The incapacity to convert opportunities has been noted by coach Mohammed Babaganar as one of the main issues Akwa United is now facing in the 2024–2025 NPFL.
In a Match Day 12 match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Babaganaru remarked after his club defeated Nasarawa United 1-0.
“That has been my major problem.
” Week in, week out, we keep working on that goal-scoring area, but so far, we haven’t got it right, and I’m not satisfied because we haven’t been scoring enough goals,” Babaganaru lamented.
He also voiced worry about his squad’s high injury rate, which has restricted his alternatives for selection.
Babaganaru continued: “And another thing is that we have a lot of injuries in the team.
“We have so many injured players. We are still dealing with that issue because the majority of our strikers are out.
“But I think with time, and with this victory over Nasarawa United, everything will be okay.
“We’re still on course despite the fact that we’re struggling. This is not what we expected at the beginning of the season.
“A lot of people believed we were going to do very well and contend for the league title. But look at our situation now – since Week 2, the team has been at the bottom of the table, struggling. However, now that we’ve started beating our opponents at home, I think we’ll get it right. We’re still on course.
“After this win, we’ve identified some lapses in the team. In the next two days, we’ll make some adjustments and try to see where we can improve.”
This weekend, Akwa United, who are still in the NPFL standings’ drop zone, will travel to Maiduguri to play El-Kanemi Warriors on Match Day 13.
Babaganaru is already expecting Saturday’s match in Maiduguri to be difficult.
“Every match has its own approach. You don’t have to be rigid; you have to be flexible.
“The Maiduguri match will be different from the match against Nasarawa United.
” If we need to make changes, we will,” he said.
“We’ll go out there and do what we’re supposed to do.
“I know El-Kanemi Warriors have a very good team – they’re in good shape and getting good results both home and away.
“Most of their players from the NNL are still with them, along with the coaches.
” Everything is still intact. In this league now, anything is possible.
” We can go out there, face them head-on, and get the desired result, but it will be a difficult game,” Babaganaru concluded.
