By Wale Mustapha
Akwa United goalkeeper trainer Bassey Akpan has described the club’s relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) as one of the most painful moments of his football career.
The Uyo-based club, known as the Promise Keepers, failed to retain their top-flight status following a disappointing 2024/2025 campaign, and will now compete in the Nigeria National League (NNL) next season in hopes of an immediate return.
Akpan, a former player and now coach at the club, expressed deep disappointment at the outcome, stating that despite their best efforts, it was not enough to avoid the drop.
“It’s like a bone stuck in the throat — difficult to take. This is my second year in coaching, and I think seeing Akwa United relegated is the saddest moment in my entire career,” Akpan told Complete Sports.
“It’s difficult to accept. I haven’t slept in my house since then because sleep has eluded me. I’m just returning home on Wednesday. It’s painful. We gave it our best. But it wasn’t to be. So painful.”
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
