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[bet9ja.com](https://register.bet9ja.com/?btag=yohaig&promocode=yohaig)<br>Abia Warriors head coach Imama Amapakabo has declared that his team will approach their final two matches of the 2024/2025 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season as "cup finals" to secure their first-ever qualification for a CAF interclub competition. Currently sitting third on the NPFL table with 57 points, Abia Warriors need to avoid defeat in their remaining fixtures against El-Kanemi Warriors in [Umuahia](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/football-law-and-ethics/maduka-okoye-set-to-miss-super-eagles-march-wcq-due-to-club-suspension/) and Ikorodu City at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos to guarantee a top-three finish. |
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<br>Reflecting on the club's journey, Amapakabo acknowledged the [team's underdog](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/match-previews-and-reviews/lookman-nets-20th-goal-as-atalanta-secure-champions-league-spot/) status at the start of the season. "When we started, nobody gave us a chance. But here we are with two games to go. Like I always say, every game is like a cup final for us," he stated. |
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<br>The manager also praised his squad's resilience after a dramatic 1-1 draw with Niger Tornadoes in Kaduna, where Emmanuel Iwu scored a late equaliser in stoppage time. Despite a [challenging](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/category/football-history/) first half on a rough pitch, Abia Warriors regrouped to secure the crucial point that keeps their alive. |
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<br>Editorial |
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<br>For Abia Warriors, the final two games of the NPFL season are not just fixtures they are defining moments. Imama Amapakabo’s declaration that every match is a "cup final" reflects the hunger and belief that have propelled the team to the brink of [continental football](https://www.footballinnigeria.com.ng/football-history/rashidi-yekini-hero-who-fired-nigeria-to-first-world-cup/). Their remarkable journey from underdogs to top-three contenders is a testament to discipline, tactical awareness, and unity. |
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<br>The clash against El-Kanemi Warriors is crucial. A slip could open the door for chasing teams, while victory would bring them within touching distance of history. Their final game against Ikorodu City could be the decider, a true test of mettle and ambition. For a club seeking its first taste of CAF competition, the stakes have never been higher. |
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<br>Abia Warriors have shown they can fight until the final whistle now, they must do it twice more. |
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<br>Did You Know? |
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Imama Amapakabo won the NPFL title with Rangers International in 2015/2016, ending their 32-year league title drought. |
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Abia Warriors have never qualified for a CAF interclub competition since their promotion to the NPFL in 2014. |
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Amapakabo previously coached the Rwandan club Etoile de l’Est before returning to Nigeria. |
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Emmanuel Iwu’s stoppage-time equaliser against Niger Tornadoes marked his fourth goal of the season—his highest tally since joining Abia Warriors. |
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Abia Warriors’ final game against Ikorodu City will be held at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, a venue known for its modern facilities and artificial turf. |
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