Abia Warriors head coach, Imama Amapakabo, is banking on the experience of some players in his Abia Warriors squad ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup game against Djoliba AC of Mali on Sunday, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Umuahia side is preparing for their first Continental appearance against seasoned campaigners, and Amapakabo believes the individual experience of some players in his squad should count in their favor in the tie.
Before the 2025/26 season started, Abia Warriors strengthened their squad with the additions of Somiari Alalibo, Fatai Abdullahi, Imo Obot, Innocent Gabriel, Chukwuemeka Obioma, and Okiemute Odah, as some of the players with previous continental experience as they prepared for their debut.
“I am excited that I am also making history as the first coach to take Abia Warriors to the continent. We all worked very well because we all made history together,” Amapakabo began talking to the club’s media.
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“We cannot take away the experience of the side [Djoliba]. What is going to count for us is that we also have players who have been on this route before. So, it is going to be an individual experience vs. the team’s experience. We want to match them with what we have, and they also want to come into the competition with what they have. We will try our best within the two legs to qualify. We want to go further, and that’s the group stage in front of us,” Imama added.
On what he wants his players to do as they go into the first leg of the contest, Amapakabo responded by saying, “It’s Belief. Most importantly, we have been able to work on a couple of things. We will stick with what we know and how we play, and nothing different. We just need to continue to work; everyone prays for Mother Luck, and we pray that Mother Luck shines on us that day.”
Skipper of the club, Augustine Njoku, also spoke about the side’s preparation and the impact he expects from the experienced players in the squad.
“We have prepared well for the game. We are going there to do our work, and I believe that we will emerge victorious at the end of the day. Experience, they say, is the best teacher, so the experienced players will have to guide the younger ones,” Njoke stated in a separate chat with Abia Warriors Media.
Abia Warriors will host Djoliba AC in the first leg of their CAF Confederation Cup tie at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on Sunday. Kick off is 4pm (Nigerian time).
