Akwa Starlets has stepped up its bid to gaining a first-ever promotion to Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with a spot in the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs.

Starlets were drawn in Group B2 of the NNL alongside Julius Atete FC, Jossy United, De Sapele Lions, 36 Lions, and Stationery stores. Prior to matchday 10, they were on 21 points having won 7 and lost twice -against 36 Lions and J’atete FC. 

Akwa Starlets recorded their eighth win in ten matches on Sunday after a pulsating 1-2 away win over their hosts, Jossy United in Owerri.

Goals from Ukeme Umoh and Olufemi Ajayi were enough to propel the  Akwa Ibom State sponsored team to their third away win of the season and put them five points clear at the summit of the log.

The result meant that Starlets would finish the regular NNL season top of Group B2 with twenty-four points from ten matches and secure one of eight slots for the end-of-season NNL Promotion Play-offs, for the first time in the club’s history. 

In other matches played in Group B2 on Sunday, J. Atete FC suffered a damaging 2-1 defeat to 36-Lions at Agege Stadium in Lagos. All three goals were scored in the first half as Blessed Iyamu and Oseni Azeez found the back of the net for 36-Lions on either side of Eremosele’s neatly converted penalty for the visitors. 

The woes of De Sapele Lions were compounded as they were confirmed relegated after they lost at home to Stationery Stores, 1-2; their second home defeat of the campaign having previously lost to Akwa Starlets.