The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa United

  • Gov Udom’S largesse: Akwa United players cry out

    Gov Udom’S largesse: Akwa United players cry out

    Players of Akwa United have cried out over the unpaid Federation Cup financial reward promised them by  Governor Emmanuel Udom.

    Reports revealed that Udom is yet to redeem the sum of N2million and residential apartments to each player of the team for winning a historic first Federation Cup.

    The Promise Keepers defeated Lobi Stars 2-1 in the final of the 2015 Federation Cup at the Teslim Balogun Stadium with goals from Nnamso Edo and Abdulafeez Awakan, who was voted the most valuable player of the competition.

    Edom, who promised to reward the players with mouth watering incentives should they win the trophy in what was their first attempt, has failed to fulfil his promises, according to futbalgalore.com.

    Akwa United, who barely escaped the drop at the end of the 2014/2015 season as a result of the feat, will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

    Some of the players, who didn’t want their names mentioned in print, have appealed to the governor to make them happy in their quest for success in the upcoming campaign.

     

  • Akwa United shock Lobi to clinch Fed Cup

    Akwa United shock Lobi to clinch Fed Cup

    Akwa United upstaged favourites Lobi Stars 2-1 on Sunday to win this year’s Nigeria Federation Cup.

    Akwa United, who appeared in their first-ever cup final, will represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup on account of this historic cup triumph.

    Namso Edo put Awa United with a well-taken free kick after 36 minutes after Friday Ubong was brought down on top of the Lobi box.

    Lobi, cup winners in 2003, chased the game after the interval, but it was Abdulafeez Awakan who doubled Akwa‘s lead in the 70th minute when he powered home a shot beyond the goalkeeper from the top of the 18-yard box.

    Substitute Barnabas Imengar Junior pulled a goal back for Lobi in stoppage time from a brilliantly struck free kick.

    Incidentally, both teams clashed on the final day of the Nigeria league season a week ago with Akwa also winning 1-0 to stay up in the Nigeria Premier League.

    Sunshine Queens won the Women’s version of the Federation Cup after they defeated Bayelsa Queens 3-1 on penalties after full time scores stood at 1-1.

    Last year, Sunshine Queens lost to Rivers Angels in the cup final.

  • Tenger boasts: I know how to beat Akwa United

    Tenger boasts: I know how to beat Akwa United

    Lobi Stars head coach, Justin Tenger hopes for his second FA Cup trophy when his side meets Akwa United in the Federation Cup final at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos. He won the first FA Cup trophy as a coach when he guided defunct BCC Lion of Gboko to victory in 1997. In this interview with Taofeek Babalola, Tenger said his boys have rediscovered their form and they are in the right frame of mind for the game. Excerpts:

    How prepared are your players for Sunday’s game against Akwa United?

    The boys are in good shape. One good thing is that the boys picked up very late and it happened to us at a very good time. They rediscover their forms towards the tail end of the season that is why they were able to scale through the Federation Cup final.

    What can you attribute to the struggling of Lobi Stars this season?

    The truth is that the team struggled throughout the season because the team is full of young players. Most of them came from lower clubs who played at the lower division and the premier league is quite different from what we see in other divisions. The boys are not there yet. Even some of the game we lost we should have won it. We drew almost eight matches at home; if we had won those matches we would have won the league or came second.

    You lost 1-0 to Akwa United few days ago in the premier league; do you think they will not do the double against you on Sunday?

    The match in Uyo, they know how they won it. Lagos is a different ball game. They are coming and take their defeat to Uyo.  I retired from Akwa United and I know who they are. And I know the players they would parade on Sunday. FA Cup is different from League games and come on Sunday we will know who is the real champion.

    What is your expectation for Sunday’s game?

    Well, I expect nothing less than lifting the cup and take it to my state. I want to see this as an opportunity for me. If I win it, it means that God crown my career and my old age. Sunday’s game would be my third national trophy as a coach. One from FA cup and one from the league.  I won the first FA cup trophy in 1997 with BCC Lion of Gboko. I won the league with Katsina United in 2000. Now I’m hoping to win my third national trophy on Sunday.

    What are the motivations for the team?

    Thank you for this question, all along the state government has been very supportive. That is one good area that the team is banking on. The governor came in and he showed lots of enthusiasm, he supported us; in fact, the only way to pay him back is to win the trophy.

    Your message to your fans?

    They should expect different Lobi Stars. People of Lagos love beautiful football and they will see good game on Sunday. We will play good football and we will win well on Sunday by God’s grace.

    Thank you for talking to us.

    You are welcome.

  • Akwa United to fly to Kano

    Akwa United to fly to Kano

    Plans have been concluded to airlift players and officials of Akwa United to Kano ahead of Sunday’s Glo Premier League Week 37 tie with Kano Pillars to reduce players’ stress and also improve their chances of staying in the elite division beyond this season.

    The Promise Keepers are 15th on the log with 44 points from 36 matches and the Media Manager of the club, Uwem Ekoh has told SportingLife that the management has agreed to airlift the team to Kano after getting the greenlight of the state government.

  • Rangers, Akwa United split points in 4-goal thriller

    Rangers, Akwa United split points in 4-goal thriller

    Rangers and Akwa United settled for a 2-2 draw in a Week 36 game of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) game on Sunday in Enugu.

    Rangers now have 48 points from 35 games, while Akwa have 44 points from 36 games.

