Match Day 26: Heartland FC, El Kanemi FC play out another goaless draw

By Athan Agbakwuru, Owerri

Heartland FC of Owerri and El-Kanemi Warriors FC of Maiduguri on Wednesday ended their MatchDay26 fixture on a goalless draw at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, after a breath-cutting encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL.

The match which ended like the first leg encounter in Maiduguri began with high expectations for the home team however ended in a frustrating goaless draw because of the impregnable brick walls of defence on both sides.

While the Heartland boys fought tirelessly like wounded lions to carry the day, the visitors from far away Borno State remained resilient and determined to ward off the onslaught of the Naze Millionaires from the blast of the opening whistle to full time.

Heartland FC, despite having greater ball possession and control during the match was unable to break down El-Kanemi’s solid defence, a situation that left both fans and players alike in frustration.

While it was an important one point for El-Kanemi Warriors, especially given the away fixture, the lack of sharpness in the final third remains a concern for the Naze Millionaires.

In a post-match press chat, Heartland FC Head Coach/Manager Emmanuel Amuneke declared that his side had no set target for the season, but taking the games one at a time with the aim of improving his team on a game by game basis.