Arikya stays positive after away draw against Akwa United

 

By Taofeek Babalola

Nasarawa United caretaker Coach, Abubakar Arikya is hopeful that things will take shape in the club soon following their vital away point against Akwa United in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) match day 13 fixture in Uyo, Sportinglens.blogspot.com reports. 

The Solid Miners began life under Arikya, with a deserved 2-2 draw against 2020/21 league champions, Akwa United, at Nest of Champions Stadium, Uyo, on Sunday evening.

The
former Chief Coach heaped praises on his boys for playing to instructions that earned them a valuable point away from home. He added that the team will approach every game as it comes.

Arikya said: "We thank God for the result. My players did very well and adhered to instructions, too. I give kudos to them.

"We analyzed our areas of deficiencies, and before coming here, we had to ensure those grey areas were properly attended to to prevent reoccurrence in our subsequent games.

“We are not going to be faster than expected. We will approach every game as it comes, and God willing, things will take shape in the Club (Nasarawa United FC)."

The visitors who began the game with an offensive approach silenced the home fans just within nineteen minutes into the first-half with unlikely source and central defender, Victor Collins, scoring a beauty from a set piece, his first league goal for the Solid Miners.

Hardly had the United's players finished celebrating than Akwa United restored parity in the 20th minute through the foot of Cyril Olisema.

The hosts went ahead in a bizarre format after defender, Victor Collins, mistakenly turned the ball into the back of his own net in the 57th minute, putting score at 2-1 in favour of the home team.

But not deterred by the outcome, United regrouped and effected some tactical changes and the decision paid off after two substitutes, Suleiman Akoza and Anas Yusuf combined neatly to bring score to 2-2 apiece, with the latter nodding home a powerful header from a well-tailored  cross into the territory.

It was the Solid Miners' two consecutive stalemate in two matches on the road this season, after pulling a 1-1 draw against eight-time league Champions, Enyimba International at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, Abia State, in their last away tie.

The tension-soaked clash could yield no further result as both teams shared the points at the end of the day.

Nasarawa United will return home to fine-tune ahead of visiting Gombe United FC on match-day fifteen fixture on Saturday, 15th April, 2023.