Barely five months after recording an away victory over Gombe United at the Pantami stadium on the last day of the 2022-23 Nigeria Premier Football League season, Akwa United makes a return to the same venue this weekend to face Doma United in what will be the opening game of matchday eight on Saturday.
Doma United and 2021 league champions Akwa United will be facing each other in the NPFL for the first time in their history since the Gombe based club gained promotion to the top flight last season, with both teams in different groups during the 2022-23 abridged league season.
The home side have recorded two wins, two draws and suffered two defeats in their opening six games of the current season, scoring seven times while conceding five goals. They are on eight points and occupy 12th position on the log.
The Promise Keepers are one point and four places behind their hosts after picking up one win, four draws with two defeats in the seven games played so far this season. They have scored six goals and conceded eight with five of their six goals coming from away matches.
Akwa United have not lost a league game at the Pantami stadium in nine years against two different clubs (Gombe United and Adamawa United) in their last five visits to Gombe.
Coach Fatai Osho’s team picked a valuable point in Benin against Bendel Insurance in their last away game and are in desperate need of three points to help improve their standing on the league table.
Akwa United fans will be hoping that the “miracle” of the Pantami stadium will continue for their team on Saturday while coach Fatai will be expecting his boys to be at their best to put up a fight against Doma United who are unbeaten in their two home games (2-0 against Bayelsa United, 0-0 against Bendel Insurance) in which they have scored twice.
Stand-in captain David Philip with one goal to his name already this season will lead his teammates to the battle for three points knowing that victory will move them into the top half of the table.
Live updates of the match will be available on all Akwa United’s social media platforms.
