Two-time Federation Cup champions Akwa United Football Club will begin their campaign for a third FA Cup crown in eight years when they engage Wikki Tourists of Bauchi in a round of 64 fixture at the UNEC Stadium in Enugu on Thursday, April 27, 2023.
The two Premier league teams were drawn to face each other in a knockout game in which the winner will advance to the round of 32.
The Promise Keepers- champions in 2015 and 2017, are in spectacular form going into the game following their impressive run in the NPFL as evident in their second position in Group A.
Assessing his team’s chances of lifting the trophy this year, coach Ayodeji Ayeni who has selected a strong squad for the game said that his team will take the games one at a time.
“The FA Cup is a knockout competition and we are familiar with it. The competition is the easiest and simplest way to winning a national trophy and qualifying to play in the continent but it’s always full of upsets. So we have to be on top of our game in every match and ensure we don’t give room for unnecessary distractions.
“With the FA Cup starting towards the end of the season, there will be fixture congestion. We have to pay extra attention to every game we play. We must make sure we approach each game as they come with the ultimate aim of winning every one of them and to achieve this, we have to stay focused and ensure we make the best use of our opportunities”.
Captain of the club Ubong Friday, who has won the FA Cup twice with Akwa United and was also the competition’s top scorer in 2015, believes that the present crop of players in the team are capable of leading the club to yet another FA Cup triumph.
