NPFL: Boboye impressed by Akwa United’s fight

Akwa United head coach Kennedy Boboye says he is proud of his players in their push towards beating the dreaded relegation after his team defeated Niger Tornadoes 2-0 in a Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) game on Thursday, www.aclsports.com reports.

The Promise Keepers moved out of the relegation zone for the first time in 2025 after the win at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo in a Match Day 31 game with a goal coming in each half through an own goal by Victor Okoro and a strike by substitute Abson Mare.

Boboye who endured a torrid start to his second stint with Akwa United has now turned the club’s fortunes around and with seven matches left to play in the season, they now have a real chance at survival.

“I’m very proud of the players,” a relieved Boboye told www.aclsports.com after the game.

“They have been pushing so hard and there have been changes in the team. When there are challenges, you see improvement in the team because everybody wants to play now and as the team is winning, everybody wants to be part of the winning team,” he added.

Thursday’s win made it four wins out of the last five for Akwa United in the league, with the Promise Keepers in a five-match unbeaten run. Asked what did the magical turnaround for his side, Boboye said it was the petrification brought by their position on the log.

“We all looked at the log. Both me as a coach and the players all looked at the log and we know that if we keep conceding goals, it will be a problem when we have points tied.

“So we resolved to be tighter at the back and also work on converting our chances,” he said.

Akwa United, like other teams in the top flight will now rest for a few days before their next league game away to Nasarawa United on April 6, a relegation six-pointer. Before then though, Akwa United will be involved in President’s Federation Cup round of 32 action next midweek.

“We can come out of this fight (against relegation) and win the FA Cup, it all depends on our mindset,” Boboye submitted.