Abia Warriors Head Coach Imama Amapakabo says his side must keep focus on escaping relegation by the end of the season after going down 1-2 to Heartland on Sunday.
The MatchDay 26 encounter decided at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri saw all three goals in the contest scored in a rollercoaster first 45 minutes.
Heartland went in front in the 23rd minute after the Warriors defence reacted poorly to Nonso Nzediegwu’s over-head kick, allowing Murphy Ndukwu to tap home unchallenged.
The hosts doubled their lead three minutes later after another sloppy defending, Nzediegwu this time turning from provider to scorer through his finish to Samuel Okon’s cross which should have been cleared by the Warriors defence.
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Amapakabo responded with two changes in the first half and while the duo of Gabriel Adeolu and Mustapha Jibreel prepared to enter the fray, Warriors’ top scorer Godwin Obaje headed home for his side to halve the deficit.
That turned out to be a mere consolation though as the hosts saw out the second half, leapfrogging their Oriental rivals on the league log.
“We didn’t respond well to two situations in the first half and I think that resulted to their two gifted goals,” Amapakabo told www.npfl.ng after the game.
“We tried to come back into the game but it was difficult for us to play with a different style of play within one day.”
With Warriors slipping into the bottom four after Sunday’s loss, Amapakabo says his side must forget Sunday’s performance and keep their focus in this battle against the dreaded drop.
“My problem all the time is; is that my team playing how I want them to play? There are a lot of factors around the game that I don’t bother myself about.
“We are going to go to Okigwe to play MFM in our outstanding game on Wednesday. That is key. That is paramount for me.
“This game is done and dusted and there’s nothing that can be done to bring it back, and the league is still in front of us.
“(There are) over twelve games to play and we just must keep our focus and keep doing what we are doing. This is arguably our worst game in a very long time and I attribute it to the terrible pitch,” said the former U23 head coach.
Match Details:
Heartland XI
1. Chijioke Ejiogu 34. Ichull Lordson 24. Samuel Okon 4. Jimoh Gbadamosi 22. Nnaemeka Anyanwu 8. Chukwudi Nwaodu 10. Nnamdi Egbujuo 33. Monday Yakubu 7. Nonso Nzediegwu 9. Murphy Ndukwu 15. Chijioke Mbaoma
Subs
13. Paul Godwin 2. Andrew Abalogu 6. Ebuka Okoro 18. Adewole Adeniji 19. Alexander Alfred 29. Ojonugwa Adejoh 35. Kelvin Itoya 38. Chima Ezeobi 40. Chibuko Uchechukwu
1. Pius Ibrahim 13. Innocent Gabriel 25. Udochukwu Anumudu 2. Chigozie Umeh 35. Lawrence Edward 24. Yeo Chacool 17. Daniel Wotlai 10. Anthony Okemmiri 11. Kalu Nweke 21. Godwin Obaje 9. Valentine Odoh
Subs
22. Vincent Edafe 4. Michael Ibe 5. Gabriel Adeolu 12. Yakub Hammed 15. Ikenna Stephen 23. Kabiru Muhammad 26. Mustapha Jibreel 28. Lukman Bello 39. Abdul Lawal
