Former Nigeria’s Super Eagles goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu has revealed the reasons behind the club’s collapse in the race for a top-three finish in the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
Abia Warriors spent a significant part of the campaign occupying third and fourth positions on the NPFL table, raising hopes of securing a CAF Confederation Cup ticket for the 2026/2027 season.
However, Imama Amapakabo’s side eventually finished in seventh position with 55 points after a disappointing end to the season.
The Umuahia-based side saw their ambitions crumble in the closing stages of the campaign following a 2-0 home defeat to Kun Khalifat, a heavy 4-0 loss to Warri Wolves, and another defeat away to Remo Stars.
The home loss to Kun Khalifat prompted the club hierarchy to wield the big stick by handing head coach Imama Amapakabo and his assistant, Bethel Orji, indefinite suspensions.
The sanctions paved the way for goalkeeper coach Shorunmu to take temporary charge of the team for their final game of the season against Warri Wolves.
Shorunmu, who was the team goalkeeper trainer, has now attributed the team’s late collapse to overconfidence among the players.
“The team became overconfident, hence the collapse,” Shorunmu, a former Shooting Stars and Beşiktaş goalkeeper, told Completesports.com.
The team believed they had already secured the ticket (top-three spot). Now, see where we are.”
The former Super Eagles shot-stopper also blamed poor attitude and lack of attacking quality for the team’s disappointing finish to the campaign.
“We also had attitude issues among the players and lacked enough firepower in attack,” he added.
Despite the setback, Shorunmu believes the experience will help Abia Warriors rebuild strongly ahead of the next campaign.
“But we’ve learned our lessons, though the hard way. These factors will form the backbone of our rebuilding process in the coming season,” Shorunmu concluded.
Credit: completesports.com
