Tag: Abia Warriors

Abia Warriors skipper, Augustine Njoku has said that the team is in Lafia for the three points and nothing more against Nasarawa United.

Abia Warriors will take on Nasarawa United in a Matchday 7 tie of the 2024-25 Nigeria Premier Football League at the Lafia City Stadium.

The Umuchineke side defeated Kwara United by a lone goal last Sunday and Njoku who sat with the club’s media noted that they have immediately shifted attention to today’s showdown with the Solid Miners.

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According to the former national U-20 defender, his optimism stems from the hard-fought victory over Kwara United in the Match Day 6 of the NPFL played at the Umuahia Township Stadium.

“The spirit in the camp is high. I believe we didn’t come here for a jamboree or play, we are here for the maximum points,” Njoku disclosed.

“I believe with everything that we have been through within the week and everything our coaches have been able to put together to teach us concerning the game of football, we shall get a good result.

“I believe if we can put them to work come Wednesday, we are going to come out from that field with the maximum points.”

Libyan Premier League Outfit, Al Anwar has completed the signing of former Abia Warriors Forward, Samson Obi on a free transfer. 

Obi, who scored nine league goals for Warriors during the NPFL 2023/24 season signed a one-year deal with the North African side until the end of the 2024/25 season with the option of another year based on performance.

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The Enugu-born forward turned down offers from Both NPFL champions, Rangers Int’l and Rivers United in favour of a move to Al Anwar.

Abia Warriors new head coach Imama Amapakabo has commenced work at Abia Warriors ahead of the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League season.

Imama met with players of the club on the opening day of training after Warriors embarked on a short break at the end of last season.

This is Imama’s second stint at the Umuahia based club who are expected to unveil their new signings later this week.

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The club under the tutelage of Bethel Orji managed to escape relegation from the NPFL last season.

They wrapped up their football season last term with a 2-0 loss to El-Kanemi Warriors in the final of the President Federation Cup in Lagos.

Ambitious Abia Warriors became the first of the four finalists in the 2024 President Federation Cup grand finale to arrive in Lagos and Coach Bethel Orji has no doubt that his Umuahia giants will come good on Saturday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.

 “We are here and we’re highly motivated. We are all elated. I thank God for the turn-around in the fortunes of the team, and I am delighted to be playing my first Cup final as a coach,” Orji told thenff.com.

A great player and former Cup winner himself, Bethel Orji will be banking on the precision of forwards Samson Obi and Sunday Megwo when Abia Warriors confront the two-time champions by the Lagos Waterfront on Saturday evening.

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“We are prepared for the game, physically, mentally and psychologically. The players are in high spirits; they are raring to go.”

Abia Warriors reached the men’s final of the President Federation Cup four days after ensuring they will play in the Nigeria Premier Football League for the 12th consecutive season, come next season.

Abia Warriors and El-Kanemi Warriors will make history as the first two teams to play the final of Nigeria’s oldest Club competition in Abuja on Saturday next week, after both teams came out winners in tough semi-final duels.

The Abia State giants sailed into the final after a 4-3 penalty shootout defeat of Kano Pillars at the Lafia City Stadium, with both teams locked at a scoreless situation after 90 minutes.

Former winners El-Kanemi Warriors also triumphed 5-4 after a penalty shootout over surprise semi-finalists Kebbi United at the NFF/FIFA Goal Project in Abuja, with both teams also unable to find the net in the 90-minute regulation period.

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In the shootouts, Pillars’ forward Ibrahim Mustapha vitiated the need for Abia Warriors to take their last kick after missing his team’s last kick. Pillars missed two of their five kicks while Abia Warriors converted all their four kicks.

In Abuja, hard-fighting Kebbi United fluffed their second kick in the shootout, while El-Kanemi Warriors converted all their five to make the progress to nearby MKO Abiola National Stadium for the grand finale on 29th June.   

Abia Warriors skipper, Augustine Njoku is more than convinced his team will get the better of Kwara United in the Round of 16 of the President Federation Cup ahead of their clash today in Ikenne, Ogun State. 

The Pride of Abia had a feel of the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne, venue of the match yesterday afternoon and captain of the side, Augustine Njoku is confident of a favourable result.

 “Since the FA Cup (President Federation Cup) started we’ve been playing against lower division teams and now is the time to play against a fellow Premier League side. It’s going to be a very big game for us and I believe we’ll come out victorious and proceed to the quarter finals”, the former national U-20 wing back told Abia Warriors media.

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On a possible threat that could be posed by his former Abia Warriors team mates who are now on the pay roll of Kwara United, Njoku sees it as a mere reunion and nothing more.

