NPFL Update: Akwa United Beats Nasarawa United

Nasarawa United lost their first game since matchday 27, they lost to their host Akwa United in the Nest of Champions in Uyo, the game started by 7pm and the crowd was pretty much due to the festivities, people filled the stadium to unwind after the Muslim celebrations. The spectators were close to 5000, pretty much in a capacity sized 30000 seater for a league game. The line ups for the game are as follow:

Akwa United

30. Kayode Olufemi

16. Ottobong Effiong

19. Joseph Nicholas

20. Yusuf Adio

11. Harrison Ibukun

35. Igudia Godspower

7. Friday Ubong

24. Davies Ukeme

13. Awakan Abdulazeez

34. Udoh Aniekpeno

10. Ekpe Aniekan

Subs

21. Obiowo Victor

6. Edo Nnamso

5. Kounnou Paterne

27. Lukman Abdulkarim

33. Okon Samuel

18. Bawa Aliyu Bawa

29. Kingsley Nathaniel

Nasarawa United  

12. Danlami Umar

31. Nweke Ifeanyi

3. Makama Emmanuel

13. Eugene Obi

17. Manga Mohammed

5. Sogbeso Seun

26. Bature Yaro

8. Esosa Igbinoba

21. Mannir Ubale

19. Ugochukwu Leonard

20. Zenke Thomas

Subs

32. Pius Ibrahim

28. Ahmed Idris

4. Ibrahim Ibrahim

30. Auta Ibrahim

16. Azango Philip

2. Olayinka Onaolapo

22. Ilo Malachy

Match Details

As early as the 10th minute Ugochukwu Leonard of Nasarawa was taken off injured as Harrison Ibukun of Akwa United was booked for the foul. The game was really massive, as both teams showed anger of going away with the three points, another booking on the 13th minute as Nasarawa United’s Esosa Igbinoba got booked for a foul on Friday Ubong of Akwa Utd, he later got cheered by the fans in the 19th minute when he nearly scored before Joseph Nicolas came to the rescue for the host, not long thereafter in the 20th minute the game stops as Nasarawa defender Sogbeso calls for the medics and he went off the pitch. In the 32nd minute Makama (Nasarawa) strikes a free kick left-footed, which resulted from Akwa's Ibukun foul on Ubale. He  escaped a second booking with Akwa keeper Kayode Olufemi to the rescue as he saves it.

In the 37th minute, a goal came through, it fell to Udoh Aniekpeno as he heads a corner past Danladi Umar. Another opportunity fell to Ekpe Aniekan who was freed on the left flank but he shoots straight at Umar. The first half ended with the scoreline remaining same. Akwa leading by a goal to nil.

Stats for the 1st half

H.                      A

9 - Total Shots - 5

3 - Shots on Target - 2

10 - Fouls Committed - 6

3 - Corner kicks - 1

2 - Offsides - 2

1 - Yellow - 0

0 - Red - 0

The second half started with a quick substitution from Nasarawa United, seeking for a goal Leonard off, Auta Ibrahim on. Akwa united also made their own substitution with Samuel Okon on, Awakan off. Nasarawa United seeking an equaliser in the 50th minute, Esosa Igbinoba curls the free kick over Akwa wall, but Kayode beats it away to safety, in the 60th minutes also Esosa, shoots from 35 yards straight but it went straight to Kayode in Akwa's goal, in the 63rd minute Akwa United subbed off Ubong, and brought Kingsley Nathaniel on. The 71st minute produced a goal with a free kick from Adio to double Akwa Utd's lead. Nasarawa United in a bid to get a goal back took off Zenke and brought in Ilo Malachy, another booking went to Aniekpeno of Akwa, for a foul on Sogbeso. The game ended with Nasarawa united seeking to get a goal back, but they were unable to.

Full Match Stats

H.                         A

2 -   Goals           - 0

18 - Total Shots - 13

7 - Shots on Target - 4

22 - Fouls Committed - 13

4 - Corner kicks - 4

2 - Offsides - 6

3 - Yellow - 0

0 - Red - 0

After the game, the coaches had somethings to say, let's hear from the Akwa Utd coach Zachary Baraje after the match ‪

"I feel relieved a bit. There has been pressure seeing my team in that position. The boys are now motivated. We will get out of that relegation zone. Their (Nasarawa Utd) winning those big teams was no fluke. We will make sure we don't go on relegation and make sure we win the Federation Cup." and from the Nasarawa Utd coach Kabiru Dogo "We deserved the victory. In the first half the floodlight affected us. It will be good to see more of such night games. We are still on course for the continent. There are still more games to go and everyone is still fighting and we will keep fighting too till the end of the season."

The next NPFL matches are scheduled for Sunday. Stay tuned to Absolute Hearts for more news updates.