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The opening week of the 2023 NPFL season saw only two teams win on their home grounds, with four away wins and four draws recorded at other match venues.
Akwa United's boss Deji Ayeni has strongly stated that winning their second game of the 2023 NPFL is a non-negotiable, adding that he has told his side to take lessons from teams that won games away from home on the opening week of the season.
The opening week of the 2023 NPFL season saw only two teams win on their home grounds, with four away wins and four draws recorded at other match venues.
One of those away wins saw Akwa United falter in front of their home fans, with goals from Imade Osehenkhoe and Ismael Seriki securing a 2-0 win for promoted Bendel Insurance.
Other away wins saw Enyimba defeat Nasarawa United in Jos, Abia Warriors stun Rangers in Awka and Niger Tornadoes beat Wikki Tourists in Bauchi.
Akwa United to learn from Bendel Insurance, Enyimba
Ahead of their game against record champions Enyimba, Ayeni has revealed that his side will look to replicate what was done by Insurance in Uyo, in Aba on Wednesday.
"I think it's non-negotiable," Ayeni said in his pre-match interview on Monday, "If Insurance can come to our backyard and get the 3 maximum points, we know that we've got to be resolute, determined, dedicated and very very motivated for us to go back to the winning ways.
"Day 1 matches showed that if you put your acts together, anybody can go anywhere to get the three maximum points. So, there's nothing short of victory come Wednesday.
"Right from Tuesday that we started training for the week, we flashed back to all the shortcomings we had in our match against Insurance and set a program to make sure that we get all those mistakes corrected.
"The boys are ready and willing to deliver, come Wednesday."
Enyimba vs Akwa United, a game of mental readiness
Speaking further on the team's strategy for their trip to the Enyimba Stadium in Aba, Ayeni who joined the Promise Keepers in 2022, reinstated the fact that any team can win at any league venue.
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"It [Enyimba] is a game of mental readiness, of which we've started psyching the players and made them understand.
"If Enyimba can go to Nasarawa United and do the scoring whereas Nasarawa did all the playing - same thing that happened to us against Insurance, and Enyimba wrestled the three points. Like I said, anybody can go anywhere to get their points."
Akwa United are currently in the second to the last place in Group A.
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