The caretaker coach of Akwa United, Umar Abdullahi, said on Monday that his team had no excuses for failing to secure the maximum points against Rangers International in the 2023–2024 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Match Day 20. The Promise Keepers suffered yet another defeat in the 2023–2024 NPFL season to Rangers Int'l by a lone goal.
According to Abdullahi, his team failed to convert their chances and missed a penalty despite securing the services of attacking players to help salvage their precarious position in the league. While praising the new additions, such as Suleiman Sani and Mustapha Dan-Azumi, among others, he said they will aim for victory in subsequent games, starting with Sunday's clash with Bayelsa United in Eket.
"One of the things I tell the players is that we don't have any excuses now because of the calibre of attacking players we have in the team.
''We had the chances but couldn't convert and had a penalty, which we lost.
"I thought the players would have a match fitness problem, but the way they started it, that was how they finished it. I give kudos to our boys. We have to go back home and get ready for our next home match.
"When you have new players, they have to adapt quickly to the team's philosophy. I have said that we don't have any excuses because of the number of new players we have because that is the area where we have deficiencies, and that is attack.
''We have more quality players there. I have to give kudos to each and every one of them.
"We don't have any excuses either home or away matches. We have to go for all three points. Playing against Bayelsa United on Sunday, we don't have any excuses than to work for the three points because we just have to get it.
''The team is in danger, and the only way we can get ourselves out of danger is by winning matches."
ADD A COMMENT :