ValueJet Preseason Tournament: Kwara United hold Abia Warriors to 1–1 draw

Kwara United came from behind to secure a 1–1 draw against Abia Warriors in their Matchday 3 fixture of the ongoing ValueJet Preseason Tournament in Ikenne.

Abia Warriors struck early, opening the scoring in the 6th minute through Chindi Merpring, whose powerful header caught goalkeeper Suraj Ayeleso off guard. The Umuahia side held onto their slender lead for the rest of the first half.

However, Coach Tunde Sanni’s second-half substitutions turned the game around. The fresh legs injected energy and dominance into Kwara United’s play, leading to an equalizer from Dare Ajibola in the 60th minute.

The Harmony Boys nearly snatched all three points in the 87th minute when Shola Abdulraheem’s strike went just inches over the crossbar.

Speaking after the match, Coach Tunde Sanni emphasized the importance of the preseason in fine-tuning the squad:

“The rebuilding process continues, and this tournament is the right platform to assess our readiness ahead of the new season.”

Kwara United will next face Rivers United in Matchday 4 of the competition.