- Akwa United secures a 1-0 victory against Rivers United in the Naija Super 8, guaranteeing their place in the semi-finals of Group B
- Uche Collins emerges as the hero for Akwa United, scoring the winning goal in the 57th minute
- Akwa United maintains their winning streak and looks forward to their next match against Lobi on July 12th
Akwa United defeated Rivers United 1-0 in Group B of the inaugural Naija Super 8 game on Tuesday. With one game remaining in the group stage, Akwa United has qualified for the semi-finals.
Also, the Uyo-based team has now won back-to-back games after defeating Yobe Stars in their opener. Uche Collins was Akwa United’s hero, scoring in the 57th minute to seal the victory.
Collins received a long pass and slotted it through the legs of Rivers United custodian Abiodun Akande.
Akwa’s next game is against Lobi on July 12th.
Recall that Remo Stars defeated NPFL champions Enyimba 2-1 in the first game of the Naija Super 8 on Friday at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, with Isaac James scoring one goal and assisting the winner.
Despite being an off-season tournament, the first game between the country’s representatives in next season’s CAF Champions League lived up to expectations.
Remo took the lead after 20 minutes through James, who sliced open the Enyimba defence before slotting home to the far corner beyond Olorunleke Ojo in the People’s Elephant goal.
The league champions, on the other hand, responded quickly, with Chisom Okereke’s sublime final touch on a deft pass from Nonso Nzediegwu making the score 1-1 at halftime.
Remo took the lead again in the 58th minute when wing-back Seun Ogunribide tucked in a ball sent across the face of the goal by James.
The striker beat Paschal Eze on the right with pace and power before releasing Ogunribide, who slotted home to make it 2-1 for the Sky Blue Stars.
For the remainder of the game, Enyimba applied pressure in search of an equaliser, but only tempers flared as chances went begging, and the game ended 2-1 in favour of Remo Stars.
This is an off-season competition. These boys have not rested. It showed today. I’m happy with my players, despite the loss. Traveling here makes it more difficult for us, compared to where Remo Stars came from. It’s not easy to start playing from September and it’s almost August. I’ve not had rest as well, Enyimba manager, Finidi George, said.
I’m not complaining, Remo Stars have also had the kind of season we had. We want to win every game as sportsmen. We have two matches and we will win those matches and qualify for the semi-finals, he said.