Abia Warriors technical adviser Imama Amapakabo has offered a candid assessment of his team’s display following their narrow 1-0 win against Bayelsa United on Monday. Despite securing a crucial three points at the Umuahia Township Stadium, the manager expressed dissatisfaction with the overall quality of play, particularly highlighting deficiencies in the squad’s offensive transitions and tactical discipline.
The decisive moment of the match arrived via Chukwuemeka Obioma, whose goal ensured the hosts emerged victorious in the Matchday 33 encounter. While the result was positive, Amapakabo noted that the team struggled to maintain pressure and left significant vulnerabilities in their defensive structure.
“Not a key pressing game, we were poor especially transition in the attack. We didn’t cover a lot of gaps as we leave gaps in behind,” Amapakabo admitted during a post-match briefing with Abia Warriors Media.
The tactician further observed that while the team successfully engineered openings, their inability to finalize those chances remains a recurring concern. “But we are able to still create good chances,” he noted. “Our biggest problem still remains conversion of those chances. Good one that we were able to get the victory.”
The triumph has significant implications for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) standings. With this result, Abia Warriors have ascended to fourth position on the table, accumulating 52 points as they intensify their pursuit of a continental qualification spot. Conversely, the defeat leaves Bayelsa United in 16th place, hovering just above the relegation zone with 40 points as the season approaches its final weeks.
