| Club: | Akwa United |
| Season: | 2021–22 |
| Manager: | Kennedy Boboye (until 14 February 2022)[1] Ayodeji Ayeni (from 24 March 2022)[2] |
| League: | Nigeria Professional Football League |
| League Result: | 9th |
| Cup1: | Nigeria FA Cup |
| Cup1 Result: | Round of 16 |
| Cup2: | CAF Champions League |
| Cup2 Result: | First round |
| League Topscorer: | Ubong Friday Wisdom Fernando Babatunde Bello (4 each) |
| Season Topscorer: | Ubong Friday (7) |
| Largest Win: | 6–1 (vs. Nasarawa United (H), 21 April 2022, NPFL)[3] |
| Largest Loss: | 4-1 (vs. Rivers United (A), 20 March 2022, NPFL); 3-0 (vs. Enugu Rangers (A), 13 March 2022, NPFL); 3-0 (vs. Plateau United (A), 27 February 2022, NPFL) |
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| Prevseason: | 2020–21 |
| Nextseason: | 2022–23 |
The 2021–22 season was Akwa United's 26th season in the Nigerian football league system and their 13th (non-consecutive) season in the top tier of Nigerian football.[4]
During the season, Akwa United participated in the Nigeria Professional Football League for the ninth consecutive season and the CAF Champions League, where they were eliminated by CR Belouizdad in the first round.[5]
They began their Nigeria Professional Football League campaign with a home tie against Kano Pillars, which they won 3-0.[6]
As of 18 July 2022[7]
| Squad no. | Player | Nationality | Position(s) | Date of birth | Signed from | Apps | Goals | Assists | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goalkeepers | |||||||||
| 1 | Adewale Adeyinka |  | GK | 1996 12, df=yes | Gombe United | 24 | 0 | 0 | |
| 18 | Jean Efala |  | GK | 1992 8, df=yes | Coton Sport | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| 33 | Uche Okafor | | GK | 1998 11, df=yes | Abia Warriors | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 33 | Dele Ajiboye | | GK | 1990 8, df=yes | Plateau United | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| 34 | Ifeanyi Emmanuel | | GK | 2002 8, df=yes | One Touch FC | 1 | 0 | 0 | |
| Defenders | |||||||||
| 2 | James Ajako | | LB | 2003 3, df=yes | Jigawa Golden Stars | 23 | 0 | 0 | |
| 3 | Evans Ogbonda | | LB | 2002 11, df=yes | Ifeanyi Ubah | 14 | 0 | 0 | |
| 5 | | CB | 1996 10, df=yes | Rivers United | 28 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 6 | Ekundayo Owoniyi | | RB | 2001 2, df=yes | Cynosure F.C. | 6 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | Charles Okafor | | CB | 1999 4, df=yes | Ifeanyi Ubah | 12 | 1 | ||
| 12 | Denis Nya | | CB | 1996 12, df=yes | Plateau United | 16 | 0 | ||
| 14 | Orji Kalu | | CB | 1992 2, df=yes | Heartland | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 14 | John Lazarus | | RB | 1998 6, df=yes | Lobi Stars | 11 | 0 | ||
| 15 | Elu Wilson | | CB/RB | 1994 12, df=yes | Ifeanyi Ubah | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 21 | David Philip | | LB | 1994 8, df=yes | Go Round | 3 | 0 | 0 | |
| 23 | Boluwaji Sholumade | | CB | 2003 3, df=yes | Sunshine Stars | 10 | 0 | 0 | |
| 29 | Etboy Akpan | | RB | 1998 11, df=yes | NK Rudar Velenje U19 | 15 | 0 | ||
| 32 | Christopher Nwaeze | | CB | 2001 11, df=yes | Kwara United | 14 | 0 | ||
| Midfielders | |||||||||
| 4 | Solomon Okpako | | DM | 1990 5, df=yes | Gulf Heroes | 5 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | Adam Yakubu | | CM | 2005 2, df=yes | Adamawa United | 23 | 3 | ||
| 16 | James Arong | | AM | 2003 8, df=yes | Türk Ocağı Limasol | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| 17 | Adeyeye Adeyemi | | DM | 1988 4, df=yes | Sunshine Stars | 8 | 1 | 0 | |
| 19 | Seth Mayi | | AM | 1999 12, df=yes | 29 | 0 | |||
| 20 | Dare Ojo | | DM | 1994 12, df=yes | Lobi Stars | 12 | 0 | 0 | |
| 22 | Austin Osayande | | CM/AM | 2000 12, df=yes | Dakkada | 16 | 1 | 0 | |
| 26 | Obotu Young | | AM | 1999 4, df=yes | 2 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 27 | | CM/DM | 2001 12, df=yes | Welcome Time Academy | 36 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 31 | Hamza Mubarak | | CM | 2002 6, df=yes | Sokoto United | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 35 | Babatunde Bello | | CM | 2003 5, df=yes | Sunshine Stars | 16 | 4 | 1 | |
| 38 | Kaham Platini | | CM/AM | 1992 10, df=yes | Nasarawa United | 3 | 0 | ||
| Forwards | |||||||||
| 4 | Utibe Archibong | | 1991 10, df=yes | Abia Warriors | 11 | 1 | |||
| 7 | Ubong Friday (captain) | | 1998 3, df=yes | 29 | 5 | ||||
| 8 | Ezekiel Bassey | | LW/RW | 1996 11, df=yes | El Qanah | 22 | 2 | ||
| 10 | Orok Akarandut | | LW/ST | 1987 8, df=yes | East Riffa Club | 8 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | Leo Ezekiel | | ST | 2003 5, df=yes | Blue Ocean FC | 15 | 3 | 0 | |
| 17 | Naibe Akpesiri | | ST/LW | 1997 6, df=yes | 12 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 17 | Stephen Chukwude | | ST/LW | 1997 6, df=yes | 8 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 23 | Izu Azuka | | ST/LW | 1989 5, df=yes | Wolaitta Dicha | 4 | 0 | 0 | |
| 24 | Samuel Amadi | | RW | 2003 3, df=yes | Warri Wolves | 21 | 2 | ||
| 28 | David Onovo | | ST/LW | 1993 12, df=yes | Sokoto United | 19 | 2 | 0 | |
| 36 | Godfrey Utim | | 2000 12, df=yes | Inter Allies | 5 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 36 | Franklin Matib | | 2002 3, df=yes | 9 | 1 | ||||
| Position | Name | |
|---|---|---|
| Manager | Ayodeji Ayeni (from 24 March 2022) Kennedy Boboye(until 14 February 2022) | |
| Assistant coaches | Ali Jolomi | |
| Ebenezer Atayero | ||
| Edward Edemekong | ||
| Fitness coach | Abdullahi Umar | |
| Goalkeeper coach | Moses Effiong |
See main article: 2021–22 Nigeria Professional Football League.
On 24 November 2021, the fixtures for the forthcoming season were announced.[8]
Akwa United secured a place in the Aiteo Cup after beating Sir Monty to reach the final of the Akwa Ibom State FA Cup.[9]
They entered the competition in the round of 64, and were drawn against Essien Ayi.[10]