“Victory against Enyimba is non-negotiable” – Akwa United coach Deji Ayeni

By Oyediji Oluwaseun Babatunde

Head Coach of Akwa United, Deji Ayeni has declared that Wednesday’s Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) encounter between his team and Enyimba as a must-win game.

The Promise Keepers succumbed to a shocking 2-0 loss to newly promoted Bendel Insurance in the opening match of the season as first-half goals from Imade Osehenkhoe and Ismael Seriki condemned the Uyo-based side.

Following the setback against Insurance, Ayeni is confident that his team can pick a win away from home in Aba to improve their fortune in the new campaign.

“Victory against Enyimba is not negotiable if Bendel Insurance can come to our backyard and beat us,” Ayeni told the club’s media.

“Then we have spoken to ourselves and we’ve made the boys know that we got to be resolute, determined, dedicated, and very motivated for us to go back to winning ways.

“The results of the day one matches show that if you put your house together you can get 3 points anywhere, so there is nothing other than victory come Wednesday. We watched the game against Insurance and during the week we work our mistakes to make them corrected.”

While a victory for Akwa United will see the team return to winning ways, Finidi George’s team are seeking to extend their perfect league record, having with a 2-1 away win over Nasarawa United last Saturday.

Akwa United won the league for the first time in the 2020/2021 season but couldn’t replicate a similar feat last season with a ninth-placed finish.