    The hosts started well and scored in the seventh minute when Chinedu Udeagha finished well from Etim’s cross.

    A minute after Rangers goal, Aniekpero Udoh tapped in from a rebound after Friday Ubong’s effort hit the goal post.

    Rangers lead was restored by Justice Chinedu in the 51st minute off a superb free kick that beat the wall and goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode.

    Akwa got their equalizer in the 68th minute through Nnamso Edo’s well taken free kick.

  • Rangers players vow to beat Akwa United

    Rangers players vow to beat Akwa United

    Enugu Rangers’ players have vowed to avenge the defeat they suffered in the hands of Kano Pillars during the mid week when they face Akwa United today in a Glo Premier League Week 36 tie.

    The  captain of the Flying Antelopes and some other players blamed the centre referee, Adigwe G I from Lagos State for the unjust straight red card given to Emeka Eze and other questionable calls to give Pillars a soft-landing to get a win.

    However, they said they have put the defeat behind them and the duo of Bobby Clement and Osas Okoro are optimistic that with the inclusion of Pape Ousmane and Etim Matthew in today’s squad, Rangers would pick the full points at stake.

    In a chat with the club’s Director of Media and Publicity, Foster Chime, the club’s players stated their resolve to take the maximum points and improve their position on the league table.

    Rangers are 12th on the log with 45 points from 34 matches. They travel to Akure to face Sunshine Stars in a rescheduled Glo Premier League Week 34 tie on Wednesday.

  • Baraje tasks Akwa United players to beat Rangers

    Baraje tasks Akwa United players to beat Rangers

    Akwa United head coach, Zachary Baraje has challenged his players to go all out for the three points against Enugu Rangers on Sunday in their Glo Premier League Week 36 tie as they seek further points that will take them off the drop zone.

    The Promise Keepers are 13th on the log with 43 points from 35 matches and after surviving a tough league tie at home to Sunshine Stars last Wednesday Baraje has charged his players to get their survival battle sorted before the end of the season.

    Baraje admitted that Sunshine Stars made the game very tough for them and that they were fortunate to secure all points judging by the spate of injuries to some of their first team regulars.

    The veteran coach revealed to SportingLife that some of his players had to play against the Akure Gunners with injuries just for them to achieve the objective of getting the three  points.

    He said his players have been told to continue to exert themselves for the progress of the club adding that their major priority is to ensure that the Promise Keepers escape relegation at the end of the season.

  • Akwa United’s Ariwa a doubt for Nasarawa United tie

    Akwa United’s Ariwa a doubt for Nasarawa United tie

    Akwa United’s Emmanuel Ariwa would be a major absentee when the Promise Keepers face Nasarawa United in a Glo Premier League Week 31 tie at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

    Ariwa skipped yesterday’s training session and the body language from the team’s head coach, Zachary Baraje says that the former Niger Tornadoes player may not have any role to play as the Solid Miners beckon this weekend.

    The Media Manager of the club, Uwem Ekoh told SportingLife that Akwa United are taken the game very seriously and that they are expecting to smile home with the maximum points because they are not where they ought to be presently on the league table.

    He said the players are in high spirits and that with the right response from the Akwa State Government too, they are raring to go against Nasarawa United.

    The Promise Keepers are 16th on the log with 34 points from 30 games.

  • 3SC, Akwa United talk tough ahead of tie

    3SC, Akwa United talk tough ahead of tie

    The Media Officer of 3SC, Jubril Arowolo has stated that the Oluyole Warriors won’t take Akwa United for granted when they trade tackle on Sunday in a Glo Premier League Week 30 tie slated for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan.

    The Ibadan base side lost their last away tie in Enugu despite being very close to nicking a point against Enugu Rangers during the cracker played last weekend.

    Arowolo told SportingLife that they are aware of the prowess of the Promise Keepers who are led by one of their former coaches, Zachary Baraje and that they would be ready for the Uyo side on Sunday.

    “We know that Akwa United are a good side and because of this we have prepared very well for them. They have a very good coach whose credentials cannot be faulted. We will be ready for them,” Arowolo told SportingLife.

    3SC are 11th on the log with 41 points from 29 matches.

    Akwa United head coach, Zachary Baraje on his part said he already knew his mission to Ibadan against 3SC on Sunday.

    Baraje, however, rued his team’s hard luck which has seen them lose matches they ought to have won or at least  scoop a point but noted that they would approach their next game against the Oluyole Warriors cautiously with a hope to get something out of it at the end of the encounter.

    He hinted that their present 15th spot on the log with 34 points from 29 matches does not reflect the stongness of the team.

  • Rangers eliminated from Federation Cup

    Rangers eliminated from Federation Cup

    Five-time champions, Enugu Rangers’ hope of winning a first title in 31 years ended on Wednesday after losing 0-1 to Lobi Stars in the Federation Cup semi final played in Katsina.

    The Flying Antelopes could not stop the “Makurdi Bombers” who will now face Akwa United in the August 30 final in Lagos, Goal reports.

    The game played at the Karkanda Stadium in Katsina put an end to Rangers’ aspiration who last won the tournament in 1984 when it was still known as the Challenge Cup.

    While Enugu fans lick their wounds and wait for the good times to return, Akwa United will go into the final hoping to win its first title after dispatching Nasarawa United 1-0 in Abeokuta courtesy of Udoh Aniekpemo’s strike.

    The women’s final will be contested by Sunshine Queens and Bayelsa Queens.