By Aderonke Ojo
Westgate FC’s in the 2026 President Federation Cup came to an end on Tuesday following a 3-1 defeat to Nigeria Premier Football League side, Nasarawa United FC, in the Round of 64 fixture played at the Prince Abubakar Audu University (PAAU) Stadium, Ayingba, Kogi State.
Despite the result, the Gatekeepers produced a spirited display against the more experienced Solid Miners, matching their opponents for large periods of the encounter before set-piece situations ultimately proved decisive.
The opening exchanges saw both teams settle into an intense contest, with Westgate showing confidence in possession and attacking intent.
Friday Omoregie delivered an inviting cross early in the game, while Opaleye Elijah later forced a save from the Nasarawa United goalkeeper with an acrobatic effort midway through the first half.
As the game progressed, both sides continued searching for openings in what remained a balanced affair.
However, Nasarawa United eventually broke the deadlock in the 40th minute under fortunate circumstances, capitalising on a goalmouth scramble from a direct throw-in after a slip by the Westgate goalkeeper allowed the ball to fall kindly for the opener.
Just three minutes later, the Solid Miners doubled their advantage through another set-piece situation, this time a well-delivered free-kick near the edge of the area that was headed into the net to give the NPFL side a 2-0 lead heading into halftime.
Westgate returned for the second half with renewed determination and nearly found a route back into the game when Omoshade Samuel’s audacious lob effort narrowly missed the target shortly after the restart.
Coach Yakubu Ibrahim introduced fresh legs in the 67th minute, bringing on Festus Elegbede and Esosa Ulrich in place of Lucius Joseph and Idemudia Kelvin as the Gatekeepers pushed for a response.
The changes injected fresh energy into the side, and Westgate’s persistence was rewarded in the 83rd minute.
Idris Shittu’s rebound effort fell kindly to substitute Festus Elegbede, who showed great composure to dribble past his marker before calmly slotting home to reduce the deficit and spark hopes of a late comeback.
However, Nasarawa United restored their two-goal cushion just two minutes later in dramatic fashion, scoring directly from a corner kick in the 85th minute to seal a 3-1 victory and confirm their place in the next round of the competition.
Although disappointed with the outcome, Westgate FC can take positives from a performance that showed resilience, organisation, and fighting spirit against top-flight opposition. The experience gained from the encounter is expected to further aid the development of the young squad as the club continues its steady growth.
Post-Match Reaction from Westgate Head Coach , Coach Yakubu Ibrahim ,,
“We are obviously disappointed with the result because we came here believing in ourselves and hoping to progress, but I must commend the players for their effort and character throughout the game.
“I felt we competed well for long periods, especially against a very experienced NPFL side. Unfortunately, the game was decided by set-piece situations, and at this level you get punished for small mistakes.
“The response from the team after going two goals down was positive, and getting the goal showed the mentality and fighting spirit within this squad. We kept pushing and tried to get ourselves fully back into the game.
“There are definitely lessons to take from this match, and these are the kinds of experiences that help a young team improve. We will keep working hard, stay focused, and continue building towards the future.
“We also appreciate our supporters for standing with us throughout this journey.”
