Akwa United continues their resurgence in this season’s Nigeria Professional Football League(NPFL) following a 2-1 win against Shooting Stars at the Nest of Champions on Monday.

The Promise Keepers who have been struggling this season got their first win under new head coach Ayodeji Ayeni.

Two of players who joined the club during the mid-season transfer, Bello Babatunde and Naibe Akpesiri scored their first goal in each half.

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Both teams were looking to get an early goal as the hosts were threatened in the 5th minute when Adewale Adeyinka made a superb one handed save to keep out a goal bound strike and Bello Babatunde clears the danger first-time to deny Shooting Stars.

Two minutes later, Franklin Matib went forward and delivered a low cross into Shooting Stars’ box, but Naibe Akpesiri couldn’t get there on time as the visitors goalkeeper Ogundare Detan was not troubled.

Bello Babatunde broke the deadlock for Akwa United as he unleashed a rocket shot past Ogundare Detan to to net his first goal since joining the champions in mid-season in the 15th minute.

Naibe Akpesiri extended Akwa United lead in the 69th minute as he tapped home a Seth Mayi’s low cross to etch his name on the scoring sheet of the club.

Akpesiri thought he had scored a brace when he bundled a low cross from Kaham Platini in the 78th minute but his celebration was cut short when the assistant referee’s flag goes up claiming the striker was in an offside position.

Chidera Eze scored in the 81 minutes to give Shooting Stars the energy to fight back but it was too late as the hosts took all the points.