# 2022–23 Akwa United F.C. season

The 2022–23 season was Akwa United's 27th season in the Nigerian football league system and their 14th (non-consecutive) season in the top tier of Nigerian football.
During the season, Akwa United participated in the Nigeria Professional Football League and the Nigeria Federation Cup.
They began their Nigeria Professional Football League campaign with a shock home loss against Bendel Insurance. The Uyo club went into the final day of the regular season with a chance to secure a championship play-off place. They earned a 1-0 win at Gombe United, but it wasn't enough to seal qualification for the play-off as results elsewhere did not go their way.
They entered the Nigeria Federation Cup in the Round of 62, where they defeated Wikki Tourists through a goal from Liman Ahmadu. Their hopes of winning the Cup ended after they lost to Nigeria National League side EFCC in the Round of 32.

## First-team squad

    As of 21 May 2023
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Apps | Goals |
| Goalkeepers |||||||
| 1 | Godgift Elkanah | GK | (2000-11-15) 15 November 2000 (age 23) | 1 | 0 |
| 18 | Jean Efala | GK | (1992-08-11) 11 August 1992 (age 32) | 17 | 0 |
| 33 | Uche Okafor | GK | (1991-02-10) 10 February 1991 (age 33) | 0 | 0 |
| Defenders |||||||
| 2 | James Ajako | LB | (2003-03-09) 9 March 2003 (age 21) | 18 | 3 |
| 3 | Wisdom Ndon | CB | (2005-11-06) 6 November 2005 (age 18) | 11 | 0 |
| 5 | Anthony Anioke | CB | | 8 | 0 |
| 6 | Abbey Benson | CB | (1998-06-12) 12 June 1998 (age 26) | 11 | 0 |
| 20 | Matthew Etim | RB | (1989-09-02) 2 September 1989 (age 35) | 4 | 0 |
| 21 | David Philip | LB | (1994-08-08) 8 August 1994 (age 30) | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | Boluwaji Sholumade | CB | (2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 21) | 8 | 0 |
| 25 | Taiye Muritala | RB | (2001-06-03) 3 June 2001 (age 23) | 13 | 2 |
| 29 | Abdulasam Saeed | CB | (2003-12-23) 23 December 2003 (age 20) | 2 | 0 |
| 31 | Pascal Onunze | CB | (2003-03-27) 27 March 2003 (age 21) | 2 | 0 |
| Midfielders |||||||
| 4 | Osimaga Duke | DM | (2000-07-30) 30 July 2000 (age 24) | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | Azeez Olamilekan | AM | | 6 | 0 |
| 14 | Cyril Olisema | AM | (1995-03-04) 4 March 1995 (age 29) | 13 | 6 |
| 15 | Salomon Chigoziem | CM | | 14 | 0 |
| 27 | Ubong Essien | DM | (2001-12-17) 17 December 2001 (age 22) | 15 | 0 |
| 30 | Ebetomame Oghenetega | AM | | 4 | 0 |
| 36 | Onyekachi Nwaiwu | CM | (2000-11-12) 12 November 2000 (age 23) | 4 | 0 |
| Forwards |||||||
| 7 | Ubong Friday | LW | (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 26) | 16 | 4 |
| 8 | Moses Effiong | LW | (2001-02-01) 1 February 2001 (age 23) | 7 | 0 |
| 9 | Valentine Obilor | ST | (2001-02-14) 14 February 2001 (age 23) | 4 | 0 |
| 10 | Wisdom Fernando | LW | (2002-02-28) 28 February 2002 (age 22) | 7 | 0 |
| 12 | Ndifreke Effiong | ST | (1998-08-15) 15 August 1998 (age 26) | 2 | 0 |
| 17 | Ifeanyi Ogba | ST | | 8 | 0 |
| 19 | Uche Collins | ST | (2000-11-19) 19 November 2000 (age 23) | 17 | 4 |
| 22 | Kehinde Olajuyin | ST | (1995-12-04) 4 December 1995 (age 28) | 2 | 0 |
| 22 | Emmanuel Ugwuka | ST | | 2 | 0 |
| 26 | Ikechukwu Nwani | RW | (1998-10-17) 17 October 1998 (age 25) | 2 | 0 |
| 32 | Liman Ahmadu | RW | | 9 | 1 |

## Competitions

Win  Draw  Loss

### Nigeria Professional Football League
#### Regular season
##### Group A
###### League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | |
| 1 | Bendel Insurance | 18 | 8 | 10 | 0 | 22 | 11 | +11 | 34 | Qualification to Championship round |
| 2 | Remo Stars | 18 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 21 | 14 | +7 | 33 | Qualification to Championship round |
| 3 | Enyimba | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 25 | 12 | +13 | 32 | Qualification to Championship round |
| 4 | Akwa United | 18 | 9 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 14 | +10 | 32 | |
| 5 | Plateau United | 18 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 29 | 23 | +6 | 26 | |
| 6 | Shooting Stars | 18 | 5 | 8 | 5 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 23 | |
| 7 | Gombe United | 18 | 4 | 7 | 7 | 10 | 20 | −10 | 19 | |
| 8 | Kwara United | 18 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 11 | 22 | −11 | 17 | |
| 9 | Nasarawa United | 18 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 23 | −8 | 14 | Relegation to the National League |
| 10 | El-Kanemi Warriors | 18 | 2 | 4 | 12 | 10 | 28 | −18 | 10 | Relegation to the National League |

#### Matches

On 28 December 2022, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.