The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Akwa Utd

  • Eagles to face Akwa Utd in friendly game

    • Rohr to use tie to assess players

    Super Eagles will play a test game with Akwa United this week before the senior national team 2017 AFCON qualifier against Tanzania on Saturday and the tie would be used by the Eagles’ technical crew headed by German Gernot Rohr to assess the depth of the team.

    Rohr was named head of the Eagles’ technical crew few weeks ago and he signed a two year contract with the NFF and the tie with the Taifa Stars of Tanzania is his first competitive match for the national team.

    Chris Green,who is the Chairman of the NFF’s Technical and Development Committee, told SportingLife that the game has been arranged for the team to help Rohr grade his players.

  • Akwa Utd’ Godspower hopeful of continental ticket

    Akwa Utd’ Godspower hopeful of continental ticket

    Akwa United’s Austine Godspower has noted that the NPFL 2015/16 season has been very competitive and is still hopeful of securing a continental ticket.

    The 2015 Federation Cup champions featured in the CAF Confederation Cup in 2016, but they are determined to get a fresh experience.

    Currently eighth on the NPFL table with 40 points,  Godspower insists that no team can state authoritatively that they are champions yet.

    “You will agree with me that this season is one of the most competitive compared to previous seasons. As it stands,  no team can authoritatively state that they have won the league,” Godspower told Goal. But we as a team will keep on working hard for a continental ticket which is our aim and I am hopeful that with God it is possible.

    “Playing in the CAF Confederation Cup gave us huge exposure. We won our first match in the continent away from home and that simply shows that we are not a bad side but some how we got carried away by the away victory and unfortunately we lost at home in the reverse fixture. We have learnt from that experience and by God’s grace we shall secure a continental slot this season. “

  • Akwa Utd thrash Wikki 3-0

    Akwa Utd thrash Wikki 3-0

    Hassan Babangida scored twice as Wikki Tourists suffered a dent to their title ambitions in a confounding 3-0 loss to Akwa United yesterday.

    The former Heartland star, making his first league start for United, scored twice from rebounds in the first half before Friday Ubong put gloss on a fantastic home performance by the reigning Federation Cup Kings midway through the second half.

    United coach, Maurice Cooreman rung the changes before yesterday’s visit of the Tourists making five of them in all after the loss to Warri Wolves on Sunday. One of those changes, Babangida Hassan proved to be the joker as he was available at the right place at the right time to strike home twice for the Promise Keepers.

    United went in front on 11 minutes after Wikki goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu tried in vain to keep out Fortune Omoniwari’s 20-yard free kick. Nwabulu did well to parry Omoniwari’s effort but it rebounded off the foot of the post, allowing Babangida to react first and poke home from three yards.

    The second goal however came three minutes later when Babangida once again netted from close range after Ubong Friday’s shot on the turn came off the foot of the second post.

    The hosts remained on top after the break and Babangida almost got his hattrick six minutes after the restart but his left-footed volley after an incisive cross by Omoniwari beat the goalkeeper but not the post.

    United made the points safe in the 68th minute through Ubong Friday who finished off a sweet team move. Fortune Omoniwari held off his marker, Ambrose before freeing Olisema with a chipped pass.

  • Osanga inspires Wolves to beat Akwa Utd

    Osanga inspires Wolves to beat Akwa Utd

    Former Flying Eagles forward, King Osanga was voted man of the match as he inspired Warri Wolves to beat visiting Akwa United 3-1 in a rescheduled Nigeria league game on Sunday morning.

    Wolves are now 14th on the table with 34 points from 27 matches, while Akwa United slipped to 10th with 36 points.

    It was the visitors who stunned the home team in the 34th minute through Ubong Friday.

    Sikiru Alimi then drew Wolves level 10 minutes later from the penalty spot after the lively Osanga was felled inside the box, before Osanga made it 2-1 for them when he finished off a fine move he started in the midfield on the hour.

    Kevin Itoya made the game safe for Wolves on 67 minutes.

  • Akwa Utd will beat Warri Wolves, says Partene

    Akwa Utd will beat Warri Wolves, says Partene

    Akwa United FC have moved on from  their 3-2 home loss to Enugu Rangers on NPFL match day 27, as they intensify preparation to correct their mistakes and pick up points on the road.

    “Everyone who stood for Akwa United weren’t happy after that match but it’s our responsibility to restore that confidence they have in us (the players) to return to winning ways. It wasn’t what we bargained for but that’s football, ” Partene told Goal.

    “We have intensified our training just as we have made necessary corrections to the mistakes observed. We are wearing  renewed confidence as we finalise plans ahead of our next match away to Warri Wolves on Sunday.”

    The Promise Keepers suffered their third home loss on Sunday, but Partene Counou has revealed that the loss to Enugu Rangers has been left in the past.

