Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Akwa United over the weekend defeated two other NPFL sides Abia Warriors and Rivers United within of 24 hours at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo.
The Promise Keepers have been camping in Uyo ahead of the new football season in Nigeria and engaged their two rivals in pre-season friendly encounters on Saturday and Sunday.
Rafael Everton‘s men defeated Abia Warriors 1-0 on Saturday in the first of the encounters with returning forward Mfon Udoh converting a late penalty to give United their first win in pre-season, after having lost against Heartland in their first game in Owerri last week.
After Saturday’s win, Akwa United took to the field once again on Sunday afternoon at the same venue – the Nest of Champions – with neighbours Rivers United their guests.
This time, the hosts ran out 2-0 winners over Stanley Eguma’s Rivers United. After a goalless first half, former Super Eagles left back Juwon Oshaniwa provided an assist for new signing Ndifreke Effiong to tap into an empty net.
Udoh, scorer of a late penalty twenty-four hours earlier was made to do it again late in the second half after he was fouled inside the penalty box. The former Enyimba star picked up himself and sent the goalkeeper the wrong direction.
In other pre-season action at the weekend, Sunshine Stars emerged winners of the 2018 Gold Cup tournament on home soil in Akure after a 1-0 win over Kwara United in Saturday’s final.
The Owena Whales scored their only goal just after the hour mark courtesy of Kehinde Adedipe’s close range header to win the 300,000 nairas prize money on offer at the championship.
The 2018/19 NPFL season has been tentatively fixed to commence on Saturday, December 1, 2018.
