Abia Warriors Head Coach, Imama Amapakabo, has expressed determination to lead his team to a historic CAF interclub competition spot next season. The team currently sits third in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) table with 57 points, just a step away from securing a top-three finish.
“We’ll approach each of our two remaining games as a cup final,” Amapakabo declared after his team’s 1-1 draw with Niger Tornadoes. Abia Warriors needs to avoid defeat in their final two fixtures against El-Kanemi Warriors and Ikorodu City to guarantee a continental football spot.
Amapakabo reflected on the team’s journey, saying, “NPFL is the only league in the world where all 20 teams dream of continental tickets. When we started, nobody gave us a chance. But here we are with two games to go.” He emphasized the importance of staying focused, telling his players to “keep your heads up, run as fast as you can, and forget every other distraction.”
The coach praised his team’s resilience in the match against Niger Tornadoes, describing Emmanuel Iwu’s stoppage-time equalizer as a “miracle goal.” Abia Warriors absorbed pressure from the hosts in the first half but regrouped in the second half to secure a crucial point.
“We played against a side that was very direct and lacked any clear tactical formation,” Amapakabo noted. “We struggled to deal with second balls, but we kept the ball better in the second half, and thankfully, we got a miraculous goal at the nick of time.”
With their sights set on continental football, Abia Warriors will need to dig deep and believe in their abilities to secure the best possible results in their remaining matches.
Key Matches:
- Abia Warriors vs. El-Kanemi Warriors: Abia Warriors’ penultimate match, crucial for their CAF berth aspirations.
- Abia Warriors vs. Ikorodu City: The final match, where Abia Warriors will aim to secure a top-three finish.
Quotes
- “NPFL is the only league in the world where all 20 teams dream of continental tickets.” – Imama Amapakabo
- “Every game is like a cup final for us.” – Imama Amapakabo
- “Keep your heads up, run as fast as you can, and forget every other distraction.” – Imama Amapakabo
- “It was wonderful to come away with a result.” – Imama Amapakabo
- “Miracle goal” – Imama Amapakabo (describing Emmanuel Iwu’s stoppage-time equalizer) [1]