Samuel Onyekwere
Few weeks after leading his team – Akwa United of Uyo – to win the AITEO
Cup formally known as the Federation Cup, Coach Abdu Maikaba says his
team is doing everything possible to reverse the disappointing outing of Nigeria teams in the continental champions.
Akwa United, according to the tactician, is poised to make a big difference come next year in the CAF Confederation cup championship.
He revealed that the poor performances of Nigerian clubs in the two championships in the last decade is as result of poor preparations by the teams involved. The Nigeria league calendar, he added, does not give the players adequate time to be match fit before the commencement of the championship. Most times the league kicks off few weeks before the championship and this makes it difficult for Nigeria players to adjust easily as most of them are still match rusty.
In addition, he said, most of the clubs at the end of the season do an overhaul of their squads by dropping a lot of players and recruiting new ones and it takes time for the new players to jell. That was what happened to Rivers United that resulted in their crashing out in this year’s CAF Champions league group stage.
Akwa United and Enyimba International of Aba will represent the country next year in the CAF Confederation Cup, while league winners Plateau United, and MFM, will represent the country in the CAF Champions league.
Coach Maikaba has managed top football clubs including FC Abuja, Wikki
Tourists, Enyimba International and Kano Pillars.