Abia Warriors head coach Imama Amapakabo says his team must beat Rivers United on Sunday to close the gap at the top of the 2026/2027 Euromatch–NPFL table and make a statement in the title race, Completesports.com reports.
The Umuahia-based side will host Rivers United in a Matchday 8 fixture at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, with Amapakabo insisting that securing all three points is crucial to his team’s ambitions.
Rivers United, who finished as runners-up in the 2025/2026 NPFL season, are yet to taste defeat in the current campaign. They sit second in the standings with 15 points, one behind league leaders and defending champions Rangers International.
Amapakabo said Rivers United’s unbeaten run would serve as extra motivation for his players ahead of the encounter.
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“To me, it’s another three points up in the air for us to grab,” Amapakabo began. “It is not different from the other games that we’re going to play against any other team.
“Rivers United have not lost a game, and that is motivation for our players. The three points are important.
“Like I said, it’s a league season, so we need to win this game. We know that, from a possible 21 points, we have just eight from the past seven games. This is the eighth match, making it 24 points in total.
“So, we need to close the gap. The league leaders right now have opened up an eight-point gap. We need to close it to make a commanding statement in the league.”
Amapakabo Plans Tactical Approach Against Rivers United
The Abia Warriors gaffer acknowledged that Rivers United are strong defensively and dangerous on the counter-attack but said his team would adopt a different tactical approach for Sunday’s encounter.
“Of course, no two games are the same, as I always say. We’ll play to our strengths, and they, too, will want to play to theirs. Tactically, we’re going to approach the game differently.
“We’re going to look at what will work for us, and we’ll continue from there.”
Abia Warriors Work On Defensive Weaknesses
Defensive lapses cost Abia Warriors points in their 3-1 defeat to Rangers International in Awka last Sunday. However, Amapakabo said his team were working to address those shortcomings ahead of the Rivers United clash.
“Our biggest problem in that game against Rangers wasn’t just the red card we received. Faiz Jubrim was sent off in the 81st minute. We didn’t function well defensively, and we’ve looked at that and are working on it.
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“Whatever shortcomings we had in that game, I think we’re correcting them going forward.
“It’s a bit tough for us when we concede the kind of goals we’ve been conceding. I think we don’t have the kind of cover we want in transition. But we’re learning every day, and I hope we get better.”
Asked how he had managed the players psychologically after the defeat to Rangers, despite what he considered a good performance, Amapakabo said the team had put the game behind them and taken positives from the encounter.
“It’s a game that has been won and lost. We’ve been able to go through it. We’ve accepted whatever mistakes we made, and we know where we’re strong and what we need to build on.
“It’s a league season, you know, so we must learn from every mistake we make, and that was a learning curve for us.”
The former Sharks of Port Harcourt goalkeeper urged Abia Warriors supporters to continue backing the team throughout the campaign.
“Keep believing in the team and keep the faith alive,” concluded Amapakabo, who led Rangers International to the 2015/2016 NPFL title.
