Kwara United, a side that recently boasted of its readiness to challenge for titles after a mass squad overhaul, suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of lower-tier side Ijebu United at the Valuejet Cup preseason tournament.
Kwara United
The Harmony Boys came into the game brimming with confidence after holding CAF Champions League contenders Remo Stars to a goalless draw in their opener, Footballrover reports.
However, their opponents, Ijebu United, were looking to bounce back from a 2-0 drubbing by Rivers United.
The first half was a cagey affair, with both sides probing for an opening goal.
Kwara United’s Ibrahim Deinde had a couple of shots saved, while Shola Abdulraheem and Moses Omodumeke combined well twice but lacked the final touch.
The most glaring chance of the half fell to Ijebu United’s Bidemi Olaniyi, who rattled the woodwork with a curling effort from distance.
The second half continued in the same vein until the 71st minute, when Ijebu United broke the deadlock.
A free kick was blocked by the Kwara United defence, but the ball fell kindly to Bidemi Olaniyi, who unleashed a powerful shot that beat goalkeeper Adamu Abubakar.
Kwara United threw caution to the wind in search of an equaliser but were met with a resolute Ijebu United defence.
The final whistle confirmed a shocking 1-0 victory for the underdogs, leaving Kwara United reeling.
FULL TIME:
Ijebu United with a hard-fought win against Kwara United.
Ijebu United 1-0 Kwara United.
(Bidemi Olaniyi⚽️) #ValueJetCup24 pic.twitter.com/7RXJY3mtNK— ValueJet Cup (@ValueJetCup) July 27, 2024
The defeat is a bitter pill to swallow for Kwara United, who have been vocal about their ambitions this season.
After letting go of over 22 players, the club declared that they were tired of being underestimated.
However, this result suggests that there is still much work to be done, or maybe not.
Next up for Kwara United is a crucial clash against one of the tournament favourites, Rivers United.
A win is imperative if they are to progress to the knockout stages.
As for Ijebu United, they face Remo Stars in a match that could determine their fate in the competition.
Ijebu United
Can Kwara United bounce back against Rivers United, or will their struggles continue?
We’ll love to hear from you.
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