Warri Wolves Maintain Strong Second-Stanza Start, Beat Katsina United

Warri Wolves continued their impressive start to the second stanza of the 2025/26 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season with a convincing 2–0 home victory against Katsina United at the Delta State Polytechnic Stadium in Ozoro on Monday. The Seasiders made their advantage count after the break to claim all three points.

The tightly contested first half saw few clear openings as both sides battled tactically and physically, but Wolves broke the deadlock early in the second half when Igbunu Evwierhurhoma capitalised on a defensive lapse in the Katsina area to slot home. Moments later, Chisom Orji doubled the lead with a composed finish to put the hosts in firm control.

Warri Wolves maintained their momentum for the rest of the game, defending resolutely and seeing out the 2–0 scoreline, a result that lifted them into eighth place on the NPFL table with 30 points from 21 matches. Katsina United, meanwhile, dropped to 10th with 29 points as the league continues to unfold.

The win represents a continuation of Wolves’ second-half resurgence following the mid-season break, showcasing tactical discipline and attacking efficiency as they aim for a solid finish this term.

EDITORIAL

In the ever-shifting narrative of the NPFL’s second stanza, victories like Warri Wolves’ 2–0 triumph over Katsina United resonate beyond the simple arithmetic of goals and points. They speak to a team rediscovering rhythm and confidence — intangible qualities that often distinguish mid-table solidity from genuine ambition.

The first stanza of a season is a canvas of reconnaissance: sides learning each other’s contours, strengths and vulnerabilities. But the restart is where intent hardens into reality. Wolves’ performance against Katsina was not merely competent it was purposeful. In a first half that offered little in the way of breakthrough, the game’s true narrative was etched in the second, where clinical precision met tactical patience. Evwierhurhoma’s opener — born of exploiting a defensive miscue and Orji’s decisive follow-through were not happenstance. They were the product of clear design and mental resilience.

This result also encapsulates a wider truth about the NPFL: that the league’s competitive depth refuses to be defined solely by its leaders. Wolves’ rise into the top half of the standings exemplifies how consistency and strategic execution can elevate a side’s prospects in a fiercely contested race. Their play was neither flamboyant nor ostentatious — it was disciplined, controlled, and marked by a measured belief that goals would come if they stayed true to their structure.

In football’s broader tapestry, this win is more than a fleeting high; it is confirmation of progress. Warri Wolves have presented themselves as a side capable of seizing advantage from pivotal sequences and in a season where every point feels precious, that mindset may yet carry them further than many anticipated.

DID YOU KNOW?

1. Warri Wolves’ 2–0 win over Katsina United was part of Matchday 21 of the NPFL, contributing to the story of their second-half resurgence this season.
2. Igbunu Evwierhurhoma opened the scoring shortly after halftime, giving Wolves the breakthrough they needed after a stalemate first half.
3. Chisom Orji’s goal doubled Warri Wolves’ lead, securing a comfortable margin and sparking celebrations among the home fans.
4. Warri Wolves controlled much of the match after going ahead, recording significantly more shots on target and dominating possession levels in the second half.
5. The win lifted Wolves into 8th place with 30 points, edging them past Katsina United, who sat on 29 after the defeat — emphasizing the league’s tight mid-table race.