As the Matchday 9 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) fixtures across different centres gather momentum, Abia Warriors head coach, Imama Amapakabo, is optimistic of a good outing from the Warriors.
The Warriors, who are currently occupying the second position on the league table after a 2-0 defeat of El-Kanemi Warriors at the Umuahia Township Stadium, will look to consolidate as they head into battle against Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) in Ibadan on Sunday.
Amapakabo, during a chat with club’s media, expressed the team’s determination to secure another continental ticket following their ouster in this season’s CAF Confederation Cup, even as he admitted that the sudden elimination from the competition has served as a learning curve for the team.
“I think most importantly, we accepted the fact that we failed on the continent, but we are not failures. We can only be tagged a failure if by May, the league comes to an end and we are not able to get back to where we were as in the past season, and most importantly, first time for the team itself being on the continent.
“So, there were a lot of things that we didn’t do right, and it was a big learning experience. So, we’ve taken it under our belt, we’ve learnt our lessons, and we want to get back there, believing that this team can really get better,” Amapakabo stated.
The history-making tactician is also of the opinion that his team can emerge victorious in Ibadan, saying, “I believe we can get victory there.”
His optimism was echoed by the Warriors’ two-goal hero against El-Kanemi Warriors in the last league fixture, Casmir Azubuike, who expressed confidence in the team’s ability to churn out a winning result in Ibadan.
“We are Warriors. We are only known for one thing, to go to wars and come back with victory. Hopefully, we are going to Ibadan to win and sustain the momentum,” he said.
The Warriors have averaged 0.9 goals (scored) per game and 0.5 goals conceded, whereas Shooting Stars have averaged 1 goal (scored) and 0.9 goals conceded.
Head To Head: Last 5 Games
27/04/25 AWFC 3-1 3SC
01/12/24 3SC 2-0 AWFC
02/06/24 3SC 4-0 AWFC
17/12/23 AWFC 3-2 3SC
26/06/22 3SC 2-2 AWFC
Injury Update
OUT
Paul Samson and Ezekiel Ayodele are still out, while Maxwell Kangeshima is out with illness.