Akwa United Football Club of Uyo on Sunday trounced the visiting Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi 3-0 in a Match Day 29 fixture of the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the result was a bouncing back for the team, having lost 2-3 a fortnight ago to visiting Rangers International FC of Enugu.
The Akwa United FC however had a hero of the day in Babangida Hassan, who scored the first two goals in the first half of the match.
They scored their third goal in the second half of the match to the delight of the home fans numbering over 10,000 spectators.
Reacting to his team’s superlative performance, Akwa United’s Technical Adviser, Maurice Cooreman, said his players were well motivated and had played according to instructions.
Cooreman said the players had put up impressive performances by coming out to contest every ball throughout the duration of the match.
“We prepared very well for today’s match against our opponents, because everybody knows that Wikki Tourists are a strong team.
“But we motivated the players during training that we needed the three points today to fight against relegation.
“For me, the Akwa United which played today is not a team that should go on relegation,’’ Cooreman said.
He assured that the team would do its best to win away matches to garner more points in the league and stay afloat.
Hassan, while thanking God for the victory, noted that he was thrilled by the two goals he scored.
He promised the fans that he would put in his best and improve in subsequent matches to remain on top.
At the post-match briefing, Wikki Tourists’ Head Coach, Abdul Maikaba, said he was disappointed that his players did not play as expected in the match.
He, however, acknowledged that Akwa United FC played their hearts out in the match, and that they deserved the three points.
Wikki Tourists’ captain, Festus Umana, said his team would improve in subsequent matches to enable them bounce back to the top of the league table.