BY MFON PATRICK
Ten-man Akwa United put up a brave performance to hold their hosts, Abia Warriors to a goalless draw at Okigwe Township Stadium on Match-day 23 of the 2020/2021 Nigeria Professional Football League season on Thursday.
The Promise Keepers played a greater part of the second half with ten men after striker Charles Atshimene was shown a second yellow card for challenging the referee’s decision.
Ikechukwu Nwani’s shot inside the box appeared to have hit the hand of Abia Warriors’ defender, Atshimene led the protest for a penalty but his appeal was turned down, he was booked for the second time in the game and sent for an early shower as a corner-kick was awarded instead.
Coach Boboye’s men went toe-to-toe with their hosts but couldn’t find the breakthrough as both teams shared the spoils at the end of hostility.
With the result, Akwa United have extended their unbeaten run in the league to thirteen games (seven wins and six draws) and stay second on the log on 42 points from 23 games, just two points behind Kano Pillars who are on 44 points from the same number of matches.
Coach Kennedy Boboye’s men have failed to score in two successive games against Rangers and Abia Warriors as both games ended in draws.
Goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka’s sterling performance in goal continued on Thursday as he kept his 11th clean sheets in 17 NPFL games this season, two more than any other goalkeeper in the league this season.
Akwa United will next engage Kwara United on Match-day 24 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium – The Nest of Champions on Sunday 30th May, 2021 by 4pm.
