NPFL23: Ilechukwu Likens One Plateau United Player To Lionel Messi

By Adams Jesse reporting from Jos

Plateau United were made to sweat before squeezing out a point from Shooting Stars when both sides met at the new Jos Stadium.

The Match Day 1 fixture of the Nigeria Premier Football League saw both sides tied at three goals apiece in what many believes to be the match of the match day.

Speaking after the game, Plateau United gaffer praised the never say die attitude of his wards after going two goals down as they were able to salvage a point with two late goals.

“I think it wasn’t good enough. As a Continental team, we are supposed to continue from where we left off last season. Looking at the type of team we played, coming from two goals down to level up showed we at least gave our best, He says”.

With about four regular players out of the game, Fidelis Ilechukwu however rued the unavailability of his star player, Jimmy Ambrose who is set to be on the side lines till the end of the season as the gaffer likened Jimmy Ambrose to Argentina and PSG super star, Lionel Messi.

“We have been working very hard to see what we could do because an abridged league is not a small league and the challenges can’t be solved in one day but I believe if we take things one step at a time we’ll get there. What we need to do, I know losing Jimmy caused us a setback. People might not consider this to be an issue but let’s say for example you take Messi out of the Argentinian National Team, I don’t think they would have won the World Cup. So in Football, things like this are bound to happen, He concluded”.

Akpan Joshua put Shooting Stars ahead before Emmanuel Ifeanyi levelled the scores before further goals from Okachi Anthony and Babatunde Azeez handed the Ibadan warlords the total control of the game. Plateau United fought back with two late goals with Izuchukwu Chimezie and Emmanuel Ifeanyi completed the comeback as both sides settled for a draw.

Plateau United will be away to Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium while Shooting Stars will welcome Kwara United to their fortress at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasigba on match day 2.