Calabar Rovers escape relegation after holding Shooting Stars

Rovers Football Club of Calabar on Sunday escaped relegation from the 2020/2021 Nigeria National League (NNL) after they held Shooting Stars FC of Ibadan to a goalless draw. Supreme reports that in their match day 22 fixture at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, there were very few goal scoring chances. Both teams were extra cautious, ensuring that they did not concede a goal.

However, the second half of the game saw few flashes of brilliance from the home team even though they failed to convert their chances. In the game’s 74th minute, Rovers had a free-kick few metres away from their opponents’ penalty box. It was well taken but it was blocked by a defender of the visiting team close to the goalkeeper.

In the 79th minute, the Shooting Stars goalkeeper committed a blunder which almost cost his team, when he misjudged a pullout into his penalty box. But there was no player from the home team close enough to convert the opportunity. Speaking after the match, Edith Agoye, the Shooting Stars’ Head Coach, said the result was okay for his team since they were able to pick a point. “I am very satisfied with my players’ performance, considering the fact that it took us almost two days to arrive in Calabar“.

“ We arrived at about 10 p.m. on Saturday night, and in spite of the fatigue, the players were able to put up a good performance“. “ We are happy to conclude the season in the first position without injuries. This was an objective, and today it has been achieved”. “But the main aim is for the team to be promoted to the Premier League,” he said.

Agoye added that with the league being off for about four or five weeks, the return to competitive football was good for his team. ”This will help us prepare for the Super Eight”,. On his part, Samson Unuanel, Head Coach of Rovers FC of Calabar, said the match result was satisfactory and he was happy with his players. Three teams looked likely to go on relegation and from our position in the last few weeks at the bottom of the table, we still came out of it unscathed. So, we need to commend our players. It was not easy.

“As for the next season, I have nothing to say now. All depends on the decision of the government of Cross River,” he said. Supreme reports that at the end of the league, Shooting Stars emerged as one of the teams for the Super Eight. They topped the NNL Group B1 table with 40 points after 22 matches. Rovers FC ended up with 23 points.