Sikiru Adewale’s brace and Gbolahan Salami’s first goal of the new Glo Premier League season helped Warri Wolves beat Giwa FC in a rescheduled Match Day 2 game on Wednesday.
Fresh from a 2-0 home win over Ethiopian side Dedebit in the first round of the Caf Confederation Cup, Wolves sailed to a comfortable win in their first home game of the season.
Captain Azubuike Egwuekwe was among five changes made by coach Gbenga Ogungbote from the side that started the opening day defeat at Gabros, including fellow Super Eagles duo Salami, and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi, as well as Adewale and Gift Atiluwa.
New Giwa boss Tony Bulos made a single change from the side that drew at home to Abia Warriors in person of Jimmy Ambrose.
Giwa top scorer last season, Ibrahim Shuaibu, almost stunned the home fans at the Warri City stadium in the 10th minute, but it was Salami who was celebrating six minutes later. The ex-Shooting Stars forward tapped home from Adewale’s squared pass to place Wolves on the front foot.
Salami was denied a brace five minutes after the half-hour mark, when goalkeeper Friday Achimugwu palmed away his well-taken shot from 16 yards.
But the hosts were celebrating another goal a minute after, as Adewale beat the offside trap to latch on to an Ichull Lordson delivery and double the Seasiders’ advantage.
Adewale grabbed his brace in the 63rd minute, getting on the end of an Egwuekwe long ball to apply a courteous finish.
Home goalkeeper Akpeyi parried Shuaibu’s spot-kick to safety after Wolves’ Semiu Liadi handled the ball in his side’s box.
Salami’s had the ball inside the net two minutes from time, but his celebration was rightly cut short for an offside. The Delta State side were nonetheless satisfied with their second win in four days.
Elsewhere in Aba, Enyimba were forced to a 1-1 draw by Lobi Stars.
