Following an impressive run of form in the 2018/2019 Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL, Group B leaders Akwa United will play their last home match of the season against relegation threatened Abia warriors of Umuahia on Monday.
The League Management Company LMC had last week directed that all Matchday 21 matches be played simultaneously on Monday, May 20th, 2019 to ensure strict uniformity in the league calendar as the season draws to a close.
The Promise Keepers have recorded eleven victories, four draws with four loses in their previous 20 matches and they have comfortably secured their spot in the season ending play-offs.
Abia Warriors and Akwa United played out a thrilling 1-1 draw in the first leg of this fixture at the Umuahia township stadium on February 14th. The Two-Time Federation Cup Champions are chasing their twelveth win of the season having previously won eight out of ten games played at the Nest of champions.
Both teams will go into the game with the expectation of grabbing all three points which may mean different thing to both teams. Victory for Coach Rafael Everton’s team will take them to 40 points and could well assured them of finishing top of Group B, while a win for the visitors’ will be enough to guarantee them another season in the NPFL.
League leading scorer Mfon Udoh with ten goals will fancy his chances of increasing his goal tally as he aim to finish as the NPFL top scorer for a second time in six seasons.
The Promise Keepers will miss the services of midfielder Marshal Johnson who sustained an injury in 1-0 victory over Yobe Dersert Stars, defender Denis Nya may likely miss the game due to eye injury he suffered in Asaba against Delta Force.
Striker Ndifreke Effiong – who is on loan from Abia Warriors is ineligible for the game against his parent club. But Coach Rafael Everton believes that he has capable replacements who can prosecute the game and get the needed result.