Kalu Nweke came off the bench in the second half to net the winning goal for Abia Warriors which have gone five games without a win.
It must have offered a huge relief to Coach Imama Amakapabo, winner of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) title in 2016 with Enugu Rangers.
Abia Warriors had come into the game desperate to get a win and avoid dropping into the relegation zone.
They started brightly with an early strike from Lukman Bello in the second minute, but Markson Ojobo’s handball just before half-time gifted Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) the equaliser.
Kalu Nweke who scored last matchday against Kano Pillars in Kaduna saved the team with his 74th-minute winner.
Having gone four games without a win, Abia Warriors seemed beatable and 3SC who sit above them on the table, although winless in two games, were ready to take the opportunity.
But very determined to stem the winless run Amapakabo, in the second half, replaced Ojobo with forward Mustapha Jibreel to have more men in his opponent’s box.
The substitution paid off as they continued to pile pressure on their visitors and in the 74th minute, Nweke struck from a distance to score the winner for Abia Warriors.
Mustapha had passed the ball to Chigozie Imeh who sent it to Paul Samson and the winger connected with Nweke who dribbled his marker before finding the net.
This result takes Abia Warriors to 14th position on the log while 3SC are now having only one point from a possible nine in their last 3 matches.
