Akwa United moved out of the bottom four of the NPFL following a 2-0 win over Niger Tornadoes in Uyo as champions Rangers lose ground in the continental race after a 1-0 home loss to Plateau United, www.aclsports.com reports.
The Uyo-based side scored twice —Ifeanyi Okoye (own goal) and Abson Mare—to extend their unbeaten run to five games in the 2024-25 campaign.
The Promise Keepers took the lead in the 44th minute of the first half when Ifeanyi Okoye accidentally headed Etiene Asuquo’s long throw-in into his net. Substitute striker Abson Mare wrapped up the game in the second half with a precise finish to secure all three points for the league champions. The win took Akwa United to 16th position on the log with 37 points from 31 matches.
Speaking after the game, Akwa United head coach Kennedy Boboye believes his team still has a lot of work to do in the remaining seven matches to ensure they secure their NPFL status for next football season.
“I really want to congratulate my players, they played with great determination and commitment. You can see that the confidence level is very high and we want to maintain that in all the remaining matches”.
“We are not yet done with the season, this result has taken us out of the drop zone, and we still have seven matches to play before the end of the season. Our target is to ensure we go for maximum points in each of the remaining matches. We have to fight for every available point at home and at away games because that is the only way we can achieve our target,” the former Sunshine Stars head coach concluded.
Defending Champions slump to fourth home loss
Rangers were handed their fourth loss at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium by Plateau United on Thursday, as they stumbled in the continental race. In a game Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men dominated, Plateau United goalkeeper John Amah made several saves to deny the Flying Antelopes a home win, and help his side secure a maiden win on the road this campaign.
After the hosts huffed and puffed, the Peace Boys hit them on the counter as two substitutes – Sabbath Mancha and Samuel Kalu – combined with the latter sliding home into an empty net for the winner in the 73rd minute. The win took Plateau United to 11th on the log, five points above the drop zone. Meanwhile, Rangers remain in 5th spot, but five points adrift of the final continental slot.
