Sa’ad’s Strike Proves Decisive as ABS FC Edge Lobi Stars 1–0 in Ilorin

In a tightly contested showdown in Ilorin, it was Jamiu Sa’ad who emerged the hero for ABS FC, scoring the only goal of the game to hand the Saraki Boys a 1–0 win over Lobi Stars on Matchday 4 of the 2025/26 Nigeria National League (NNL).

The game had been goalless at half-time, with both sides probing for an opening. But in the 64th minute, a long-range strike from David Shedrack struck Lobi’s goalkeeper, who parried the ball only for Sa’ad to pounce on the rebound and fire home, sending the home crowd into raptures.

Despite Lobi Stars pushing hard afterwards in search of an equaliser, ABS defence marshalled by captain Timothy Boniface stood resolute. Goalkeeper Shakiru Lawal also held firm, preserving his side’s third clean sheet of the season.

The result moves ABS to second place in the NNL Northern Conference C standings with nine points  just one behind league leaders. Sa’ad’s goal-scoring streak continues: he has now found the net in all four games played so far this season.

Editorial

Football, in its finest moments, is not always about grandeur. Sometimes, it is about grit the ability to bend under pressure and not break. ABS FC’s 1–0 win over Lobi Stars was not a spectacle it was a testament. A statement of character, unity, and unyielding resolve.

When Sa’ad’s rebound strike left the net bulging, it was not just a goal — it was validation. Validation for a team rebuilding ambition, for a defence that refused to buckle, and for supporters who have waited patiently for signs of resurgence. In a league as volatile as the NNL, such nights are rarer than they should be.

What stands out is not just the result, but the response. Lobi Stars pressed, attacked, sought entry  but met resistance. ABS didn’t collapse. They absorbed. They defended. They believed. That mentality, more than tactical nuance or individual flair, often separates promotion-chasing sides from dreamers.

For Coach Yusuf Salihu and his squad, this win offers more than three points. It offers belief. A platform. A foundation. To build not just a season, but a campaign. If they treat every match with this same poise and hunger — block by block, clean sheet by clean sheet they might not just chase promotion. They may force it.

In the swirling uncertainty of lower-league football, where budgets are tight and patience thinner, character becomes currency. And on this night, ABS spent it wisely.

Did You Know?

1. Jamiu Sa’ad has now scored in all four matches played by ABS FC in the 2025/26 NNL season  a remarkable start for any striker.
2. With tonight’s 1–0 win, ABS recorded their third clean sheet of the campaign a defensive solidity that bodes well for a promotion push.
3. ABS FC are currently second in the NNL Northern Conference C — only one point behind the leaders showing how tight and competitive the promotion race has become.
4. Lobi Stars are themselves in a rebuilding phase, having been relegated from the top flight in 2025  meaning this match was part of their bid for quick re-ascension.
5. This victory continues a pattern for ABS FC: they have been particularly strong at home this season, leveraging home advantage at George Innih Stadium, Ilorin to grind out results.