Despite already securing a berth at next season’s CAF Confederation Cup competition, Abia Warriors are not settling for the continent’s second tier competition, rather, they are looking forward to playing in the more prestigious CAF Champions League, a ticket they would earn if they finish second in the 2024/25 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

Abia Warriors are currently third on the log, but just one point separates them from second-placed Rivers United, who have 61 points.

Remo Stars have already won the league with an unassailable 71 points, leaving Rivers United and Abia Warriors to scramble for the second and third positions. The second-placed team will join Remo Stars in the Champions League next season, while the bronze medal winner will play in the Confederation Cup.

Abia Warriors’ Media Officer, Solomon Igwe, told The Guardian, yesterday, that the side, whose chairman is former Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh, have been training hard for their last game against Ikorodu City, next Sunday, saying that they aim to get the win and leapfrog Rivers United in the race for the second position.

“Our chairman has made the players to understand that they stand to gain a lot by beating Ikorodu City in Lagos and getting the second position ahead of Rivers United.

“We have been good away from home this season and the boys, free from injury, have vowed to get the win in Lagos and wait for what happens between Rivers United and Nasarawa United in Port Harcourt.”

“Remember, Nasarawa United is coached by Salisu Yusuf, whose teams are very difficult to break down, so, anything can happen in Port Harcourt.”

Igwe said that after the last game of the season, Abia Warriors’ management wil sit dpown with the coaches to plan for a busy 2025/26 season, which will see them playing in the continent for the first time.

He added: “The coaches plan to assess the whole squad at the end of the season to pick out those that would be dropped and top quality players to recruit for the challenges ahead. Everybody associated with our club is committed to ensuring that Abia Warriors perform better than the other teams that have represented Nigeria in CAF competitions in recent years.

“With the type of support that we are getting from Governor Alex Otti, our chairman has vowed that we must justify the faith reposed on us, which is why we want to go all out to beat Ikorodu City to be in a position to play in the Champions League.”