Match Preview – ABS FC v Akwa United: Newcomers eye winning start

By: Timothy Dehinbo

Newly promoted Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC hosts Akwa United of Uyo at home on Sunday evening in Nigeria
Professional Football League(NPFL) match day one.

ABS FC spent just four seasons in the Nigeria National League(NNL) before being promoted as Runners up to
Katsina utd last season.

Ahead of this new season and Sunday’s game, ABS have intensified preparations to do well with recruiting of players and playing pre season friendlies. The Ilorin Based team, signed striker Adesina Gata (Kwara utd), defender Omolayo Ibrahim(Niger Tornadoes), Metu Chingozirim(Gateway FC), Alalade Wasiu(First Bank), Chindo
Abubakar(Kogi Utd), and Striker Eugene Ossy Martins(Fc Ifeanyi Ubah).

All of these players were unveiled on Tuesday evening to the Ilorin fans.

ABS FC were also outstanding in their pre season games and have sounded a note of warning to NPFL teams. Their
first game was a 4 nil thrashing of Black stars, followed by hammering of Shekarau babes 5 nil, and capped it all
with a 5 nil annihilation of FMC FC.

These teams might not be top flight based team, but it’s also a good one for the team in preparations for the NPFL.

Henry Makinwa(Coach) led team, have set their sight on kick starting the season with a win against Akwa United on
Sunday and would do all the possible best to get one past the uyo team, though could be difficult. But they
know starting on a high could go along way to save them from dropping back to the NNL.

For Akwa Utd, they haven’t been sleeping in terms of preparation for this season also, with them having a
great signing in former Enyimba star, Christian Pyagbara and hosts of others.

Abdul Maikaba(Coach) led team were 3-1 winners over Spartans fc of Lagos on January 4th, with Pyagbara getting
on the score sheet alongside Cyril Olisema and Moses Ebiye for the Promise Keepers. They struggled to beat a Calabar selected XI on the 7th of January, with Hassan Babangida having to come in a get an 88th minute goal
set up by Ifeanyi ifeanyi.

Speaking after the match, against the Calabar side, coach Maikaba said he was impressed with his team’s
spirit and performance and maintained that he will use the last one week to perfect on important strategies that will
help them prosecute games and achieve positive results for the new
season.

The game might look easy on paper for the Uyo team, but they need to Beware of ABS FC, who are really
determined.

PREDICTION: ABS FC 2-2 AKWA UTD