What Akwa United’s Babaganaru said about the home-draw against Abia Warriors

Akwa United technical adviser Muhammad Babaganaru has expressed disappointment following his team’s 1-1 draw with Abia Warriors in their NPFL Week Two encounter at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo.

A late penalty from Edidiong Ezekiel deep into stoppage time salvaged a point for the Promise Keepers, but Babaganaru was far from satisfied with the result, especially considering his team’s dominance throughout the game.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Babaganaru admitted the outcome was not what they had anticipated. “Generally, it was a bad outing for us, it’s a result that we didn’t expect, and I’m very disappointed,” he said.

Dominance Without Conversion

Despite controlling the match, Akwa United struggled to find the back of the net until the final moments. “From my assessment, my players played very well, and we dominated throughout, but we couldn’t convert the many chances we created,” Babaganaru lamented.

Abia Warriors took an early lead through Adejoh Ojonugwa in the 4th minute, forcing Akwa United to chase the game. Despite several attacking opportunities, it wasn’t until the final minute of stoppage time that Akwa United won a penalty, which Edidiong Ezekiel converted to secure the draw.

Room for Improvement

Babaganaru acknowledged that the result highlighted areas that need urgent attention, especially in front of goal. “This is the beginning of the season, and we have to hit the ground running by winning games. We have two points from a possible six, and we don’t have to wait any longer. We need to ensure we work on our scoring abilities and redouble our effort in subsequent games.”

The experienced coach is optimistic that his team can bounce back but emphasized the need for improved finishing if they are to challenge for top honours this season.