FIRE SERVICE QUENCH NIGERIA ARMY AS NDLEA NEUTRALIZE DSS AT GOVERNOR A.A. SULE INTER-SECURITY AGENCIES FOOTBALL TOURNEY

By: Eche Amos 11th January, 2024

The Federal Fire Service recovered from their two previous lackluster performances at the ongoing 2nd edition of Governor Abdullahi A. Sule Inter-Security Agencies Unity Cup Football Tournament to shock pre-tournament favourites, the Nigerian Army, by 1-0 in a game watched by both Agencies’ heads and personnel on Thursday at the Lafia City Stadium.

Emmanuel Osidembi’s sixth minute goal in the first-half after some goal-area scrambles was all the pre-judged underdogs required to earn them all maximum points against the Army side who had previously thrashed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, 4-0, in their first match to throw the qualification possibilities for all teams in Group ‘B’ opened.

In the other Group ‘B’ game between the Department of State Service, DSS, versus the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, it was the former Agency who got rejuvenated and drew the first blood through Habeeb Auta shortly after kick-off.

The lead lingered throughout the first-half as the anticipation for a first win at the tournament loomed.

However, it was game on in the 67th minute as the NDLEA restored parity through a towering header from unstoppable Godwin Onoja who perfectly directed a corner kick to the right spot.

Ten minutes before regulation time, the anticipation of the DSS for a first win was shattered as Abu Henry’s long range strike caught the Secret Service’s Goalkeeper, Dennis Istifanus napping.

The scoreline remained unaltered as the come-back was enough to earn the anti-drug Agency the win, and ultimately qualified them for the Quarter-finals stage after three matches with six points.

Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, are now 2nd in the Group ‘B’ table, followed by the Nigerian Fire Service, FFS, and the Nigerian Army, who have three points.

Only the DSS are yet to earn any point since the beginning of the competition.

FRIDAY’S FIXTURES:

Organizers of the tournament had to re-arrange Friday’s Group ‘A’ fixtures due to foreseen circumstances.

In the re-arrangements, the Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, versus the Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, Group ‘A’ game earlier slated for 2pm will now hold by 10am on Friday, 12th January, 2024, while the Nigerian Police Force tie against the Nasarawa State Agency for Youth Empowerment Scheme, NAYES, formerly scheduled for 4pm will now hold by 12noon, accordingly.

Already, FRSC and NAYES have both qualified for the last eight of the competition, with six points apiece, whereas hopes are still rife for the Nigerian Police Force (with 3 points from two games) and Nigerian Correctional Service(with 3 points from three matches) to join the other two teams in the knock-out stages.

The Nigerian Immigration Service, NIS, who are yet to record any win in three games, have lean hopes of making it to the crucial stage of the tournament.

Four teams will qualify from each Group, comprising five teams, into the Quarter-finals.

The competition is the brainchild of the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Abdullahi Sule on Sports Development, Comr. Hamza Ibrahim Moyi.