 “It’s a good one equally, I can say that’s part of football. In football, your teammate today can equally be your opponent tomorrow, that’s how football is. And it’s a good one. 

“It’s going to be a kind of reunion between us and them, because they left in the mid-season of this current season to join Kwara United and since then we’ve not seen ourselves. I know they will give some information about our team to their new employers but I believe our team have improved much more than when they left. So, it’s going to be a reunion between us and them and it will be great to see them again.”

The encounter comes up today, by 1pm at the Remo Stars Stadium, Ikenne.

Abia Warriors have assured their shirt sponsor, Eunisell Limited, to be good ambassadors of the company wherever they are.

The club was recently hosted by chemical solutions giant, Eunisell  at  an event at the Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos.

While speaking with the club’s media, Eunisell Group Managing Director  Chika Ikenga disclosed the essence of the occasion.

“Since we started this sponsorship this year we’ve not had the opportunity to meet with everybody so, tonight presents a big opportunity to do that. And to tell the boys  well done and to keep encouraging them,” Ikenga noted.

He further  highlighted the importance of football as a buffer towards solving some socio-economic problems.

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“There’s a big opportunity for football in Nigeria particularly to create employment for our young people and to see how Nigeria can earn more from football. Football builds a nation’s brand, and reputation and image. Football brings people together. People enjoy football. People love football. And like I said, it enhances the image of a nation.”

He went further to encourage other corporate bodies to sponsor football clubs in Nigeria.

“If you’re sponsoring it’s a two way thing. The sponsor benefits, then the person or the club benefits. It helps to build a corporate image so, you can’t lose by sponsoring.”

On his part, Abia Warriors Sporting Director, Emeka Ifejiagwa, thanked Eunisell’s Group Managing Director for his hospitality and assured him of the club’s commitment in being good ambassadors of the brand.

The high point of the event was the presentation of a signed replica jersey of the club to the company’s Group Managing Director of Eunisell.

The management, technical crew and players of Abia Warriors Football Club of Umuahia have been hosted by the club’s shirt sponsor, Eunisell in Lagos.

The occasion which took place last weekend, at the Eko Hotel and Suites saw the Pride of Umuahia treated to a sumptuous banquet at the hotel.

Eunisell Ltd, a Chemical Solutions leader, delivers world-class technology and engineering improvements to oil and gas production.

While speaking with the club’s media, Eunisell Group Managing Director,  Chika Ikenga disclosed the essence of the occasion.

“Since we started this sponsorship this year we’ve not had the opportunity to meet with everybody so, tonight presents a big opportunity to do that. And to tell the boys  well done and to keep encouraging them.

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Ikenga also highlighted the importance of football during the media parley.

“There’s a big opportunity for football in Nigeria particularly to create employment for our young people and to see how Nigeria can earn more from football. Football builds a nation’s brand, and reputation and image. Football brings people together. People enjoy football. People love football. And like I said, it enhances the image of a nation.”

He went further to encourage other corporate bodies to sponsor football clubs in Nigeria.

“If you’re sponsoring it’s a two way thing. The sponsor benefits, then the person or the club benefits. It helps to build a corporate image so, you can’t lose by sponsoring.”

On his part, Abia Warriors Sporting Director, Emeka Ifejiagwa, thanked Eunisell’s Group Managing Director for his hospitality and assured him of the club’s commitment in being good ambassadors of the brand.

The high point of the event was the presentation of a signed replica jersey of the club to the company’s Group Managing Director of Eunisell.

• Elizabeth Eze

Players of Abia Warriors Football Club  have been  N500,000 richer after  a keen follower of the  Nigeria  Premier Football League(NPFL) side, Francis Chilaka , redeemed a cash pledge  he made before  their last game away to  Kano Pillars.

In a Matchday 23 game, the Umuahia-based Abia Warriors pipped  the Sai Masu Gida 1-0 to record their first away win of the season courtesy  of Daniel Ijeh’s strike barely 12 minutes from the regulation time.

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The win has lifted Abia Warriors to the eighth spot with 33 points.

Chilaka’s N500,000 donation to Abia Warriors,  he said, was in fulfilment of his promise prior to the away win against  Kano Pillars on Monday 4, 2024.

Also known far and wide  as “Owo-Texas”, Chialaka  has equally promised  more incentives  ti the club if they can sustain  their winning momentum.

 “This is a tip of the  iceberg of what I will do for this great club, ” Chialaka said.  

In the meantime, Chialaka  has promised to reward  Abia Warriors  should they win their next game coming up on Sunday  against Lobi stars  at the Umuahia Township Stadium.