Akwa United interim coach, Umar Abdullahi, says his players were “hungrier” in their NPFL matchday 18 clash against Heartland of Owerri, which led to their 2-0 victory, Completesports.com reports.
Abdullahi, who expressed delight over his team’s performance in the thrilling contest at the Nest of Champions, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, on Monday, described it as a perfect reproduction of their training sessions.
He noted that his players had a winning mindset even before the game, which was key to their success.
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“I think one of the most important things before we played this game against Heartland was the mindset of the players,” an obviously excited Abdullahi remarked after the match.
“In the first match I was in charge of, against Bayelsa United, we saw the positive side of the real Akwa United. This game, I think, is a very big step up for us.
“We’ve three matches to secure the job – by that, I mean taking ourselves out of the relegation zone before the mid-season break. The last match of the first stanza, against Remo Stars, is one we’ve to win, and win convincingly.
“Today’s 2-0 victory is very satisfying. After watching Heartland’s previous away match against Plateau United, I knew they were a strong side. Plateau United had to endure until the dying minute before they equalised. Heartland is a very good side – kudos to them – but the most important thing for us was securing the three points.”
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Abdullahi highlighted his players’ hunger and dedication, evident in their training sessions, as the foundation for their performance.
“You can see that the boys were hungrier to win this match. I noticed their attitude during training because I always tell them that training is a ‘mirror’ of a match,” he said.
“And one thing they’ve been doing consistently is replicating their training intensity in actual games. Congratulations to all of them and to all of us together.”
The victory moves Akwa United to 17th on the NPFL table with 19 points. They now face Remo Stars in their matchday 19 fixture, which will conclude the first stanza of the 2024/2025 season.
By Sab Osuji
