Akwa United vs Gombe United Prediction: Can the host step up their play

Akwa United and Gombe United are set to face off at Eket Stadium in this round 6 NPFL matchup. The odds strongly favor Akwa United, especially given their home advantage. However, it remains to be seen if Gombe United can reverse their fortunes on the road and potentially upset the odds.

Akwa United recently played to a goalless draw against Bendel Insurance, marking their second consecutive draw, with the previous one occurring against Shooting Stars. Nevertheless, it's crucial to emphasize that Akwa United is still in search of their first victory this season, and their ongoing winless streak has placed them at the bottom of the league standings.

Gombe United's impressive home form continued in their most recent match against Plateau United, where they secured a consecutive home victory with a 1-0 scoreline. The solitary goal was expertly converted by Sodiq Shuaibu from the penalty spot, proving to be the decisive factor. With this win, Gombe United has now emerged victorious in three out of their last five matches in this season. On the flip side, Gombe United is now setting their sights on clinching their first away win of the season. In the previous weeks, they experienced setbacks with losses to Sporting Lagos in week one and Shooting Stars in week three on the road. Their aim is to reverse this trend and replicate their strong home performances in an away fixture.

Gombe United appears to hold an advantage in this upcoming match, although it's essential to note that the away side has struggled with their performances on the road. On the flip side, Akwa United has faced difficulties this season and has yet to secure a league victory. This challenging situation should serve as a motivating factor for Akwa United to perform at their best in this encounter, even though they are the favorites on paper.

Nonetheless, I have some reservations about fully trusting the Akwa United side, and despite Gombe United's road struggles, I believe that a win or at least a draw for the visiting team would be a prudent choice. This prediction is based on the premise that Gombe United might capitalize on their opponent's shaky form and secure a favorable result in this match.