AUDIO: Maikaba Pleased With Rivers United Draw

Technical Adviser of Akwa United Abdu Maikaba has told www.busybuddiesng.com that he is pleased with his side’s 1-1 draw against Rivers United in a rescheduled Match Day 22 encounter of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) decided at the Yakubu Gowon stadium in Port Harcourt on Wednesday.

Title-chasing Akwa United stung the hosts with a 12th goal from in-form striker Musa Newman, who fired in from close range but three minutes later, Emeka Ogbuh headed home a brilliant free-kick by Chinwendu Ali to draw the ‘Pride of Rivers’ level.

Despite watching CHAN Eagles- invitee Alhassan ‘Muazam’ Ibrahim’s 23rd-minute penalty saved by experienced Sunday Rotimi in goal for Rivers United, Maikaba said he is delighted with the point, even though the ‘Promise Keepers’ could have won the match.

“Actually I am happy with the one point but we would have gotten all the three points at stake,” the former Wikki Tourists boss said.

“It is part of the game, sometimes, it happens like that. Even the best players in the world miss penalties in important moments.

“To me, we played well and faced some difficulties during the game. We know Rivers (United) needed the 3 points so well and we also need the 3 points. But for over two weeks, it is only today (Wednesday) that it didn’t rain. It’s always raining. So the two teams suffered.

“That is why you couldn’t see the best of my team today (Wednesday),”

With the result, Rivers United moved up two places to 12th spot on the NPFL standings (with a game in hand) while Akwa United remain third with 51 points.