Abia Warriors twice came from behind but could not turn their fightback into a much-needed victory, settling for a 2-2 draw against Doma United in Aba as their difficult Nigeria Premier Football League campaign continued.
Obioma Chukwumeka scored twice for the hosts, including a late equaliser in the 79th minute, but the result offered little relief for Imama Amapakabo’s side, who remain 19th in the Euromatch-NPFL standings with 11 points from 12 matches.
For a team desperate to escape the relegation zone, the dropped points represented another missed opportunity, particularly against a newly promoted Doma United side enjoying a considerably stronger start to the season.
The visitors took an early lead in the seventh minute after capitalising on a defensive mistake by Abia Warriors. The setback put the hosts under immediate pressure, with their response initially hampered by missed opportunities.
Obioma had a chance to restore parity in the 21st minute but failed to convert a one-on-one opportunity. The forward had another opening moments later, only for his first touch to let him down as Doma United survived.
The pressure eventually produced an equaliser in the 38th minute when Obioma found the net to bring Abia Warriors back into the contest. The teams went into half-time level at 1-1, giving the hosts an opportunity to build on their response after the break.
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However, Doma United regained the advantage in the 68th minute, leaving Amapakabo’s men facing another difficult task. Abia Warriors responded again, with Obioma completing his brace in the 79th minute after connecting with Ochoche Ngbede’s drop ball to make it 2-2.
The equaliser set up a tense closing period as both sides looked for a decisive goal. Abia Warriors came close to completing the turnaround, but Obioma missed a clear opportunity in the 90th minute, leaving the hosts to settle for a share of the points.
The draw extends Abia Warriors’ frustrating run and leaves them with only two victories from their opening 12 league matches. Their record now stands at five draws and five defeats alongside those two wins, giving them 11 points and 19th position on the table.
Doma United, meanwhile, continue to enjoy an encouraging return to the top flight. The newly promoted side sit 9th with 16 points from 11 matches, having recorded four wins, four draws and three defeats, with a game still outstanding.
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Their ability to take a point away from Aba further strengthens their position in the middle of the table, while Abia Warriors are left with an increasingly urgent need to convert competitive performances into victories.
The Aba side’s immediate concern is no longer simply finding consistency but closing the gap on the teams above them. With the season progressing, another dropped opportunity could make their battle to climb out of the relegation zone even more difficult.
