NPFL: Akwa United Boss, Ayeni laments loss to Bendel Insurance
Akwa United head coach Ayodeji Ayeni has admitted mistakes cost his side their loss to Bendel Insurance on Sunday night.
The Promise Keepers suffered a 2-0 loss to Insurance in the opening game of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
Two first-half goals from Imade Osehenkhoe and Sarki Ismael gave Insurance all three points of the match.
It was the visitors' first away win in the NPFL since a 1-0 win over the Sunshine Stars in the 2018/19 season.
Ayeni in a post-match press conference said: "In the first half, we were uncoordinated, we were tense, and my players were nervous and at one point they had looking forward to getting things done quickly. It's a shame we made two mistakes and paid dearly for them because the mistakes cost us all three points.
‘Football is a three-way game; win, lose or draw. Today we lost, and as a coach it's a painful loss for me, especially since it's our first home game of the season. We entered the game with a lot of hope and there were a lot of expectations, but it ended in favor of the visitors. Losing today is not the end, the most important thing is how we react and I think we will bounce back more widely."
Akwa United will face Nasarawa United in their next NPFL game on Saturday January 14 in Jos.
Akwa United head coach Ayodeji Ayeni has admitted mistakes cost his side their loss to Bendel Insurance on Sunday night.
The Promise Keepers suffered a 2-0 loss to Insurance in the opening game of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
Two first-half goals from Imade Osehenkhoe and Sarki Ismael gave Insurance all three points of the match.
It was the visitors' first away win in the NPFL since a 1-0 win over the Sunshine Stars in the 2018/19 season.
Ayeni in a post-match press conference said: "In the first half, we were uncoordinated, we were tense, and my players were nervous and at one point they had looking forward to getting things done quickly. It's a shame we made two mistakes and paid dearly for them because the mistakes cost us all three points.
‘Football is a three-way game; win, lose or draw. Today we lost, and as a coach it's a painful loss for me, especially since it's our first home game of the season. We entered the game with a lot of hope and there were a lot of expectations, but it ended in favor of the visitors. Losing today is not the end, the most important thing is how we react and I think we will bounce back more widely."
Akwa United will face Nasarawa United in their next NPFL game on Saturday January 14 in Jos.
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