Akwa United register 36 players, 2 U18s selected

Wikki star Ibrahim Alhassan 'Muazam' (left) has joined Akwa United

Friday Jan 13, 2017. 11:24

Akwa United have registered 36 players including two U18 players for the 2016/17 NPFL season.

Twenty of the players were retained from last season's squad, while 16 new players have been signed from different clubs within and outside the country.

Club chairman Paul Bassey expressed optimism that the caliber of players in the team are capable of winning the league.

"We did not just signed players but we went for those that are good enough, and don't forget that we retained a greater percentage of the players from the squad of last season,” Bassey said.

“So, we have a solid team in place and again what we have done was to inject quality players in the departments we know we needed to strengthen. We are very happy with the players we have, the team is better than what we had last season and I believe that with this team we can win the league."

Assessing his squad, coach Abdul Maikaba said he is confident that the team has depth and quality players who are capable of challenging for honours in the new season.

"I am satisfied with the quality of players we have in the team. Our preseason programme was wonderful and they are very focused, dedicated and determined to give their best in the new season," explained Maikaba.

The registered players are:

GOALKEEPERS

1.) OLUFEMI KAYODE...RETAINED

2.) EMMANUEL IWU...HEARTLAND

3.) DANIEL EMMANSON...RETAINED

4.) ISMALIA SHAGARI...KWARA UTD

DEFENDERS

5.) OTOBONG EFFIONG...RETAINED

6). OFEM INAH...RIVERS UTD

7.) UBONG IDIO...RETAINED

8.) LAWAL SHITTU...GIWA

9.) KODJO DADZIE...RETAINED

10.) SAMUEL OKON...RETAINED

11) EMMANUEL AREWA...RETAINED

12) GODSPOWER IGUDIA...RETAINED

13.) LAIDE SEMIU...WARRI WOLVES

14.) PATERNE KONNOU...RETAINED

15.)MMETENG TCHAKUNTE

16.) EKEMINI UKOEBE...STARLETS

17.) HARRISON IBUKUN...RETAINED

MIDFIELDERS

18.) CYRIL OLISEMA...RETAINED

19.) ALHASSAN IBRAHIM...FC HEARTS

20.) AMEACHI ORJI...RETAINED

21.) MICHEAL IBE...RETAINED

22.) AREMU AFEEZ...RIVERS UTD

23.) JULIUS GIDEON...RETAINED

24.) YUSUF ADIO...RETAINED

25.) CHIGOZIE EMMANUEL...RETAINED

26.) IFEANYI IFEANYI...MFM

STRIKERS

27) HASSAN BABANGIDA...RETAINED

28.) NURA USMAN...WIKKI

29.) UBONG FRIDAY...RETAINED

30.) KUFRE EBONG...RETAINED

31.) FRANKLYN EKONG...RETAINED

32.) CHRISTIAN PYAGBARA ...ENYIMBA

33.) MBOUTIDEM OKON...STARLETS

34.) NSIKAK ETIM...COFINE

35.) MUSA NEWMAN...MFM

36.) MOSES EBIYE...IKORODU