Akwa United coach Kenedy Boboye has hailed his players for their outstanding performance against Kano Pillars in the opening game of Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL.

The defending champions got off to an emphatic 3-0 victory against Kano Pillars at the Uyo Stadium on Sunday.

Coach Boboye listed four of the new signings; James Ajako, Denis Nya, Stephen Chukwude and Ezekiel Bassey in the staring line-up and they gave good account of themselves in what was a commanding performance and a resounding victory.

The Promise Keepers took the lead in first-half stoppage time through Ezekiel Bassey who bundled in Stephen Chukwude’s flick-on at the far post.

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Stephen Chukwude slotted Ubong Friday’s low cross beyond Bassey Akpan in Kano Pillars’ goal to make it 2-0

Before Ubong Friday then put the icing on the cake in stoppage time after the cleverly beat Bassey Akpan with John Lazarus’ long pass before tucking the ball into an empty net to seal a resounding win for the defending Champions.

Boboye in his post-match press conference congratulated his boys for the win and added that his team’s attention is now focused on the next game.

“We are happy that we have been able to get all three points from this game.

“We really wanted to win and we worked hard for it.

“Kano Pillars are a strong side and we needed to be at our utmost best to beat them despite the fact that they stepped up their game in the second half.

“We played against them during Presidential Cup Pre-season tournament in Abuja so we went into the game with a game plan and it worked for us.

“I really want to congratulate my players and all our fans for their wonderful support.

“We hope to continue working hard so we will be able to defend our title at the end of the season”.

Akwa United next game will be a trip to Ibadan to engage Shooting Stars Sport Club (3SC) on Match-day 2 this weekend.