Tag: Akwa Utd

The management of Akwa United has approved the payment of N50,000 match bonus for playing a  draw with Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in the NPFL match day nine last Sunday.

The Chairman of the club,  Paul Bassey announced that the players will receive N50,000 for drawing that match instead of N30,000 away draw bonus.

He said:  ” It is not easy to go to Bauchi and draw. The management is impressed with their performance in that clash and we are urging them to double up their efforts in future games in order to pick more away points in the league,” the tested administrator said. It would be recalled that when he took over the leadership of the club,  match bonuses were increased as follows,  away win N50,000 , away draw N30,000 and home win N20,000 to each player

The team manager,  Emmanuel Udoh who said that Akwa United have stepped up their game, assured they will endeavour to amass maximum three points in Katsina against Elkanemi today in a rescheduled game. He thanked the chairman for repositioning the club within few weeks in office.

Similarly,  the players who have arrived Katsina for the rescheduled match with Elkanami have vowed to win the game with a convincing margin. Speaking on behalf of his colleagues,  the team’s captain,  Otobong Effiong said they are prepared for the match, His words: “We are set for the match, all of us are in one mind to win. ”

He acknowledged that El Kanemi is a good side who have a good record in Katsina but that they will not be cowed.

In another development, efforts were intensified yesterday to get the club top strikers, Ubong Ekpai and Kufre Ebong to join the team in Katsina. Ekpai, the scorer of Nigeria’s goal in Brazil and record signing Kufre Ebong are among the five regulars that have not been part of the team in the last four matches. Others are versatile midfielder Yusuf Adio who has a knee knock, Paterne Counou who was away on international duty with Benin Republic and Abasiama Michael.

Akwa United midfielder, Yusuf Adio has praised his colleagues for their emphatic 3-0  win over Ikorodu United at the Godswill Akpabio stadium, Uyo on Wednesday.

The Promise Keepers are yet to lose at their Nest of Champions home ground in the NPFL and that run was kept intact when Ikorodu United visited. Yusuf Adio who is regarded as one of the best dead ball specialists in the NPFL praised his team’s effort after the match.

“It’s an important win for our fans, they need to see this kind of performance from us each time we play. I’m particularly glad that we have moved up to the fourth place on the table and I hope we can maintain that form all through the season,” Adio told Goal.

The former Bridge FC of Lagos player emphasised on the importance of getting back to the continent.

“Our debut appearance on the continent didn’t last long as we had love to have it but that has been left in the past. We shall focus more on the league and the Federation Cup as it offers an option for to secure a continental ticket.

“With an excellent performance each week we can be rest assured of making an impact on the continent when we get a second chance. It won’t come that easy but I hope that the excellent team work at Akwa United will propel the team to achieve its target,”Adio concluded.

Akwa United will be guest at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, where they are scheduled to take on Rangers Int’l on Sunday in a week seven NPFL tie.

Federation Cup holders, Akwa United, ran over Ikorodu United 3-0 in a Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match on Wednesday.

Ubong Ekpai, Harrison Ibukun and Cyril Olisemah scored for the Promise Keepers to easily dispatch the struggling newcomers in the top-flight at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.

Ikorodu United head coach, Edema Benson, possibly seeing out his last game at the club, restored Harrison Egbune to the startlist after he left him on the bench at FC Ifeanyiubah over the weekend. Jimmy Bello also got a rare start in goal ahead of Adamu Azeez.

For Akwa United, Ekpai returned from suspension but Maurice Cooreman, facing his former team, had to leave out the duo of Kufre Ebong and Yusuf Adio from the match day squad owing to illness and injury respectively.

The Promise Keepers were business-like from the outset and their approach paid off when Ekpai headed them in front on 10 minutes from Chigozie Chilekwu’s perfect cross.

Apparently one of the best performers in Ikorodu United’s fold, Abdullahi Fatai, put the Promise Keepers’ backline on their toes on a number of occasions including forcing out a save from Olufemi Kayode on 17 minutes.

Three minutes before the break, Akwa United were reduced to 10 men after Emeka Isaac Ohazurike was shown a second yellow card for illegally stopping Ifegwu Ojukwu.

Despite playing for 48 minutes with numerical advantage, Oga Boys did not make their extra man count.

Five minutes into the restart, Akwa United won a spot kick after Ubong Friday was fouled in the box by Moshood Kabir. A minute later, Ibukun made no mistake by smashing the ball into the top corner from 12 yards.

On the hour mark, Olisemah popped up to score against his former club from Ekpai’s assist to put the game to bed.

Ojukwu, Agbane Candy and Fatai made efforts to pull one back for Ikorodu United without success.

The defeat leaves Ikorodu United without a win on the road in 360 minutes this season. The Oga Boys also sit in 16th position with five points while Akwa United move into fourth place with 10 points.

Nigerian Cup champions Akwa United got their campaign in the 2016 Caf Confederation Cup off to a fine start by claiming a 1-0 win against Vita Club de Mokanda in Pointe-Noire, Congo, on Saturday.

Akwa United’s new-signing, Ubong Ekpai, scored the winning goal to ensure that the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) club return to their Nest of Champions in Uyo with a goal advantage ahead of the return leg in a fortnight.

Ekpai was one of four new signings named in the startlist of Akwa United by head coach Maurice Cooreman for their maiden appearance on the continent. Kufre Ebong, Emeka Isaac and Michael Okoro Ibe were the others.

The Promise Keepers had the odds stacked against them before kick off, but pulled through a first half lead.

Ekpai scored the solitary goal of the contest with eight minutes to the break after a sweeping move.

The Nigerian club were peppered by Vita Club for longer spells and would have their goalkeeper Olufemi Kayode to thank for his agility, jump power and sharp reflexes between the sticks.

However, there was late drama inside the Stade Municipal de Pointe-Noire when Akwa United defender Samuel Okon was sent off.

The numerical disadvantage was not enough to deny The Promise Keepers a winning start in their first appearance in a Caf club competition.

Akwa United will play hosts to Vita Club at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, also known as the Nest of Champions, in Uyo.