Shuaibu Ibrahim has in
Abuja scored a brace to hand Giwa Football Club of Jos a vital 2-1 win against Sharks FC of Port Harcourt.
The match was a 2013/2014 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) rescheduled Week 33 match.
The game was rescheduled after Giwa FC was found guilty of failing to control their fans on October 16.
The fans had seen the match officials beaten up and a Sharks player injured at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos.
As a result, Giwa FC were ordered to play their next three home matches in Abuja and ordered to pay the sum of N200,000 to the assaulted centre referee, Samuel Akinwale.
In the rescheduled match at the FIFA Goal Project pitch, Sharks FC started the game on the front foot and they created a lot of scoring opportunities.
Salawu Ibrahim could have put Sharks ahead as early as in the 7th minute.
But he squandered the chance, with the Giwa FC goalkeeper, James Aiyeyemi, left stranded and an empty post at his mercy.
Fortune Omoniwari also wasted another lovely goalscoring opportunity in the 15th minute as his shot struck the post with only Aiyeyemi to beat.
Sharks were then left to rue their chances when a lovely cross from the left met Ibrahim of Giwa FC who wasted no time to stab home from close range in the 39th minute.
Omoniwari made up for his earlier miss after he scored through a powerful header for the equaliser, with barely three minutes later.
Ibrahim however got his brace and the winning goal for Giwa FC in the 60th minute with a clever chip which left Sharks FC goalkeeper dumbfounded.
Sharks FC had a rare opportunity to at least get a point from the game in the 90th minute, but it was another wasteful effort from Stowe Thompson.
Aminu Musa, the coach of Giwa FC, however told newsmen that his charges ably deserved their hard-earned victory against Sharks.
“We played as if we were playing on our home ground. Indeed the feeling of playing here today (Wednesday) was like playing home away from home,’’ he said.
The coach said they were looking forward to their next game against Nasarawa United after the League Management Company (LMC) ordered the two clubs to replay the game on Thursday.
“Our boys are not scared of Nasarawa United and by the grace of God we will get the deserved result to secure our continental ticket,’’ he said.
The Head Coach of Sharks FC, Gbenga Ogunbote, on his part said the result was not good for his side’s continental ambitions.
“Sometimes you cannot explain when you lose such a game, but my boys did their best under the condition which they played.
“You are aware that the team had been on strike for about eight days without training due to the non-payment of their allowances.
“This result may not be too good for us, but sometimes the situation cannot be helped,’’ he said.
Sharks are currently placed 11th on the NPFL log with 53 points from 37 matches, while Giwa FC are 9th with 54 points from 36 games.

Sharks FC in one of their Premier League games