2021–22 Akwa United F.C. season

Akwa United
2021–22 season
	Akwa United during their last league game of the 2021–22 season, against Enugu Rangers at Awka Township Stadium on 17 July 2022
Chairman	Paul Bassey
Manager	Kennedy Boboye; (until 14 February 2022); Ayodeji Ayeni; (from 24 March 2022)
Nigeria Professional Football League	9th
Nigeria FA Cup	Round of 16
CAF Champions League	First round
Top goalscorer	League: ; Ubong Friday; Wisdom Fernando; Babatunde Bello; (4 each); All: ; Ubong Friday (7)
Biggest win	6–1 ; (vs. Nasarawa United (H), 21 April 2022, NPFL)
Biggest defeat	4-1 ; (vs. Rivers United (A), 20 March 2022, NPFL); ; ; 3-0 ; (vs. Enugu Rangers (A), 13 March 2022, NPFL); ; ; 3-0 ; (vs. Plateau United (A), 27 February 2022, NPFL)
Home colours	Away colours
	← 2020–21 2022–23 →

The 2021–22 season was Akwa United's 26th season in the Nigerian football league system and their 13th (non-consecutive) season in the top tier of Nigerian football.^[4]

During the season, Akwa United participated in the Nigeria Professional Football League for the ninth consecutive season and the CAF Champions League, where they were eliminated by CR Belouizdad in the first round.^[5]

They began their Nigeria Professional Football League campaign with a home tie against Kano Pillars, which they won 3-0.^[6]

First-team squad

As of 18 July 2022^[7]

Squad no.	Player	Position(s)	Date of birth	Signed from	Apps	Goals	Assists
Goalkeepers
1	Adewale Adeyinka	GK	(1996-12-14) 14 December 1996 (age 28)	Gombe United	24	0	0
18	Jean Efala	GK	(1992-08-11) 11 August 1992 (age 32)	Coton Sport	8	0	0
33	Uche Okafor	GK	(1998-11-23) 23 November 1998 (age 26)	Abia Warriors	5	0	0
33	Dele Ajiboye	GK	(1990-08-07) 7 August 1990 (age 34)	Plateau United	1	0	0
34	Ifeanyi Emmanuel	GK	(2002-08-04) 4 August 2002 (age 22)	One Touch FC	1	0	0
Defenders
2	James Ajako	LB	(2003-03-09) 9 March 2003 (age 21)	Jigawa Golden Stars	23	0	0
3	Evans Ogbonda	LB	(2002-11-03) 3 November 2002 (age 22)	Ifeanyi Ubah	14	0	0
5	Samson Gbadebo	CB	(1996-10-19) 19 October 1996 (age 28)	Rivers United	28	0	0
6	Ekundayo Owoniyi	RB	(2001-02-12) 12 February 2001 (age 23)	Cynosure F.C.	6	0	0
6	Charles Okafor	CB	(1999-04-04) 4 April 1999 (age 25)	Ifeanyi Ubah	12	1
12	Denis Nya	CB	(1996-12-01) 1 December 1996 (age 28)	Plateau United	16	0
14	Orji Kalu	CB	(1992-02-09) 9 February 1992 (age 32)	Heartland	3	0	0
