Airtel holds Etisalat to 1-1 on opening day

Last year’s Nigeria Telecom Games (NTG) debutants, Airtel Nigeria, returned with determination on Sunday, the opening day of the 2015 Games to force cup holders, Etisalat Nigeria, to a 1-1 draw in an exciting fixture witnessed by company big chiefs, including the Chief Executive Officer of Etisalat, Mathew Wilshere.

Played at the traditional venue, the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium in Lagos, Kenneth Kanu made hay for Airtel in the opening half with a sublime goal that is already being touted as favourite for the goal of the tournament. The Red and White boys of Banana Island held on to the lead all through the half but were cancelled out in the second half by Osere Osunbor’s effort, which salvaged a point for the defending champions.

In the second fixture of the day, former champions, MTN Nigeria, piped LM Ericsson 1-0 to go top of the log. Tosin Balogun fired in the winner, a beauty of a goal that was a kill joy for Ericsson, whose defenders showed good discipline all through the encounter until Balogun popped up. But it was perhaps a perfect reward for MTN, which showed touches of class with delightful passing game.