Nasarawa United FC

Baldwin Bazuaye and Timothy Danladi, Head Coach and Captain of Katsina United Football Club respectively, on Wednesday blamed referee Hadiza Musa for their team’s 0-2 loss to Nasarawa United FC.

The duo expressed their feelings to newsmen after the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week 23 encounter at the Lafia Township Stadium.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nasarawa United won the match through goals scored in each half of the encounter.

Bazuaye rated the centre referee 45 per cent, saying she took certain decisions unexpected of a top referee, thereby jeopardising his team’s chances of getting anything out of the game.

“She did some certain things not expected of a professional referee. So, I am really disappointed because if the officiating was better, we probably would have gotten something out of the game.

“For me, I rate her 40 to 45 per cent out of 100,’’ he said.

Bazuaye also said the current fasting by many of his players was a factor that might have affected his team’s performance.

He however said he would ensure victory for his team in their upcoming home fixture against the El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri.

“All over the country, the fasting is affecting most of the players and we are all human beings. They need to eat.

“They need vitamins and so, but now we are just managing them. Nevertheless, we will be prepared to do all our best to win our home fixture against El-Kanemi Warriors,” he said.

Timothy Danladi, captain of the away side, also attributed their loss to Musa’s officiating, saying her decisions cost his team dearly and contributed to their loss to Nasarawa United.

“The whole officiating cost us dearly. It was not fair. When they visited us, the officiating was 50-50, but today it has been totally different.

“Most of the time, away teams don’t get fair officiating in this league. I don’t know why,” he said.

Also speaking, Kabiru Dogo, Head Coach of home side Nasarawa United, said his side’s victory was not due to undue advantage gained through bad officiating.

He however acknowledged that due to the determination and perseverance of his players to win and climb the table to secure a continental football slot by the end of the season.

“What matters now for us is every point. We are desperate to snatch every point we can get so that we can reach our target of being one of the teams that will qualify and play continental football.

“But we are also determined to win,” Dogo said.

NAN reports that in spite of missing a penalty kick in the 24th minute, Nasarawa United scored in the 34th minute through Abdulrahman Bashir who scored from close range.

In the second half, Adamu Hassan made amends for his penalty kick in the first half with a solo effort in the 75th minute to extend the lead.