A&A Kiviasennus Head Coach cum Team Manager, Ben Lotanna Ifejiofor, has exclusively told Exclusivenews.com.ng that injuries to key players of the club as well as late minute travels to Europe by some key players depleted the squad, resulting in their below par performance in the concluded 2025 Nationwide League One, NLO, playoffs in Awka, Anambra State.

Coach Ifejiofor spoke on the background of his team's expulsion alongside Campos FC, on account of alleged match compromise following the 15-2 thrashing of A&A in their group matchday five (5) clash by Campos. 

Ifejiofor, a former Gabros International FC, Nnewi, ace who had a stint at Al Masry of Egypt, has exonerated his team from any complicity in the alleged match compromise, wondering why his team and officials as well as the players could be so harshly sanctioned for a crime they know nothing about.

"We've been taking part in the NLO playoffs for a couple of years now but had the intention of making this year's edition one with a positive difference in our bid to progress to the Nigeria National League, NNL", Coach Ben Lotanna Ifejiofor began when Exclusivenews.com.ng called him up on the controversies that blighted his team's 2025 NLO campaign.

"We ensured we prepared well for the playoffs but unfortunately, prior to our departure from Lagos to Awka, our camp was hit by a string of issues that range between injuries to key players, Euro travels by players already registered for the playoffs as well as family issues that had to do with death and burial of some registered players family members.

"On the eve of our departure for the NLO in Awka, our left winger, Innocent Chukwuemeka, picked up an injury and couldn't make the trip again", he added.

"Similarly, Vincent Ukamaka, also a Left winger, travelled abroad; 
Alioke Princewill, a center back, left camp without permission and no one knows his whereabout till now.

"That was not all. Ezurike Chidera, also a center back, picked an injury that ruled him out,of the playoffs.

"Chinedu Somadila , a right winger, went AWOL (Absent without official leave) just as Bodiseowei Waripamowe, a right back picked a knee injury that ruled him out of the playoffs.

"As if these were not enough set backs, Chinemerem David , one of our trusted goalkeepers, also went AWOL alongside 
Ogbonna Bright , a center back".

Ifejiofor also added that Nwankwo John , a striker left camp for the burial of his father, while Ugochukwu Christian , a central defender lost his father two days into the league and had to leave the team's camp in Awka.

"Borogha James, a defensive midfielder, sustained an eye injury
while Peter Chinemerem , a central midfielder, tore his muscle, with Umenwa Chukwukezie, a left winger missing the playoffs on account of injury".

He explained that these circumstances depleted his team, adding that they honoured the playoffs so as not to be thrown out of the NLO.

"Besides, after we lost our first three games, some of the players felt there nothing again to play for and left our camp", Coach Ifejiofor added.

"That was the situation that when we met Cmpos FC, what we had left was more of a 'rag team' which Campos had a field day running through like hot knife through butter.

"Ifejiofor recalled that they were 10 men and gave eventual winners, Ozalla, a tough battle that ended 5-4", he concluded.