Super Eagles goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke kept a clean sheet on his return to Nigeria, as his Sudanese club Al Merrikh, narrowly beat defending champions Shooting Stars 1-0 in their first game in this year’s Valuejet Cup.
Olorunleke, who joined Al Merrikh from Enyimba, was on for the entire duration and contributed his quota to the victory.
Although the goalkeeper, who was part of Jose Peseiro’s silver-winning Super Eagles team at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in the Ivory Coast, gave the ball away in the early moments of the game, he maintained his composure after Shooting Stars’ Anthony Okachi could not convert.
The only goal of the game came in the 77th minute when Mutaz Ashim converted from close range to take all points off Shooting Stars.
FULL TIME:
Sudanese side, @Almerrikh08 beat Defending Champions, Shooting Stars with a late goal from Mutaz Hashim.
Al Merrikh 1-0 Shooting Stars.
(Mutaz Hashim⚽️) #ValueJetCup24 pic.twitter.com/Gp4Vq7v0sk— ValueJet Cup (@ValueJetCup) July 24, 2024
The Oluyole Warriors will play Remo Stars B team in their second group game on Friday.
Remo Stars B side, a last minute substitute for newly promoted Nigeria Premier Football League side, Beyond Limits Football Academy, played a 1-1 draw with Ikorodu City in the tournament’s opener.
On Thursday, Ijebu United will lock horns with Rivers United, while Remo Stars battle Kwara United.