14	John Lazarus	RB	(1998-06-06) 6 June 1998 (age 26)	Lobi Stars	11	0
15	Elu Wilson	CB/RB	(1994-12-08) 8 December 1994 (age 30)	Ifeanyi Ubah	5	0	0
21	David Philip	LB	(1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 (age 30)	Go Round	3	0	0
23	Boluwaji Sholumade	CB	(2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 21)	Sunshine Stars	10	0	0
29	Etboy Akpan	RB	(1998-11-11) 11 November 1998 (age 26)	NK Rudar Velenje U19	15	0
32	Christopher Nwaeze	CB	(2001-11-16) 16 November 2001 (age 23)	Kwara United	14	0
Midfielders
4	Solomon Okpako	DM	(1990-05-01) 1 May 1990 (age 34)	Gulf Heroes	5	0	0
9	Adam Yakubu	CM	(2005-02-01) 1 February 2005 (age 19)	Adamawa United	23	3
16	James Arong	AM	(2003-08-06) 6 August 2003 (age 21)	Türk Ocağı Limasol	8	0	0
17	Adeyeye Adeyemi	DM	(1988-04-29) 29 April 1988 (age 36)	Sunshine Stars	8	1	0
19	Seth Mayi	AM	(1999-12-18) 18 December 1999 (age 25)		29	0
20	Dare Ojo	DM	(1994-12-10) 10 December 1994 (age 30)	Lobi Stars	12	0	0
22	Austin Osayande	CM/AM	(2000-12-15) 15 December 2000 (age 24)	Dakkada	16	1	0
26	Obotu Young	AM	(1999-04-13) 13 April 1999 (age 25)		2	0	0
27	Ubong Essien	CM/DM	(2001-12-17) 17 December 2001 (age 23)	Welcome Time Academy	36	0	0
31	Hamza Mubarak	CM	(2002-06-15) 15 June 2002 (age 22)	Sokoto United	4	0	0
35	Babatunde Bello	CM	(2003-05-11) 11 May 2003 (age 21)	Sunshine Stars	16	4	1
38	Kaham Platini	CM/AM	(1992-10-15) 15 October 1992 (age 32)	Nasarawa United	3	0
Forwards
4	Utibe Archibong	ST	(1991-10-09) 9 October 1991 (age 33)	Abia Warriors	11	1
7	Ubong Friday (captain)	LW/RW	(1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 26)		29	5
8	Ezekiel Bassey	LW/RW	(1996-11-10) 10 November 1996 (age 28)	El Qanah	22	2
10	Orok Akarandut	LW/ST	(1987-08-13) 13 August 1987 (age 37)	East Riffa Club	8	0	0
11	Leo Ezekiel	ST	(2003-05-09) 9 May 2003 (age 21)	Blue Ocean FC	15	3	0
17	Naibe Akpesiri	ST/LW	(1997-06-26) 26 June 1997 (age 27)		12	3	0
17	Stephen Chukwude	ST/LW	(1997-06-26) 26 June 1997 (age 27)		8	2	0
23	Izu Azuka	ST/LW	(1989-05-24) 24 May 1989 (age 35)	Wolaitta Dicha	4	0	0
24	Samuel Amadi	RW	(2003-03-10) 10 March 2003 (age 21)	Warri Wolves	21	2
28	David Onovo	ST/LW	(1993-12-25) 25 December 1993 (age 30)	Sokoto United	19	2	0
36	Godfrey Utim	ST	(2000-12-25) 25 December 2000 (age 23)	Inter Allies	5	0	0
36	Franklin Matib	ST	(2002-03-02) 2 March 2002 (age 22)		9	1

