Akwa United held at home by Sunshine Stars in first Post-Osho era game
Akwa United FC were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Sunshine Stars in the first game since the resignation of Coach Fatai Osho.
The match on Thursday, December 21, 2023 was a Nigeria Premier Football League week fifteen fixture, the Promise Keepers first under the tutelage of Coach Abdullahi Umar.
Home-boy Anietie Uko took kickoff to get the NPFL week fifteen clash underway at the Eket Stadium.
It was the visitors who mounted pressure in the opening minutes, earning three corner kicks in quick succession with Akwa United FC goalkeeper, Jean Efala forced into an early save for Opeoluwa Olufemi’s goal-bound header.
In the 7th minute, Wisdom Ndon connected a Osoba Kabir cross for the Promise Keepers first chance of the match but the effort went out for a goal-kick.
Isaac Emmanuel, Ikechukwu Nwani and Anietie Uko all tested the Akwa United FC goal but were kept out by Efala while the enterprising Osoba Kabir was Akwa United’s dangerman in that drab half.
On return for the second half, Coach Edith Ogoye made two changes to his team, Ogechukwu Ogbu and Anietie Uko coming off for Jide Jimoh and Lucky Nwafor.
The first chance of the second half fell to the hosts, David Phillip’s precise cross was met by a header from Uche Collins but it went off target.
In the 53rd minute, Akwa United FC coach, Abdullahi Umar effected his first change, Akintunde Bala was withdrawn for Hadi Mohammed as the new coach searched for a goal to mark his new role.
Hadi Mohammed almost made instant impact, four minutes after coming on when he controlled a cross in the area but his shot flew off target.
Uche Collins missed a glorious chance in the final quarter of the encounter, a mirror of the teams struggle in front of goal this season.
Inside six minutes of additional time added on for stoppages, Akwa United FC had two penalty appeals waved away while Sunshine Stars goalkeeper Ishola Abdulateef was sent off.
At the expiration of regulation time, the game ended all square, an important point on the road for Sunshine Stars while Akwa United FC will continue search for a turnaround to what has been a difficult and traumatic 2023/2024 NPFL season.
