NAN-S-17
Semi-finals
By Dorcas Jonah
Abuja, Nov. 17, 2017 (NAN) The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday beat their NTA Abuja counterparts 2-1 to advance to the semi-finals of the five-a-side football competition of the 2017 FCT SWAN Week.
The NAN team won after a 1-1 draw at the end of regulation time and scoring in the sudden-death penalty shootout of the match played at the Area 3 pitch.
Abdullahi Ajia scored in the 8th minute to put NTA Channel 5 in the driving seat, but NAN’s response was both fierce and immediate.
Benjamin Puyeta drew the “News Merchants’’ level in the 9th minute to set the stage for a nail-biting finish to the end of regulation time.
In the ensuing sudden death penalty shootout, NAN scored their opening kick by Puyeta while NTA Abuja lost theirs.
In the other opening round/quarter-final matches played later, Hot FM beat Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) 5-0 to also qualify for the semi-finals.
Kiss FM walked over the Cool/Wazobia/ NaijaInfo team, while NTA Headquarters beat Independen Television (ITV) 1-0 in the last match of the day.
In Saturday’s semi-finals, NAN will take on Hot FM in the first semi-final clash, while Kiss FM face NTA Headquarters at the same venue.
Speaking after the quarter-final match win, Okpanachi Atojoko, the captain of NAN team, thanked God for the victory and expressed hope that the team would come out victorious in the competition.
“This is our first appearance in this competition and judging by our performance, I think we will win the grand prize,’’ he said.
On his part, Ajia said his team have accepted their defeat in good faith as sportsmen and wished NAN well in their future matches.
“We take the defeat in good faith. However, it is unfortunate that in spite of the support we got from the management of NTA Abuja we are out of the competition. But we did our best.
“Penalty shootout game is always a game of luck,’’ he said.
The FCT SWAN week continues with the five-a-side competition on Saturday, with semi-final matches at the same venue of Area 3 football pitch.
Competition in table tennis and draught is billed to begin on Monday.(NAN)
DE/OLAL
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(Edited by Olawale Alabi)