NPFL 25: Boboye Disappointed In Akwa United Stalemate With El-Kanemi Warriors

NPFL 25: Boboye Disappointed In Akwa United Stalemate With El-Kanemi Warriors 

Precious Oham 

Head coach of Akwa United Kennedy Boboye has expressed disappointment over his team's inability to secure maximum points against El-Kanemi Warriors following a 1-1 draw on matchday 33 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Sunday, BSNSports.com.ng reports. 

Winger Osoba Kabir gave the Promise Keepers the lead in the 19th minute of play - his fourth (4th) league goal of the season, with a lovely strike from the edge of the box after receiving a good pass from Chisom Orji, but an own goal by substitute Wisdom Ndon leveled the scores in the second half for the visitors as the 2021 league champions dropped two points at home with five matches before the end of the season.

Boboye in an interview revealed that it was frustrating that despite his team's dominant performance especially in the first half and the many scoring opportunities that came their way, his boys were unable to make the most of their chances as they conceded a late goal to share points with the visitors.

"Honestly it's very disappointing and frustrating that we didn't get all three points against El-Kanemi Warriors. It was a match we should have wrapped up inside the opening thirty minutes but my players were not prolific enough in front of goal. I can count at least three chances that we missed before Osoba put us in the lead. At this stage of the campaign, you can't afford to miss those kinds of opportunities especially at home, and the end result is that we got punished by a late equalizer that was even an own goal.

"We spent time in training working on our finishing and the boys did well throughout the week in that aspect only to let everyone down when it mattered most. We made some tactical changes hoping to defend our goals since we were unable to score an insurance goal but it didn't work out the way we planned. 

"We have looked at the league table and we still have a lot of work to do in the remaining five matches and we believe that we will get out of the red zone into a safe position on the log at the end of the season. We count on our fans' support and encouragement from everyone as we go into the last few games of this campaign".

The 1-1 draw with El-Kanemi Warriors in Uyo placed Akwa United in 18th position with 38 points from 33 games, and they will turn their attention to the President Federation Cup game against Inter Lagos on Wednesday in Abuja before traveling to Jos to face Plateau United on matchday 34.