineup raised a few eyebrows, with Francis Odinaka handed a start. Not to be outdone, Imama brought in the relatively unknown Samuel Atavti, who turned out to be a revelation in rightback. Former teammates turned rivals added extra spice—Fatai Abdullahi impressing for us, while Daniel Ekpo gave us a hard time on the other side.
The action kicked off in the 9th minute when Clinton Jephtha lit up the stadium with a thunderous finish from Ekene Awazie’s pass. Sharp Uzoigwe in the Abia Warriors goal wasn’t having it, though, insisting the ball had entered through the side netting. Cue chaos. Protests, arguments, and enough drama to fuel an entire episode of Abia’s Got Talent. But the referee stood firm, the goal stood, and maybe—just maybe—Abia Warriors will now be leading the charge for VAR in the NPFL. Spoiler alert: Thanks to my vantage position, it was a legitimate goal.
From there, the Warriors roared to life. Sunday Megwo and Hammed Yakub combined brilliantly to set up Adejoh Ojonugwa’s equalizer. Yakub, in particular, was everywhere—shadowing Eze Ekwutoziem so tightly that Fatai Abdullahi had to drop deeper just to keep things ticking. On their end, Daniel Ekpo was a menace on the wings, reminding Imo Obot why familiarity breeds contempt.
The second half was a chess match. Both teams pressed, prodded, and pushed for a winner. Pascal Eze nearly stole the headlines with a point-blank header, but Sharp Uzoigwe lived up to his name with a reflex save that left us gasping. Ani Ozoemena was a rock in goal, while our bench threw in the kitchen sink with substitutions—Joseph Atule, Ismail Sariki, and former Warrior Kalu Nweke all coming on to try and break the deadlock.
In the end, neither side could find the elusive winner. It was a derby defined by grit, passion, and resilience. For us, it’s three draws in November but still unbeaten. For Abia Warriors, it’s one point from three games and plenty of soul-searching.
Up next? Sunshine Stars at home—maybe. Al Masry is looming large, and with Kano Pillars already shelved for our trip to Egypt, the schedule looks tricky. But one thing is certain: this team will fight on all fronts and fight with all its got.
Stay tuned for more derby fallout tomorrow.
Enyimba Enyi!
