Deji Ayeni reveals secret behind Akwa United fightback at Bendel Insurance

By Saheed Afolabi

Akwa United coach, Deji Ayeni has opened up on the incredible mentality behind his side’s strong display in a 1-1 draw with leaders Bendel Insurance at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

Cyril Chinedu Olisema 34 minute strike rescued the visitors from defeat, cancelling out Imade Osehenkhoe’s early opener and the Promise Keepers tactician admitted his side showed character to halt the winning run of the leaders.

“Well if you can recollect very well, Insurance have shown a lot of character throughout the first round and this second round, they have shown a lot of promises,” Ayeni told NigeriaFootball.ng.

“We came here with a mindset, they are the first team that shocked us at home. So we re-strategize our team and from there, we started getting ourselves right.

“So coming here today, we came with a mindset of getting our three points the way they got it at our own home. But they showed a lot of experience, determined full of young players and full of speed and we too were able to match them because we prepared our mindset towards this game.

“So I think by and large, it wasn’t a bad game for both sides, then the law of nature take its effect. So there’s nothing anybody can do about it, so we have to concede back to, what you see is what you clear.”

Akwa United will welcome Enyimba of Aba in their next encounter at the Godswill Akpabio, stadium Uyo on the second of April 2023. The Promise Keepers are third on the NPFL group A with 19 points from 11 matches.