Ike Shorunmu, the goalkeeping coach of Abia Warriors, has pointed out that an excess of confidence was a key factor in the team’s inability to clinch a continental berth for the 2025-26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season. The Umuahia-based side ended the campaign in seventh place with 55 points.
According to Shorunmu, behavioral issues among the players and a lack of efficiency in converting scoring opportunities also contributed to the squad’s failure to meet their objectives. “The team grew overly confident, which led to a decline in performance,” Shorunmu explained in an interview. “Players assumed that securing a top-three finish was already within reach. Now we see where we ended up. We also experienced attitude problems within the group and struggled with inadequate firepower up front.”
Shorunmu expressed his belief that these setbacks will serve as valuable lessons for the club moving forward. He emphasized that the tough experiences gained will inform their restructuring efforts for the upcoming 2026-27 season. “We have learned our lessons, though the hard way. These challenges will form the foundation of our rebuilding process in the next campaign,” he added.
The continental slots were claimed by Rangers and Rivers United for the CAF Champions League, while Shooting Stars secured a place in the CAF Confederation Cup.