Super 6 qualification possible for ambitious Doma United - Onigbinde

Doma United are now second in Group B

NPFL Super 6 qualification possible for ambitious Doma United - Onigbinde

Jidechi Chidiezie 22:18 - 13.02.2023

The Gombe-based club are only making their debut in the NPFL this season.

Doma United's first team coach Akinade Onigbinde has said that despite his side being debutants in the 2023 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), they are aiming to qualify for the Super 6 playoffs.

Since their promotion to Nigeria's top-flight league, the Savannah Tigers have so far, put up heart-warming performances that see them sit in 5th in Group B, and four points off qualification places for the Super 6 playoff.

The 2023 season, an abridged version of the regular NPFL season, will see the top three teams from each group proceed to a playoff stage after the first round, in a bid to decide who will be crowned champions of Nigeria, by July.

Onigbinde calls Doma United 'an ambitious club'

Speaking on his team performance so far, Onigbinde called the Gombe club 'a work in progress,' adding that their aim is to make a statement in their first season.

Doma United boss Onigbinde Akinade (R) with assistant

"I am satisfied with the performance of my boys. As you are aware, this is our first season in the top flight but they have not shown any signs of stage fright," the coach said in an interview with Trust Sports.

"Another thing is that they are eager and willing to learn new things. So, we are a work in progress. The secret of our success so far is that the boys are willing to learn.

"I will say our best match, for now, was in Yenagoa against Bayelsa United. You know we were promoted at the same time so we are familiar with each other. It was an interesting match. We took the lead and tried to hold on to it but they fought back gallantly to equalise for the match to end in a 1-1 draw. Playing away from home is not so easy so we had to put in everything to get that vital point.

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

"I am sure the target of every team that is competing in the league is to first qualify for Super 6 and then fight for the title or at least a continental ticket. Our case is not different. We are also working towards qualifying for the Super 6.

"We are an ambitious club and I believe we have every right to aspire to play continental football in our first season in the NPFL."

Doma United to play second-placed Abia Warriors next

On Sunday, Doma United had their four-match unbeaten streak halted in an unfortunate 1-0 defeat to Rangers at the Awka City Stadium.

Doma United

The defeat, based on the outcome of other results saw them drop to 5th in Group B, and four points behind qualification places for the playoffs.

The Savannah Tigers will hope to get their season back on track next weekend, when they high-flying Abia Warriors to the Pantami Stadium in Gombe. Abia Warriors are currently second in Group B.

Related content