Kwara United head coach Tunde Sanni has attributed his team’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Shooting Stars of Ibadan (3SC) on Sunday in the NPFL Matchday 19 fixture to tough luck.

Speaking after the keenly contested encounter at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasigba, Sanni praised the resilience and determination of his players despite the slim loss.

The coach expressed pride in the team’s performance, noting that the boys gave their best and showed commendable effort throughout the match.

Sanni said: ” The type of goal that scored us was not planned; it was a reflection—it can score anybody. We lost the game on hard luck. You can see our boys were all over the pitch.”

The match is a renewal of a historic rivalry, saw Kwara United deliver an impressive performance despite the result.

The Harmony Boys fielded Abubakar Adamu in goal, with Ismaila Gatta leading the attack for the first time this season due to the late arrival of Emmanuel Ogbole and Nurudeen Badmus, who had been on international duty for CHAN qualifiers.

Despite the hosts’ aggressive start, Kwara United maintained control of the game with youthful energy and composure. However, a 42nd-minute free-kick from Mustapha Adamu found the back of the net, giving 3SC the lead before halftime.

Coach Tunde Sanni introduced Emmanuel Ogbole at the start of the second half, replacing Ismaila Gatta. Ogbole’s presence instantly transformed Kwara United’s attack as they dominated play in search of an equalizer.

Akanni Akeem, with his exceptional ball control and distribution, combined well with Shola AbdulRaheem, earning applause from fans for their efforts.

Ogbole came close to scoring twice, in the 63rd and 94th minutes, but his attempts were thwarted.

Kwara United’s defense, led by goalkeeper Abubakar Adamu, stood firm against Shooting Stars’ attempts to extend their lead. Segun Adekunle, Ibrahim Yahaya, Kabir Mohammed, and substitute Abayomi Lawal provided solid support, with Adamu making key saves to keep the Harmony Boys in the match.

Despite late efforts, Kwara United couldn’t find the equalizer, as Shooting Stars ensured they kept another clean sheet in December.

Kwara United will shift to their outstanding matci against Enyimba FC as the takes a two week breaks for the second stanza which will be begin in the second weekend of 2025.

The result placed the Afonja Warriors in 12th position after 18 matches with 23 points gathered.