From Abel Leonard, Lafia
Nasarawa United moved to the summit of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) after a hard-fought 2–0 victory over Katsina United on Match Day 6 of the 2025/2026 season at the Lafia Township Stadium.
The Solid Miners now top the log with 13 points, one ahead of Enyimba International of Aba.
Anas Yusuf gave the hosts the breakthrough on the stroke of half-time, before team captain Abubakar Sadiq doubled the lead in the 74th minute to seal all three points for the Lafia-based side.
Reacting to the result, Nasarawa United Technical Adviser, Mangut Mbwas, expressed delight at the performance but urged caution over early celebrations. “I’m very happy and excited. We planned for the win, and the boys stuck to the plan and executed when the chances came. Kudos to them,” Mbwas said.
He, however, stressed that the season had only just begun. “The league has only just begun—it’s a marathon. We must keep working hard, especially on our finishing. We created several chances early on but couldn’t convert them. Thankfully, it ended in our favour.”
While praising Katsina United for their resilience, Mbwas also challenged his players to be more clinical in front of goal. “Katsina United are a tough, pressing side. They denied us many opportunities, but we managed to break through for the opener and later added the security goal. My job is to train the team to create and finish chances, but the execution rests with the players. We could have scored more today, and improving our conversion rate is something we’ll work on,” he added.
Looking ahead, the tactician emphasised the importance of consistency. “No team is small. The league is still young, and everyone can bounce back from early setbacks. For us, every match is a must-win. We’ll tidy up and aim for three points away to Bendel Insurance in Benin next weekend.”
On his part, Katsina United’s Technical Adviser, Mohammed Azeez, rued his side’s missed opportunities but accepted the outcome. “It’s normal in football—when you don’t take your opportunities, the better side punishes you, and that’s what happened today,” he admitted.
Speaking on officiating, he maintained that the referees handled the game fairly. “The refereeing wasn’t bad. Referees are human and can make mistakes, but that doesn’t mean they’re biased,” he noted.
Nasarawa United skipper and goalscorer Abubakar Sadiq was full of joy after helping his side secure the win. “I’m excited to score and help seal the win. I had planned to score before the match, and I’m glad it came to pass,” he said.
With this victory, the Solid Miners continue their impressive start to the season and will next face Bendel Insurance in Benin City, Edo State, in what promises to be another stern test of their title credentials.
