By Dayo Awoniyi
Abia Warriors head coach Imama Amapakabo has outlined his strategic approach as the club prepares for its debut in CAF inter-club competitions next season.
The Umuahia-based side secured qualification for the continent following a strong Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign.
With the step up in competition, Amapakabo emphasized the need for immediate squad reinforcement and structured planning.
“No team is ever truly complete — every team needs reinforcements,” Amapakabo told the club’s media team.
“We’ll be competing at a different level, so it’s essential to bolster the squad with new players.”
He added that the club would waste no time in beginning preparations for the upcoming challenge.
“We’ll make key additions, plan ambitiously, and begin preparations immediately. There’s no time to rest — it’s time to get serious. We’ve worked hard to get to this point, and now we must build on it.”
With Amapakabo’s experience and a clear plan for recruitment and early preparation, Abia Warriors aim to make a strong first impression on the continental stage and elevate their status in Nigerian football.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
