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| Aremu Afeez and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi on National assignments |
Four of Akwa United's first team players will be part of the team that will play Lobi Stars of Makurdi on matchday 36 encounter of the Nigeria Professional Football League scheduled for Friday at the Uyo Township Stadium.
The quartet of Ariwachukwu Emmanuel, Alhassan Ibrahim, Aremu Afeez and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi who were on national assignment with the Super Eagles for CHAN qualifier have all returned while striker Christian Pyagbara is back to the team after trails in Europe.
The players trained with the rest of the squad and have been selected among the eighteen man matchday squad that will prosecute the game against Lobi Stars on Friday afternoon.
The match will be played at the old Uyo Township Stadium because of the ongoing work at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Nigeria and Cameroon on September 1.
The Promise Keepers will hope to avenge their 2-1 first leg defeat in Makurdi when they host Lobi Stars in Uyo. Victory for Akwa United will see them cut the lead of second placed MFM to within two points with two games before the end of the season.
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The Uyo based side on 54 points from 35 matches could consolidate their 3rd spot on the log if they beat Lobi Stars.
Coach Abdu Maikaba will rely on his team's impressive home form which has seen them picked up 14 wins and three draws in their last 17 matches in Uyo.
Speaking with the media department of the club ahead of the match, Coach Maikaba said he expect his team to focused on getting maximum points which according to him will help improve their chances of playing continental football next season.
"This game is very critical for us. At this stage of the season, we have our destiny in our hands and we cannot afford to lose it".
" We have three matches before the end of the season starting from this game against Lobi Stars. Our target is to pick all available points so we can finish strong and also meet our target at the end of the season".
"The game is a must win for us, the players are ready and committed to give their best. With three matches to go, a lot can still change and if we win all our remaining matches, then we will finish in a very comfortable position".
" We are told the match will be played at the old Uyo Township Stadium. Although the surface may affect the flow of our game, but one thing is certain, we are determine to win this match irrespective of the venue".
The match will kickoff at 4pm and will be Live on Supersport.
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