By Wale Mustapha
Heartland FC will host fellow relegation-threatened side Akwa United in a high-stakes Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 38 clash at the Dan Anyiam Stadium on Sunday, with both teams fighting for top-flight survival.
Heartland, currently 17th on the NPFL table with 45 points from 37 matches, must secure a win to stand any chance of avoiding the drop to the Nigeria National League (NNL).
Their opponents, Akwa United, sit just one place below in 18th with 44 points, making the encounter a virtual relegation playoff.
With the stakes sky-high, Heartland have labeled the fixture as a “must-win battle.”
“The final battle! We face Akwa United with our sights on the maximum points,” the club posted on its official Facebook page, underlining the urgency of the task ahead.
Head coach Emmanuel Amuneke will be counting on home support and a spirited performance to steer the Naze Millionaires clear of relegation in what could be a defining match for the club’s NPFL status.
Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars have already been confirmed relegated, leaving the final drop slot to be decided between Heartland and Akwa United on Sunday.
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.
