Plateau United recorded a hard-fought 1–0 victory over El-Kanemi Warriors at the New Jos Stadium on Saturday, with Gideon Monday’s first-half header proving decisive.
The Peace Boys started brightly, with winger Kazeem Adeyanju tormenting the visitors’ defence early on. In the 10th minute, he beat four markers before delivering a teasing cross that Monday narrowly missed. Moments later, Tarabina Biweribo rose to meet Mubarak Usman’s long throw but sent his header over the bar.
The breakthrough arrived in the 32nd minute. Adeyanju swung in a superb corner and Monday climbed highest to head home, giving Plateau United a deserved lead. The hosts could have doubled their advantage before the break but Saka Gafar and Vincent Temitope both squandered promising chances.
Coach Shola Adegun was forced into an early change in the 42nd minute when Mafeng Pam replaced Vincent Temitope, who had picked up a slight knock. Adegun later explained the switch was precautionary.
After the restart, El-Kanemi pressed for an equaliser but were repeatedly denied by goalkeeper Favour Bala. His standout moment came in the 60th minute when he raced back to claw away an audacious shot from Alamin Umar, just beyond the halfway line, producing an incredible off-the-line save to preserve the lead.
Plateau United remained dangerous on the counter. Midfielder Chinemerem Ugwueze linked up well with Gift Osadebe, creating openings that were either blocked or failed to trouble the keeper. Adegun freshened his side with substitutions, bringing on Mafeng Pam, Kalu Samuel, Apollos Friday, Harrison Ebah and Jonathan Okechukwu to shore up the midfield and defence.
Despite late pressure from the visitors, the Plateau United backline, marshalled by Wisdom Ndon, Mustapha Abdullahi and Biweribo, stood firm. The hosts managed the closing stages with composure to secure back-to-back home wins.
They now turn their attention to a double away fixture against Kwara United in Ilorin midweek, and Shooting Stars in Ibadan next weekend.