Abia Warriors goalkeeper, Ali Ishiaku, has expressed confidence in his team’s ability to recover and move forward following their disappointing home loss to Heartland in a recent Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match.

The Umuahia-based side faced a tough 2-0 defeat to Heartland during the Matchday 10 fixture, which was held at the Umuahia Township Stadium, Owerri, on Sunday. Despite the setback, Ishiaku emphasized the importance of not allowing the loss to affect the team’s morale.

“It’s clear that this wasn’t the result we were hoping for,” Ishiaku said in an interview with Abia Warriors’ media. “However, we can’t afford to linger on it. We have to quickly pick ourselves up, refocus, and look forward to our next match.”

The loss saw Abia Warriors drop to ninth place in the NPFL standings, with a total of 14 points. Looking ahead, Imama Amapakabo’s side will face Lobi Stars in a crucial Week 11 encounter at the Lafia City Stadium on Saturday, where they will be hoping to secure a vital win to boost their position in the league.