Osun United, known as the Imole Gladiators, secured a 2-1 victory over Rovers FC in a highly entertaining Matchday 9 clash of the 2024/2025 Nigeria National League NNL. With head coach Seye Ajayi sticking to his core squad, the home team dominated early proceedings, setting the pace for a well deserved win.
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With 16 points and only three behind group leaders Kun Khalifa, Osun United now prepares for their Matchday 10 encounter against Sporting Lagos.

Editorial

Osun United’s victory over Rovers FC highlights the importance of maintaining control, discipline, and capitalizing on key opportunities in football. Under Seye Ajayi’s leadership, the team displayed intelligence, with Ganiyu Gberefun’s creativity and vision providing the decisive edge. Matches like these not only boost the team’s morale but also demonstrate their potential to contend for top honours this season.
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Faruq Oyeniyi earned a starting spot, but it was Ganiyu Gberefun who emerged as the star of the show, orchestrating both first half goals. In the 15th minute, Gberefun delivered a pinpoint diagonal pass to Emmanuel Essien, who calmly converted the opening goal. Just before halftime, Gberefun dazzled the crowd again with a brilliant setup, assisting Olateju Robiu to double Osun United’s lead and send the fans into a frenzy.
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Despite Rovers’ improved effort in the second half, Osun United’s defence remained resilient. Although Rovers scored a consolation goal late in the match, it wasn’t enough to deny Osun United the win. Lekan Gabriel’s commanding performance earned him the man of the match award.

However, while their attacking prowess stood out, Osun United must work on converting more of their chances to avoid narrow finishes. The upcoming fixture against Sporting Lagos will be a critical test of whether they can sustain their momentum and challenge for the league title. If they maintain this form, Osun United could soon find themselves at the top of the table.

Did You Know?

Osun United was formerly known as Prime FC before being rebranded in 2016.
The [Nigeria National](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/international-nigerian-footballers/karim-adeyemi-shows-love-for-nigeria-despite-representing-germany/) League (NNL) is the second tier of professional football in Nigeria, feeding directly into the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).
[Emmanuel](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/news/transfer-news/al-ahli-reach-agreement-with-victor-osimhen-e40-million-annual-salary/) Essien, who scored Osun United’s first goal, has been instrumental in their recent run of good form.
The club’s nickname, "Imole Gladiators," reflects their resilience and fighting spirit on the pitch.
Sporting Lagos, their next opponent, is one of the newer clubs in Nigerian football but has quickly established itself as a competitive force.