Management team

Position	Name
Manager	Ayodeji Ayeni (from 24 March 2022) Kennedy Boboye (until 14 February 2022)
Assistant coaches	Ali Jolomi
	Ebenezer Atayero
	Edward Edemekong
Fitness coach	Abdullahi Umar
Goalkeeper coach	Moses Effiong

Competitions

Win Draw Loss

Overview

Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Record
Competition	First match	Last match	Starting round	Final position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Win %
Nigeria Professional Football League	19 December 2021	17 July 2022	Matchday 1	Ninth	38	13	13	12	35	36	−1	034.21
CAF Champions League	12 September 2021	19 September 2021	First round	First round	2	1	0	1	1	2	−1	050.00
Nigeria FA Cup	30 July 2022	7 August 2022	Round of 64	Round of 16	3	2	0	1	7	2	+5	066.67
Total					43	16	13	14	43	40	+3	037.21

Source: Flashcore.com.ng

Nigeria Professional Football League

League table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
1	Rivers United	38	23	8	7	58	24	+34	77	Qualification for the Champions League
2	Plateau United	38	21	4	13	50	29	+21	67	Qualification for the Champions League
3	Remo Stars	38	18	8	12	43	26	+17	62	Qualification for the Confederation Cup
4	Kwara United	38	17	7	14	43	45	−2	58
5	Enugu Rangers	38	15	11	12	41	30	+11	56
6	Nasarawa United	38	15	8	15	42	48	−6	53
7	Enyimba	38	15	7	16	39	36	+3	52
8	Gombe United	38	14	10	14	39	39	0	52
9	Akwa United	38	13	13	12	35	36	−1	52
10	Wikki Tourists	38	15	7	16	34	35	−1	52
11	Sunshine Stars	38	14	9	15	30	30	0	51
12	Niger Tornadoes^[a]	38	15	6	17	32	38	−6	51
13	Abia Warriors	38	13	11	14	50	44	+6	50
14	Dakkada	38	15	4	19	42	49	−7	49
15	Lobi Stars	38	14	7	17	36	48	−12	49
16	Shooting Stars	38	12	12	14	41	45	−4	48
17	Katsina United	38	15	3	20	34	42	−8	48	Relegation to the NNL
18	Heartland	38	13	8	17	32	48	−16	47
19	Kano Pillars^[b]	38	15	6	17	32	36	−4	45
20	MFM	38	9	9	20	26	51	−25	36

Source: NPFL
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored
Notes:

^ Niger Tornadoes initially had 2 points deducted by the LMC but were restored by the NFF.^[8]^[9]
^ Kano Pillars had 3 points deducted by the LMC and a further 3 points by the NFF.^[9]^[10]

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
38	13	13	12	35	36	−1	52	11	7	1	29	13	+16	2	6	11	6	23	−17

Last updated: 18 July 2022.
Source: Flashcore.com.ng

Matches

On 24 November 2021, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.^[11]

19 December 2021 (2021-12-19) 1	Akwa United	3–0	Kano Pillars	Uyo
15:00 BST	Bassey 45' Stephen Chukwude 45' Friday 90+3'	Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

26 December 2021 (2021-12-26) 2	Shooting Stars	1–1	Akwa United	Ibadan
15:00 BST	Ayo Adejubu 90+4'	Report	Utibe Archibong 29'	Stadium: Lekan Salami Stadium

29 December 2021 (2021-12-29) 3	Akwa United	1–0	Gombe United	Uyo
15:00 BST	Friday 79' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

2 January 2022 (2022-01-02) 4	Nasarawa United	2–0	Akwa United	Lafia
15:00 BST	Michael Tochukwu 53' Nwankwo 83'	Report		Stadium: Lafia Township Stadium

9 January 2022 (2022-01-09) 5	Lobi Stars	1–0	Akwa United	Makurdi
16:00 BST	Saidu Mubarak 83'	Report	40'	Stadium: Aper Aku Stadium

15 January 2022 (2022-01-15) 6	Akwa United	2–0	Katsina United	Uyo
15:00 BST	Charles Okafor 12' Friday 47'	Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

26 January 2022 (2022-01-26) 7	Enyimba	1–0	Akwa United	Aba
15:00 BST	Omoyele 26'	Report		Stadium: Enyimba Stadium

23 January 2022 (2022-01-23) 8	Akwa United	0–0	Sunshine Stars	Uyo
15:00 BST		Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

30 January 2022 (2022-01-30) 9	Niger Tornadoes	0–1	Akwa United	Abuja
15:00 BST	Leo Ezekiel 68'	Report		Stadium: National Stadium, Abuja

2 February 2022 (2022-02-02) 10	Akwa United	1–1	Kwara United	Uyo
15:00 BST	Stephen Chukwude 18'	Report	Samad Kadiri 69'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

6 February 2022 (2022-02-06) 11	MFM	0–0	Akwa United	Lagos
15:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Teslim Balogun Stadium

13 February 2022 (2022-02-13) 12	Akwa United	0–0	Heartland	Uyo
15:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

16 February 2022 (2022-02-16) 13	Remo Stars	0–1	Akwa United	Ikenne
15:00 GMT		Report	David Onovo 29'	Stadium: Remo Stars Stadium

20 February 2022 (2022-02-20) 14	Akwa United	3–2	Dakkada	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Samuel Amadi 29' (pen.) Wisdom Fernando 54' Ezekiel Bassey 74'	Report	Oluwafemi Ajayi 18' Edidiong Ezekiel 79'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

27 February 2022 (2022-02-27) 15	Plateau United	3–0	Akwa United	Jos
15:00 GMT	Silas Nenrot 6' Ibrahim Buhari 62' Izuchkwu Chimezie 90+3'	Report		Stadium: New Jos Stadium

2 March 2022 (2022-03-02) 16	Akwa United	2–0	Wikki Tourists	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Adam Yakubu 49' Leo Ezekiel 50'	Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