    Akwa United are seven places ahead of the Seasiders on the NPFL log, but the Promise Keepers will face a stern battle against 15th place Warri Wolves who are battling to distance themselves from the red zone.

  • Akwa Utd’s Kayode pleased with result

    Akwa Utd’s Kayode pleased with result

    The Uyo boys played well in the top flight tie at the Rwang Pam Stadium on Sunday, but their efforts only resulted in a point. This draw means that Akwa United remain in seventh on the ladder with 36 points.

    “We had many opportunities to score more than one goal. Half bread is better than none,” Kayode told Goal.

    “The game wasn’t easy. We knew what we wanted and went for it. The team will take positives from the trip to Jos and plan ahead. We will continue to pick points at home and away.”

  • Omoniwari: Akwa Utd players must work to correct flaws

    Omoniwari: Akwa Utd players must work to correct flaws

    Akwa United striker, Fortune Omoniwari has praised the Promise Keepers’ self belief and bravery after they came back from a goal down to beat Kano Pillars last Sunday but he charged his team mates to work on the errors noticed in the said match.

    Sai Masu Gida seemed to be coasting to another away win in Uyo last weekend but Akwa United’s players conjured up a victory with the match-winner coming from a free kick converted by Adio Yusuf in the 87th minute.

    Omoniwari, who was magnificent during the match, warned his colleagues not to be carried away by the allure of the win and forget some of the mistakes they made during the match, especially the one that resulted in Pillars’ opener.

    He said the season has come to a stage that teams must learn to limit errors and strive to supply top notch performances always if they are to get good results.

    “I want to thank God for this win. It was a tough one. We must not forget that we made some mistakes that we need to correct before our game with Plateau United this weekend and in the remaining matches too,” Omoniwari told SportingLife.

  • Adio happy to be back for Akwa Utd

    Adio happy to be back for Akwa Utd

    Yusuf Adio returned to first team football with a bang as Akwa United came back from a goal down to defeat Kano Pillars 2-1 at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium on Sunday.

    “The glory goes to God for the victory and the goal I scored. It was very frustrating sitting out after the injury I sustained earlier in the season against Plateau United. Thanks to my family, team mates, coaches and fans for their support,” Adio told Goal.

    “I was pleased with my performance and that I could contribute to the side, but the main thing was to get the three points against Pillars. It was like a cup final for us, we really needed to win. It was a tough game though, Pillars were on top of us at some stage in the game. I think we rallied well in the final 20 minutes,” the midfielder said.

    “Plateau United are on the back of an away win against Abia Warriors. But it’s also a perfect opportunity for us to show we are ready to turn the corner. We’ll work hard at training the next few days and make sure we give it our all on Sunday. Our coach will come up with the right game-plan to counter Plateau United, so we need to believe we can beat them.”

    The striker delivered a stunning winner for the Promise Keepers with three minutes of regulation time remaining in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) tie.

  • Bassey likes Akwa Utd’s progress

    Bassey likes Akwa Utd’s progress

    Akwa United chairman, Paul Bassey believes the club has turned the corner in this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) after a difficult period earlier in the campaign.

    “Our form is no longer patchy. It was important for us to reinforce during the transfer window and securing the services of seven new players. There have been a lot of restructuring in our club and it fills me with happiness because things are going according to script.

    “All the clubs ahead of us on the table still have to come to Uyo to play against us (in the NPFL) so I am confident because we will try to take maximum points off them. The team is taking shape so I am not losing sleep because I know we will end up well on the table at the end of the season,” he told supersport.com.

    United beat El Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in their last game to continue their ascent on the table following consistent results in recent weeks.

  • Akwa Utd beat El-Kanemi 2-0

    Akwa Utd beat El-Kanemi 2-0

    Akwa United put up a spirited first half performance to defeat El-Kanemi Warriors of Maidugari 2-0 at the Nest of Champions in a Match Day 23 Nigeria Professional Football League played yesterday.

    The Promise Keepers were clinical in front of goal to complement their dominance on the field of play as Aniekan Ekpe ran riot in the middle of the pack in impeccable fashion and doing the double over their visitors this season.

    Despite flashes of sparks from the visitors in the opening moments, it was Akwa United’s Fortune Omoniwari who had a real effort at goal as he brought down a floated cross into the box with his chest before hitting it on the volley in the eighth minute. His effort went wide.

    Akwa kept the pressure going and it paid off in the ninth minute when El-Kanemi conceded a  penalty as the ball struck Mohammed Alhaji’s hand when he went to block a shot. Ekpe converted the spot kick though George Michael got a hand to it.

    The second goal came in the 30th minute as the hosts quickly turned defence to attack. A long clearance fell to Omoniwari who made a dash to the opponents’ half without resistance. He took his time before sending in a delightful cross into the box and an onrushing Michael Ikpe planted it into the far right corner to double their lead.