Niger Tornadoes FC of Minna on Sunday laboured hard to record a slim 1-0 win over visiting Plateau United FC of Jos.

The 2021/2022 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match, day one encounter, was played at the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin, the adopted home of Niger Tornadoes.

Niger Tornadoes started brightly with Daniel Edeh almost on the score sheet as early as the fifth minute from a free-kick.

Kabiru Adeniji, who played the first half of the 2020/2021 season at Kwara United FC of Ilorin, capitalised on a defensive blunder by Plateau United defenders to score the only goal of the match in the 13th minute.

Niger Tornadoes goalkeeper Lucky Abdul was well alerted in the 32nd minute when he quickly came off his line to deny Mohammed Zulkifilu.

Sunday Anthony headed wide Andrew Ikefe’s cross, in the 42nd minute, in one of the fewest chances the visitors created in the game.

Niger Tornadoes began the second half of the game better than the first half and defended well, denying the visitors their few scoring chances.

Adeniji again called Abiodun Akande into action to make a great safe in the 56th minute, stretching the goalkeeper to his far right to stop the hosts.

Niger Tornadoes, three minutes later, put up a scintillating defensive display to deny Plateau United after several goal attempts.

With few seconds on the clock before the final whistle, Andrew Ikefe glided an excellent opportunity to even the scores and left his bench in anguish.

Niger Tornadoes returned to the country’s apex league after four years in the lower division, the Nigeria National League (NNL).

(NAN)