Nasarawa United’s Moyi Hassan was the unlikely hero on Monday evening as his 66th-minute strike secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Shooting Stars SC in a rescheduled Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) 2025/26 matchday 16 clash at the Lafia City Stadium.
The defensive midfielder, who replaced injured Chidera Nduka in the 34th minute, smashed home from close range to seal all three points for the Solid Miners in front of their jubilant home fans.
His goal, the first of his NPFL season, lifted Nasarawa United to the summit of the league table with 30 points — two ahead of second-placed Ikorodu City FC of Lagos.
The win was witnessed by top Nasarawa State officials including the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Kwanta Yakubu; Education Commissioner, Dr. John Mamman; Commerce and Investment Commissioner, Hon. Mohammed Ottos; Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan; and SSA to the Governor on Sports, Comrade Hamza Moyi. They were joined by club chairman Solomon Babanjah and FA Chairman Salisu Usman Galadima.
Abubakar Arikya, head coach, Nasarawa United):”We are grateful to God for today’s win. We deserved to win because we played better. Now we shift focus to the Plateau United game next weekend.”
Shooting Stars’ head coach, Nurudeen Aweroro said ot was a “disappointing result, but credit to Nasarawa. They took their chance. We’ll regroup and push forward in the next game.”
“I’m excited to score my first goal of the season. We worked hard and wanted to make our fans proud. I hope to score more — maybe seven or ten goals,” said Moyi Hassan.
Nasarawa United will face Plateau United in a much-anticipated North Central derby on Sunday, December 14, in Jos.
