Hard-fighting Heartland FC have been relegated from the 2024/2025 Nigeria Professional League Football season despite beating Akwa United in their final league game of the season.
Akwa United’s hopes of staying up were dashed after a 2-1 defeat to Heartland FC at the Dan Anyiam Stadium in Owerri on Sunday.
Despite a valiant effort under series of coaches during the course of the campaign, the Uyo team finished 18th with 44 points, joining Sunshine Stars and Lobi Stars in the drop zone- Nigeria National League.
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Akwa United’s season was plagued by inconsistency, poor defending, and lack of goals. They scored just 35 times and conceded 38 goals across 38 matches, losing 17 games along the way.
The Naze Millionaires, who were relegated for the fourth time in the last decade had never been relegated in their history before 2016.
Final Day Drama Across the League
Katsina United beat Kwara United 1-0 to end the season with 50 points, securing safety.
Niger Tornadoes won 3-2 vs Kano Pillars to stay just ahead of the drop zone.
El-Kanemi Warriors got the result against already relegated Sunshine Stars, which proved just enough to keep them up.
Shooting Stars ended the season with an emphatic 5-1 win over former champions, Rangers International while Ikorodu City beat Abia Warriors 3-2 in Lagos.
At the end of the 2024/25 NPFL season, Remo Stars emerged champions while Rivers United and Abia Warriors finished second and third to pick the other continental spots.
Akwa United Club Management Reacts
Meanwhile, the Akwa United Club Management reacted to team relegation thus, ‘Following the conclusion of the 2024-25 Nigeria Premier Football League season, the Management on behalf of the technical crew, staff and players of Akwa United Football Club, wish to express our disappointment and apologize to everyone associated with our club over our inability to retain our league status for a top flight football next season.
‘‘We fought hard as a club throughout the season to get into our rhythm but our results especially at home were rather not good enough as we dropped eighteen points (18) at home while picking just five (5) on the road.
”We are particularly disappointed that after fourteen (14) seasons in the Premier League – a period in which we won two FA Cups in 2015 and 2017 and the league title in 2021, the 2024-25 season has come to an end with us being relegated from the NPFL.
‘‘This situation is hugely disappointing and embarrassing to the government and the wonderful people of our state as well as our fans, supporters, partners and sponsors. Now is the time to demonstrate love, strength and unity more than ever going forward.’’
According to management, ‘‘We wish to express our profound gratitude to everyone associated with our club for staying true and showing us genuine support and encouragement and above all for standing by us throughout what was a challenging and difficult season for us on all fronts.
‘‘We will now have to reflect deeply on the lessons learnt from the just concluded season as we hope to begin preparations as quickly as possible on how to get the club back to where it rightly belongs because our target in the National League will be to bring back Premier League Football to Akwa Ibom State.
‘‘We have gone this path before and rallied back to the top. Next season may not be an exception by the grace of God.
‘‘As Management of the team, we want to reassure the government and the amazing people of our dear state and indeed everyone associated with our club that we are fully committed to restoring our pride, glory and honour while giving us something special to cheer about as we have done many times in the past.
We wish to thank in a special way, our number one supporter, the Executive Governor of Akwa Ibom State Pastor Umo Bassey Eno PhD, for his unwavering support and encouragement to the team.
We are equally grateful to the Honourable Commissioner for Sports, Elder Paul Bassey for all his encouragement and motivation to the team.
”We appreciate our wonderful fans, sponsors and partners who gave us all the needed support throughout the season. Your fantastic support made all the difference in years past in which we won all the major trophies in the land and We count on your continued support which will serve as inspiration to us next football season as we hope to return Akwa United Football Club to its pride of place.’’