6 March 2022 (2022-03-06) 17	Abia Warriors	0–0	Akwa United	Okigwe
15:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Okigwe Township Stadium

13 March 2022 (2022-03-13) 18	Akwa United	0–3	Enugu Rangers	Uyo
15:00 GMT		Report	Samuel Pam 55' Chidiebere Nwobodo 70' Shedrack Asiegbu 90+2'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

20 March 2022 (2022-03-20) 19	Rivers United	4–1	Akwa United	Port Harcourt
15:00 GMT	Ishaq Rafiu 7' (pen.) Chijioke Akuneto 12', 28', 43'	Report	Austin Osayande 60'	Stadium: Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium

2 April 2022 (2022-04-02) 20	Akwa United	1–1	Rivers United	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Adeyemi 47'	Report	Matthew Etim 17' (own goal)	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

6 April 2022 (2022-04-06) 21	Kano Pillars	0–0	Akwa United	Katsina
15:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Muhammadu Dikko Stadium

11 April 2022 (2022-04-11) 22	Akwa United	2–1	Shooting Stars	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Babatunde Bello 14' Naibe Akpesiri 69'	Report	Ezeh Chidera 80'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

16 April 2022 (2022-04-16) 23	Gombe United	1–1	Akwa United	Gombe
15:00 GMT	Yusuf Abdulazeez 37' (pen.)	Report	Adam Yakubu 16'	Stadium: Pantami Stadium

21 April 2022 (2022-04-21) 24	Akwa United	6–1	Nasarawa United	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Friday 9' Yakubu Adam 17' Wisdom Fernando 22', 28' Babatunde Bello 57' Franklin Matib 79'	Report	Osanga 54'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

24 April 2022 (2022-04-24) 25	Akwa United	1–0	Lobi Stars	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Babatunde Bello 39'	Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

1 May 2022 (2022-05-01) 26	Katsina United	1–0	Akwa United	Katsina
15:00 GMT	Destiny Ashadi 57'	Report		Stadium: Muhammadu Dikko Stadium

8 May 2022 (2022-05-08) 27	Akwa United	1–1	Enyimba	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Babatunde Bello 36'	Report	Victor Mbaoma 90+2'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

15 May 2022 (2022-05-15) 28	Sunshine Stars	0–0	Akwa United	Akure
15:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Akure Township Stadium

22 May 2022 (2022-05-22) 29	Akwa United	1–0	Akwa United	Uyo
15:00 GMT	Matthew Etim 82' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

28 May 2022 (2022-05-28) 30	Kwara United	1–0	Akwa United	Ilorin
15:00 GMT	Samad Kadiri 33' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Kwara State Stadium

1 June 2022 (2022-06-01) 31	Akwa United	0–0	MFM	Uyo
15:00 GMT		Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

5 June 2022 (2022-06-05) 32	Heartland	1–0	Akwa United	Owerri
13:00 BST	Adeniji Adewale 47'	Report		Stadium: Dan Anyiam Stadium

12 June 2022 (2022-06-12) 33	Akwa United	1–0	Remo Stars	Uyo
15:00 BST	Naibe Akpesiri 66'	Report		Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

19 June 2022 (2022-06-19) 34	Dakkada	3–1	Akwa United	Uyo
15:00 BST	Etido Dan 42' Aniekan Ekpe 54' Edidiong Ezekiel 87'	Report	Samuel Amadi 39'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

25 June 2022 (2022-06-25) 35	Akwa United	2–1	Plateau United	Uyo
15:30 BST	David Onovo 12' Leo Ezekiel 90+3'	Report	Jesse Akila 52'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

3 July 2022 (2022-07-03) 36	Wikki Tourists	2–0	Akwa United	Bauchi
15:00 BST	Taye Murtala 8' Prince John 27'	Report		Stadium: Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium

10 July 2022 (2022-07-10) 37	Akwa United	2–2	Abia Warriors	Uyo
15:00 BST	Naibe Akpesiri 6' Wisdom Fernando 32'	Report	Godwin Obaje 23' Michael Ibe 77'	Stadium: Godswill Akpabio Stadium

17 July 2022 (2022-07-17) 38	Enugu Rangers	2–0	Akwa United	Awka
15:00 BST	Samuel Pam 16', 74'	Report		Stadium: Awka Township Stadium

