NPFL: Why Abia Warriors failed to secure continental ticket – Shorunmu 

Abia Warriors goalkeeping coach Ike Shorunmu said the team’s lack of continental qualification for the 2025‑26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season was due to overconfidence.

The Umuahia‑based club finished seventh with 55 points.

Shorunmu added that attitude problems and a low conversion rate of chances also contributed to missing the top‑three spot.

“The team became overconfident, hence the collapse,” Shorunmu told Completesports. “The team felt that the ticket (top‑three spot) had already been achieved. Now, see where we are.”

“We also had attitude issues among the players and lacked enough firepower in attack,” he said.

Shorunmu believes the experience will aid the club in the 2026‑27 season. “But we’ve learnt our lessons, though the hard way. These factors will form the backbone of our rebuilding process in the coming season,” he added.

Rangers and Rivers United secured the CAF Champions League places, while Shooting Stars earned a spot in the CAF Confederation Cup.