Akwa United F.C. will look to keep their promotion hopes alive when they face Solution FC at the Awka Township Stadium on Thursday, April 16, 2026, in their final match of the Nigeria National League Conference B season.
The Promise Keepers currently sit second on the table with 32 points from 17 matches, just one point behind leaders Sporting Lagos F.C., who have 33 points from the same number of games.
Akwa United must secure victory away from home—potentially their third on the road this season—while hoping Sporting Lagos drop points in their decisive clash against Osun United F.C. in a South-West derby at the Lanteleke Township Stadium.
The two-time FA Cup winners and 2021 Nigeria Premier Football League champions, who were relegated from the top flight last season, are playing in the NNL for the first time since 2011. They have enjoyed an impressive campaign, recording 10 wins, two draws, and five losses, scoring 21 goals and conceding 12.
Midfielder Paulinus Okon and striker Micheal Okenwa are currently the club’s joint top scorers with four goals each.
Head coach Paul Offor, who was named NNL Coach of the Month for December, January, and February, will be aiming to guide the team back to the top flight. He previously secured promotion with Sporting Lagos five years ago and will be hoping to repeat that feat with Akwa United.
The team that finishes with the highest number of points at the end of Thursday’s matches will claim the sole promotion ticket and earn a place in the Nigeria Premier Football League next season.
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.