Nigeria FA Cup

Akwa United secured a place in the Aiteo Cup after beating Sir Monty to reach the final of the Akwa Ibom State FA Cup.^[12]

They entered the competition in the round of 64, and were drawn against Essien Ayi.^[13]

30 July 2022 Round of 64	Essien Ayi	0–3	Akwa United	Aba
17:00 GMT		Report	Friday 24' Samuel Amadi 38' Austin Osayande 62'	Stadium: Enyimba Stadium

3 August 2022 Round of 32	Remo Stars	0–3	Akwa United	Enugu
17:00 GMT		Report	Samuel Amadi 26', 67', 80'	Stadium: University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus

7 August 2022 Round of 16	Akwa United	1–2	Kogi United	Enugu
17:00 GMT	Friday 67' (pen.)	Report	John Jerome 2' Abdulwahid Jubril 85'	Stadium: University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus

References

^ "NPFL: Kennedy Boboye quits Akwa United". Premium Times. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
^ "AKWA UTD UNVEIL AYODEJI AYENI AS NEW HEAD COACH". Akwa United FC. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
^ "Akwa Rout Nasarawa Utd As MFM Fall At Home". Independent.ng. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
^ "Akwa United crowned champions as league season ended dramatically in Nigeria". Cafonline. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ "Caf Champions League: Belouizdad dump out Akwa United as Rivers United advance". Goal. Retrieved 18 July 2021.
^ "NPFL 22: Akwa United Spank Kano Pillars To Begin Title Defence". Channelstv. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
^ "Soccer: Akwa United - squadl". Flashcore. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
^ "Niger Tornadoes fined 2 million with two points deduction for breach of NPFL framework and rules". The News Chronicle. 9 June 2022.
^ ^a ^b "DECISION OF THE NFF DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON JULY 8, 2022". Sportsration. 9 July 2022.
^ "Kano Pillars hit with hefty fine, points deduction". brila.net. 17 April 2022.
^ "NPFL : 2021/22 season starts December 17". Retrieved 29 October 2021.
^ "Akwa United FC Reach State FA Cup Final With 1-0 win Over Brilliant Sir Monty Fc". sportsration. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
^ "AITEO FEDERATION CUP 2022 FIXTURES". Nigeria Football Federation. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.

[table_note_NIG0.86511843412422-10] Niger Tornadoes initially had 2 points deducted by the LMC but were restored by the NFF.^[8]^[9]

[table_note_KAN0.86511843412422-12] Kano Pillars had 3 points deducted by the LMC and a further 3 points by the NFF.^[9]^[10]

[1] "NPFL: Kennedy Boboye quits Akwa United". Premium Times. Retrieved 18 July 2022.

[2] "AKWA UTD UNVEIL AYODEJI AYENI AS NEW HEAD COACH". Akwa United FC. Retrieved 18 July 2022.

[3] "Akwa Rout Nasarawa Utd As MFM Fall At Home". Independent.ng. Retrieved 15 June 2022.

[4] "Akwa United crowned champions as league season ended dramatically in Nigeria". Cafonline. Retrieved 25 October 2021.

[5] "Caf Champions League: Belouizdad dump out Akwa United as Rivers United advance". Goal. Retrieved 18 July 2021.

[6] "NPFL 22: Akwa United Spank Kano Pillars To Begin Title Defence". Channelstv. Retrieved 18 July 2022.

[7] "Soccer: Akwa United - squadl". Flashcore. Retrieved 18 August 2020.

[8] "Niger Tornadoes fined 2 million with two points deduction for breach of NPFL framework and rules". The News Chronicle. 9 June 2022.

[NFF-9] "DECISION OF THE NFF DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON JULY 8, 2022". Sportsration. 9 July 2022.

[Kano-11] "Kano Pillars hit with hefty fine, points deduction". brila.net. 17 April 2022.

[13] "NPFL : 2021/22 season starts December 17". Retrieved 29 October 2021.

[14] "Akwa United FC Reach State FA Cup Final With 1-0 win Over Brilliant Sir Monty Fc". sportsration. Retrieved 11 July 2022.

[15] "AITEO FEDERATION CUP 2022 FIXTURES". Nigeria Football Federation. 29 July 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2022.

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