Azeez Audu: Mistakes Cost Us Win in 1-1 Home Draw With Barau FC

Katsina United’s coach, Azeez Audu, admitted that his side’s mistakes prevented them from securing all three points in their 1-1 home draw against Barau FC in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

The match, played at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, saw Katsina United take a first-half lead through Uche Collins in the 38th minute. Barau FC responded in the 68th minute via Orji Kalu to level proceedings and deny the home side the victory.

Audu described how the conceded goal stemmed from avoidable lapses in concentration, and noted that the team failed to capitalise on key moments. “We started well and got our reward with the opener, but then mistakes crept in — both in defending and in transition,” he said. He added that Katsina United had “gathered good positions” but lacked the sharpness to put the game beyond reach.

The coach emphasised that while the result is disappointing at home, his team must learn quickly and work on ironing out the errors if they wish to climb the league table. “These things happen, but our priority now is to correct the weak links and ensure we do better next time,” Audu stated.

Editorial

In the pulsating theatre of the NPFL, the fine line between victory and draw is often drawn in invisible ink — misread passes, mis-timed runs, momentary lapses of awareness. For Katsina United and their coach Azeez Audu, the 1-1 draw with Barau FC was not merely a match it was a micro-lesson in how high ambitions can be undone by the marginal.

Katsina United surged ahead through intent and execution, and for a while the crowd sensed a return of the confident “Chanji Boys”. But then the imperative shifted from finishing to managing from celebration to containment. The second-half equaliser exposed what Audu admitted that the team allowed mistakes to define the moment rather than the momentum.

What makes this account compelling is not just the admission of error, but the context. A home fixture, against a visiting side showing resilience. Lead established, yet not consolidated. In that terrain the mental architecture of a side becomes pertinent. Audu’s recognition of the issue “we gathered good positions but lacked sharpness” — speaks to a developmental pivot. The difference for these players will not only be in talent, but in temperament and detail.

For the wider Nigerian football watcher, this episode underscores a familiar theme clubs with aspirations must evolve operationally. It is no longer enough to win one half or open the scoring success requires closing the game, managing transitions, maintaining concentration when fatigue and tension accumulate. Audu’s honesty about mistakes is refreshing; but honesty alone will not rewrite the result book. Execution will.

In the weeks ahead, Katsina United’s response will matter more than the draw itself. How they learn, how they adjust, and how they prevent repetition these will be the indicators of progression rather than regression. Because in the NPFL, it is not about how you start, but how you finish.

Did You Know?

1. Katsina United took the lead in the match with a goal by Uche Collins in the 38th minute.
2. Barau FC equalised in the 68th minute through Orji Kalu, denying Katsina United the win at home.
3. Coach Azeez Audu has previously cited “anxiety” as affecting his team’s finishing and said he would work on his players psychologically.
4. The fixture was played at Katsina’s home ground, the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium, giving the home side the advantage of venue and support.
5. Drawing at home in the NPFL can carry significant cost beyond the one point because it not only affects league position, but can shift momentum, fan confidence and internal culture.