By Jacob Ajom

Semi-finalists for the football event of the 2024 Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Games have emerged after the quarter-finals matches were decided yesterday at the Shell Residential Area Football pitch in Port Harcourt, yesterday.

In the opening match of the last 8, NLNG defeated hard-fighting PTI 4-2 after a penalty shootout. The match which was highly contested ended 0-0 at regulation time.

Coach of NLNG, Dan Jumbo blamed their opponents PTI for dragging the game into penalties. “PTI players were tactically delaying the game and were conservative in their approach. They didn’t play an open game. We were determined to win and thank God we achieved our aim.”

Looking ahead of the semi final, Coach Jumbo said, “For us we will prepare very well and give it our best shot. As you know we can only prepare but victory comes from God.”

His opposite number Olayinka Ayinde of PTI said, “we accept our loss. Penalty games can be anybody’s game. We have tried our best and we accept defeat in good faith.”

With the defeat, Coach Ayinde said, “we have been ruled out of the Abuja finals because we lost here. Next edition we will prepare better.”

In the other matches the defending champions NNPC overcame a stubborn Total Energies team by a lone goal while NMDPRA ended ExxonMobil run with a 3-0 win to also qualify for the semi finals.

In the semi finals pairings NNPC will take on NCDMB while the second semi final mtch will feature NLNG against NMDPRA. Both matches come up today at the same venue.