Following their hard-fought win in their FA Cup Round of 64 match against FC One Rocket at the Awka City Stadium on Wednesday, April 26, Lobi Stars Head Coach, Mohammed Baba Ganaru, says he can only thank God that his team pulled through, Completesports. com reports.
Mohammed who spoke to Completesports.com after a 5-3 penalty victory described the encounter with the Abat, Cross River State-based Nigeria National League, NNL, club as a very difficult match.
The regulation time ended 2-2. Wasiu Alalade scored for Lobi Stars in the 9th minute of the match when he beat One Rocket’s goalkeeper, Lordful Philip, off a cross by Joseph Atule. Rocket’s Wonderson Yakubu nodded home Harrison Ebah’s cross to make the scoreline 1-1 in the 56th minute.
Clinton Japhta put the Abat, Cross River State side in front with a 71st-minute goal. Atule equalised for Lobi Stars in the 95th minute, and the nervy game ended 2-2 in regulation time. And the NPFL side nicked it 5-3 via penalties.
“Well, first of all, we have to thank God for what we went through. To be sincere, it was a very difficult match. It was a match we never expected would be this tough, though we know that FA Cup is entirely a different ball game full of surprises,” Baba Ganaru told Completesports.com shortly after the game.
“Thank God we came from behind and equalized and got the victory from the penalty kicks. We thank God for it. It was a good match.”
He added: “I think our boys underrated the opponents. After the early goal, they went back and started being unbusinesslike. They were not forceful from that point. They became a little bit fanciful and that was why the opponents developed confidence and started attacking.”
As for his plans for the FA Cup, Baba Ganaru says Lobi Stars will take every match as it comes.
“Well, we take every match as it comes. We don’t know our opponents right now. So, we focus our attention on our league match this weekend. When we know the opponents, we will start preparing.”
By Chigozie Chukwuleta, Awka
