Wikipedia

2022–23 Akwa United F.C. season

The 2022–23 season was Akwa United's 27th season in the Nigerian football league system and their 14th (non-consecutive) season in the top tier of Nigerian football.

Akwa United
2022–23 season
Akwa United playing against Shooting Stars during the league season at Godswill Akpabio Stadium on 26 March 2023
ChairmanPaul Bassey
ManagerAyodeji Ayeni[1]
Nigeria Professional Football League4th
(in Group A)
Nigeria FA CupRound of 32
Top goalscorerLeague: Cyril Olisema (6)[2]
All: Cyril Olisema (6)
Biggest win3–0
(vs. Nasarawa United (A), 22 January 2023, NPFL)[3]


During the season, Akwa United participated in the Nigeria Professional Football League and the Nigeria Federation Cup.

They began their Nigeria Professional Football League campaign with a shock home loss against Bendel Insurance.[4] The Uyo club went into the final day of the regular season with a chance to secure a championship play-off place. They earned a 1-0 win at Gombe United, but it wasn't enough to seal qualification for the play-off as results elsewhere did not go their way.[5]

They entered the Nigeria Federation Cup in the Round of 62, where they defeated Wikki Tourists through a goal from Liman Ahmadu.[6] Their hopes of winning the Cup ended after they lost to Nigeria National League side EFCC in the Round of 32.[7]

First-team squad

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As of 21 May 2023[8]
No. Name Position Nationality (flag) Date of birth (Age) Apps Goals
Goalkeepers
1 Godgift Elkanah GK   (2000-11-15) 15 November 2000 (age 24) 1 0
18 Jean Efala GK   (1992-08-11) 11 August 1992 (age 32) 17 0
33 Uche Okafor GK   (1991-02-10) 10 February 1991 (age 33) 0 0
Defenders
2 James Ajako LB   (2003-03-09) 9 March 2003 (age 21) 18 3
3 Wisdom Ndon CB   (2005-11-06) 6 November 2005 (age 19) 11 0
5 Anthony Anioke CB   8 0
6 Abbey Benson CB   (1998-06-12) 12 June 1998 (age 26) 11 0
20 Matthew Etim RB   (1989-09-02) 2 September 1989 (age 35) 4 0
21 David Philip LB   (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 (age 30) 1 0
23 Boluwaji Sholumade CB   (2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 21) 8 0
25 Taiye Muritala RB   (2001-06-03) 3 June 2001 (age 23) 13 2
29 Abdulasam Saeed CB   (2003-12-23) 23 December 2003 (age 20) 2 0
31 Pascal Onunze CB   (2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 21) 2 0
Midfielders
4 Osimaga Duke DM   (2000-07-30) 30 July 2000 (age 24) 2 0
11 Azeez Olamilekan AM   6 0
14 Cyril Olisema AM   (1995-03-04) 4 March 1995 (age 29) 13 6
15 Salomon Chigoziem CM   14 0
27 Ubong Essien DM   (2001-12-17) 17 December 2001 (age 22) 15 0
30 Ebetomame Oghenetega AM   4 0
36 Onyekachi Nwaiwu CM   (2000-11-12) 12 November 2000 (age 24) 4 0
Forwards
7 Ubong Friday LW   (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 26) 16 4
8 Moses Effiong LW   (2001-02-01) 1 February 2001 (age 23) 7 0
9 Valentine Obilor ST   (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 23) 4 0
10 Wisdom Fernando LW   (2002-02-28) 28 February 2002 (age 22) 7 0
12 Ndifreke Effiong ST   (1998-08-15) 15 August 1998 (age 26) 2 0
17 Ifeanyi Ogba ST   8 0
19 Uche Collins ST   (2000-11-19) 19 November 2000 (age 24) 17 4
22 Kehinde Olajuyin ST   (1995-12-04) 4 December 1995 (age 28) 2 0
22 Emmanuel Ugwuka ST   2 0
26 Ikechukwu Nwani RW   (1998-10-17) 17 October 1998 (age 26) 2 0
32 Liman Ahmadu RW   9 1

Competitions

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  Win   Draw   Loss


Nigeria Professional Football League

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Main article: 2022–23 Nigeria Professional Football League

Regular season

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Group A
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League table
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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Bendel Insurance 18 8 10 0 22 11 +11 34 Qualification to Championship round
2 Remo Stars 18 9 6 3 21 14 +7 33
3 Enyimba 18 9 5 4 25 12 +13 32
4 Akwa United 18 9 5 4 24 14 +10 32
5 Plateau United 18 7 5 6 29 23 +6 26
6 Shooting Stars 18 5 8 5 20 20 0 23
7 Gombe United 18 4 7 7 10 20 −10 19
8 Kwara United 18 4 5 9 11 22 −11 17
9 Nasarawa United 18 3 5 10 15 23 −8 14 Relegation to the National League
10 El-Kanemi Warriors 18 2 4 12 10 28 −18 10
Updated to match(es) played on 21 May 2023. Source: Besoccer
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored

