Kogi Utd, Adamawa Utd tie ends in stalemate at half time

The Week 12 encounter of the Nigeria National League, NNL between Kogi United and Adamawa United in Lokoja on Wednesday was not concluded as a result of foul play and politics employed by the away side.

The match played at the Confluence Stadium witnessed a strong power play and twists in the rules by the officiating officials.

According to a statement from Kogi United media officer, Wale Mustapha, Adamawa United - one of the contenders for the promotion to the Premier League - came with a game plan of claiming a victory against Kogi United but didn't possess the team to do so.

Nelson Ukwa scored the first goal that was disallowed by Centre Referee Mohammed Issa Rilwan from Niger in the 24th minute. 

The Players and fans of Kogi United were left frustrated again after referee Mohammed Rilwan ruled out another goal for the home side, when Adamawa goalkeeper, Inyakson Andeika, failed to grab John Jerome's bullet shot in 38th minute as he slipped away from his grab before Mayaki Ismail tucked in the ball.

This led to protest by Kogi United players as they weren't happy with the referee as they demanded to know why he disallowed such a scoring opportunity which he failed to give any explanation to.

The home fans were not also happy with Rilwan's calls to disallowed those goals as they walked down to show their dissatisfaction to the Match Commissioner Akoshile Tijani Lanre from Kwara State.

It was the Match Commissioner Lanre, with the help of impressive officers and men of Nigeria Police that returned normalcy to the arena.

Having noticed their plans have failed, Adamawa United players refused to continue with the game till referee Rilwan sounded the whistle to end the first half as discovered they wouldn't get even a draw against the Wada Boys. 

Earlier before the kick-off, Captain of Adamawa United, Abubakar Shehu had jokingly told Stephen Musa of Kogi United that they were in Lokoja for the three maximum points, and were ready to claim it by all means.

One of the scorers of disallowed goal, Nelson Ukwa also claimed one of the players of the Yola based club had told him that no goal will be counted for the Wada Boys as the referee has been directed to favor them by all means.

The race for sole Premier League ticket in Group A1 looks to have fallen between Plateau United and Adamawa United with the former having greater chances of nicking it after gaining another valuable points with 2-0 away win at Yobe Desert Stars.

"Adamawa United are desperately looking for their own chances to pick an away victory which they don't have a team that can do so. Their confidence lies on the connection and popularity of their chairman, Emmanuel Zira who also doubles as a board member in the NNL.

"Zira has been using his position as a strong member of the board to favor Adamawa United with the appointments of referees of his choice who will do as he says among other supports, and that was what we saw in Lokoja on Wednesday, if not, how can the two good goals be disallowed against the home and you waived an offside chance for Adamawa to score us, this is absolutely unfair.

"We hope and believe the board will follow the rules tenaciously and award us our maximum points, because they walked out of the pitch even after the referee and match commissioner have asked the game resume," said in a statement.