Sports Recorder|By Solomon
Akwa United’s battle for survival in the Nigeria Premier Football League suffered another blow on Sunday as they were held to a 1-1 draw by visiting El-Kanemi Warriors at the Nest of Champions, Uyo.
The Promise Keepers dominated much of the match and looked set for victory after Osoba’s first-half strike gave them a deserved lead. However, their inability to convert multiple scoring chances proved costly as a late own goal saw El-Kanemi snatch a point.
Speaking after the match, Akwa United head coach, Kennedy Boboye, expressed deep frustration over the outcome.
“Honestly, it’s very disappointing and frustrating that we didn’t get all three points. It was a match we should have wrapped up inside the opening thirty minutes,” Boboye lamented. “My players were not prolific enough in front of goal. We missed at least three clear chances before Osoba scored. At this stage of the campaign, especially at home, you can’t afford to waste those chances.”
The coach also revealed that despite intensive training focused on improving finishing, the team failed to replicate their form during the match.
“We made some tactical changes hoping to defend our goal since we couldn’t score an insurance goal, but it didn’t go as planned. We got punished with a late equalizer that unfortunately was an own goal,” he added.
With just five matches left in the season, Akwa United sit in 18th place on the league table and are battling to escape relegation, while El-Kanemi Warriors hold 14th position.
“We still believe we can move out of the red zone. We count on our fans’ support and everyone’s encouragement as we go into the last few games of this campaign,” Boboye said.
The draw leaves Akwa United with a mountain to climb as they hope to turn things around before the end of the season.