Matches

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On 28 December 2022, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.[9]

8 January 2023 (2023-01-08) 1 Akwa United 0-2 Bendel Insurance Uyo
15:00 GMT Report Imade Osarenkhoe   38'
Ismail Sarki   41'		 Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
18 January 2023 (2023-01-18) 2 Enyimba 0-0 Akwa United Aba
15:00 GMT Report Stadium: Enyimba Stadium
22 January 2023 (2023-01-22) 3 Nasarawa United 0–3 Akwa United Jos
15:00 GMT Report James Ajako   43'
Ndifreke Effiong   47' (74)		 Stadium: New Jos Stadium
29 January 2023 (2023-01-29) 4 Akwa United 1–0 Plateau United Eket
15:00 GMT James Ajako   79' Report Stadium: Eket Stadium
1 February 2023 (2023-02-01) 5 Kwara United 2-1 Akwa United Ibadan
15:00 GMT Wasiu Alalade   15'
Dagbo Muritala   86'		 Report Cyril Olisema   69' Stadium: Lekan Salami Stadium
5 February 2023 (2023-02-05) 6 Akwa United 3–1 Remo Stars Uyo
15:00 GMT Cyril Olisema   15' (pen.)
Uche Collins   45+2'
Olalere Segun   60' (o.g.)		 Report Qudus Akanni   24' Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
12 February 2023 (2023-02-12) 7 El-Kanemi 1–1 Akwa United Maiduguri
15:00 GMT Junior Agnasa   85' Report Uche Collins   45' Stadium: El-Kanemi Stadium
16 February 2023 (2023-02-16) 8 Akwa United 1–0 Gombe United Uyo
15:00 GMT Uche Collins   8' Report Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
19 February 2023 (2023-02-19) 9 Shooting Stars 2–2 Akwa United Ibadan
15:00 GMT Joshua Akpan   14'
Ibrahim Ajani   45+6'		 Report Uche Collins   20'
Liman Ahmadu   27'		 Stadium: Lekan Salami Stadium
26 March 2023 (2023-03-26) 10 Akwa United 2–0 Shooting Stars Uyo
15:00 GMT Ubong Friday   53'
Taiye Muritala   55'		 Report Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
29 March 2023 (2023-03-29) 11 Bendel Insurance 1–1 Akwa United Benin City
15:00 GMT Imade Osarenkhoe   3' Report Cyril Olisema   34' Stadium: Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium
2 April 2021 (2021-04-02) 12 Akwa United 1–0 Enyimba Uyo
15:00 GMT Uche Collins   73' Report Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
9 April 2023 (2023-04-09) 13 Akwa United 2–2 Nasarawa United Uyo
15:00 GMT Cyril Olisema   21'
Victor Collins   56' (own goal)		 Report Victor Collins   20'
Anas Yusuf   87'		 Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
16 April 2023 (2023-04-16) 14 Plateau United 1–0 Akwa United Jos
15:00 GMT Ibrahim Mustapha   36' (pen.) Report Stadium: New Jos Stadium
24 April 2023 (2023-04-24) 15 Akwa United 3–1 Kwara United Uyo
15:00 GMT Taiye Muritala   19'
Cyril Olisema   27'
Ubong Friday   45+3'		 Report Samad Kadiri   49' Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
30 April 2023 (2023-04-30) 16 Remo Stars 1–0 Akwa United Ikenne
15:00 GMT Nduka Junior   45+3' (pen.) Report Stadium: Rem Stars Stadium
7 May 2023 (2023-05-07) 17 Akwa United 2–0 El-Kanemi Uyo
15:00 GMT Ubong Friday   10' (62) Report Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium
21 May 2023 (2023-05-21) 18 Gombe United 0–1 Akwa United Gombe
15:00 GMT James Ajako   30' Report Stadium: Pantami Stadium

References

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  1. ^ "Akwa can't afford to drop points – Ayeni". The Cable. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  2. ^ "Table of top scorers NPFL 2023 - Besoccer". Besoccer. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  3. ^ "Akwa United Thrash Nasarawa United 3-0 In Jos". Daily Trust. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Insurance Shock Akwa United 2-0 In 2023 NPFL Opener". Daily Trust. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Ayeni sad with Akwa United's failure to qualify for NPFL Super Six playoff". Daily Post. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Federation Cup: Akwa United pip Wikki Tourists". Gazettengr. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  7. ^ "Fed Cup: Enyimba, Akwa United, Kano Pillars eliminated". aclsports. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Squad of Akwa United". Besoccer. Retrieved 24 May 2023.
  9. ^ "IMC releases approved venues for NPFL matches". Sunnewsonline. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
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