Akwa United is set to kick off their pre-season campaign at the Gov Douye Diri Tournament, starting with a match against Abia Warriors on Monday, August 12, 2024. The fixture is scheduled for 4:00 PM at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
The tournament draw, held on Sunday evening, placed Akwa United in Group A alongside Abia Warriors, Sunshine Stars, and Bayelsa United. Group B features Krosaders FC, Bendel Insurance, Rivers United, and Kwara United. The top teams from each group will advance to the final, while the second-placed teams will compete for third place.
Following their opener, Akwa United will face Sunshine Stars on Wednesday, August 14, at 10:00 AM. Their final group stage match will be against Bayelsa United on Friday, August 16, also at 10:00 AM. All matches will take place at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
The tournament offers financial incentives, with the winner receiving ₦1,500,000, the runner-up earning ₦1,000,000, and the third-placed team taking home ₦500,000.
Akwa United arrived in Yenagoa on Sunday evening with a squad of 36 players and key officials. Head coach Baba Ganaru expressed his intentions for the tournament, emphasizing its role in refining team preparations for the upcoming 2024-25 Nigeria Premier Football League season.
"This tournament is an excellent opportunity for my technical team and me to assess the squad ahead of the new season," Ganaru said. "We've introduced some new players, and this tournament will allow them to showcase their abilities. Our primary focus will be on team understanding and cohesion rather than just results. Achieving these goals here will be crucial for building a strong team for the season ahead."
The tournament will run from August 12 to 18, 2024, with each team allowed up to seven substitutions per match.
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