Clash Of Federation Cup Winners: Akwa Battles FC Ifeanyiubah

BY MFON PATRICK.

Football fans in Akwa Ibom State will be treated to a spectacle on Sunday night when Akwa United FC engage FC IfeanyiUbah in one of the Matchday 15 fixtures of the Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

Both teams will be targeting the three points at stake but if current form is anything to go by, then Akwa United will be brimming with confidence having been undefeated at home this season.

The “Promise Keepers” are placed eighth on the log, and enjoyed two points and four places above their visitors from the East.

Akwa United defeated FC IfeanyiUbah last season in Uyo and lost the reverse fixture in Nnewi in what remain their only previous meetings in history. But Sunday night game will be seen as the clash of champions following the two teams triumph in the Federation Cup in the last two years.

With five wins and two draws in their seven home matches so far this season, Coach Abdu Maikaba’s team will be hoping to continue their fine home form on Sunday night.

Akwa United lost 1-0 to Niger Tornadoes in their last match away from home while FC IfeanyiUbah defeated El Kanemi Warriors 3-2 in Nnewi.

Coach Abdu Maikaba will miss the services of defenders Ariwachukwu Emmanuel who is serving a suspension and Paterne Counou who is on international duty with Benin Republic.

But coach Maikaba will have a full strength squad to choose from for the match and fans will be expecting much from the regulars such as Alhassan Ibrahim, Musa Newman, Moses Ebiye, Ubong Friday, Ifeanyi Ifeanyi, and Aremu Afeez for the much needed three points.

The coach has tasked his players to be ready to fight for all three points when they face the 2016 Federation Cup Champions on Sunday night.