Akwa United made record after emerging champions of the 2015 Federation Cup having silenced Lobi Stars 2-1 at the Teslim Balogun Stadium on Sunday. Two first half goals; a fantastic first half free kick by Namso Edo and Afeez Awakan were all the Uyo based outfit needed to subdue the Markurdi based outfit in a keenly contested final that produced three goals.
Few minutes into the halftime break, Edo curled in a brilliant free kick to give his side the lead in first half in the highly entertaining encounter. Zachary Baraje’s men doubled their lead through Awakan to send fans of the Uyo based side into wild jubilation. In the closing stages of the game, Lobi Stars tried a comeback as substitute Barnabas Imengar Junior pulled a goal back from a brilliantly struck free kick.
Akwa United will now represent Nigeria in next season’s Caf Confederation Cup alongside Nasarawa United who finished third in the league.
It was another disappointing outing in the final of the oldest competition in the country for Lobi Stars who have now lost in three finals following defeats to Enyimba in 2005 and Heartland in 2011.
Nnamso Edo underlined his prowess as one of the best dead ball specialists in the domestic scene by curling home a beautiful free kick from the edge of the Lobi box nine minutes before the break to put Akwa United ahead. Akwa United started the game on the front foot with danger man Aniekpeno Udoh curling a shot over the cross bar.
Lobi Stars took time to settle into the game and it was the impressive Moses Bunde who carved out their first real chance of the game. Bunde was however denied by the opposing goalkeeper, Olufemi Kayode. Edo fired the Promise Keepers ahead in 36th minute after Udoh was tripped close to the 18 yard box. Lobi made an instant change with Nanen Imenger replacing the ineffective Iloh Uche. Terna Ikpeen also came off for Mohammed Farouk Umar as the Pride of Benue searched for the equaliser. Instead it was Akwa United’s midfielder, Abdulafeez Awakan who blasted the ball home from outside the area to increase his side’s lead in the 69th minute. The Uyo-based outfit however had to endure a nervy end to the game with Imenger pulling a goal back for Lobi Stars through a free-kick.
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