By Waka Hland
A last-minute goal by Abudulateef Ibrahim handed Heartland F.C. a dramatic 1–0 victory over Sunshine Stars F.C. in a tense Nigeria National League (NNL) encounter at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri.
The encounter had looked destined to end in a stalemate until Ibrahim struck in the 90th minute to break the deadlock and send the home fans into wild celebrations, sealing maximum points for the Naze Millionaires.
Sunshine Stars F.C. had battled strongly throughout the game and appeared set to secure a valuable point on the road before the heartbreaking late strike.
Reacting after the match, Sunshine Stars coach Duke Udi said his side came to Owerri hoping to pick at least a draw from the encounter.
The former Grasshopper Club Zürich player admitted that conceding in the dying minutes was painful, stressing that his players worked hard but lost concentration at a crucial moment.
On his part, Heartland coach Emmanuel Amunike said he expected a difficult game but praised his players for their determination and patience.
According to Amunike, the team prepared well ahead of the NNL clash and kept pushing until the end, a persistence that eventually produced the dramatic winner that secured all three points for the Owerri side.
