NPFL: Akwa United unveil 15 new players for 2019/20 season

Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) side Akwa United on Monday unveiled fifteen (15) new players to fans of the club ahead of the commencement of the 2019/20 league season.

The short unveiling ceremony was done inside the mainbowl of the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, shortly after the team’s new head coach and his assistant were introduced to the press.

Top on the list of the fifteen new players are returning stars Akpan Bassey (former Nigeria U17 and U20 goalkeeper), Akarandut Orok (former league’s topscorer), midfielder Ifeanyi Ifeanyi and winger Ubong Friday who both won the 2017 Aiteo Cup with the club.

As part of the club’s tradition of bringing in players of Akwa-Ibom extraction, former Delta Force forward Christian Ekong and Go Round left back Philip David were also added to the team.

Apart from Akpan Bassey, two other goalkeepers were signed by the club. Former Under 17 star Adeyinka Adewale and former league winner with Rangers Itodo Akor.

John Obuh, a former national Under 17 and Under 20 coach was unveiled as the team’s new head coach while Duke Udi will serve as his first assistant.

Akwa United will face Warri Wolves in Warri in their first game of the 2019/20 Nigeria Professional Football League on Sunday, November 3.

The new players

Goalkeepers:

Itodo Akor (El-Kanemi)
Bassey Akpan (Sunshine Stars)
Adewale Adeyinka (Gombe Utd)

Defenders:

Ekemini Ukoebe (Lori FC)
Sampson Gbadebo (Rivers Utd)
Ali Chiwendu (Yobe Stars)
David Philip (Go Round)

Midfielders:

Samuel Mathias (Lobi Stars)
Dare Ojo (Lobi Stars)
Morice Chukwu (Go Round)
Ifeanyi Ifeanyi (ES Setif)

Forwards:

Christian Ekong (Delta Foece)
Michael Ohanu (MFM)
Ubong Friday (Lori FC)
Akarandut Orok