Maikaba sets one-season target for Bayelsa United’s NPFL return

Bayelsa United technical adviser Abdul Maikaba has set his sights on guiding the club back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the end of the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

Maikaba agreed a one-year contract with the Yenagoa-based side and has been given a clear mandate to secure promotion at the first attempt. He reiterated that objective after Bayelsa United defeated De Go-Pro FC of Sapele in a pre-season friendly.

The Prosperity Boys are continuing their preparations for the new NNL campaign, which is scheduled to begin on Saturday, 31 October. Heartland of Owerri will face Crown FC of Ogbomoso in the opening fixture.

Maikaba, the former Kano Pillars handler, said he was pleased with the performance against De Go-Pro FC, although he stressed that the club’s squad-building process was not yet complete.

“I am satisfied with the display and the way they played,” Maikaba told the club’s media.

He said the coaching staff were still using the remaining pre-season period to assess the players and determine which recruits could contribute to the team.

“But the truth is, we are assessing the players because we are recruiting. We are looking to see who will add value to the team, and any player who will not add value, we will let him go.”

More than 60 players are currently training in camp, but Maikaba expects that group to be reduced to a maximum of 35 before the season starts.

“We have more than sixty players in camp. We are gradually trimming down to our maximum of 35,” he added.

The coach said a combination of competitive friendly matches and structured training would help the club identify its strongest squad. He also linked the short-term nature of his contract directly to Bayelsa United’s promotion ambition.

“With quality games and proper training, we will pick the best. That is why I have a one-season contract to do the job in one year.”

Bayelsa United have been placed in Conference B, where they will face Beyond Limit FA, Solution FC, Akwa United, Smart City FC, Right-2-Win FC, Dokka Khairu FC, Abakaliki FC and Ekiti United.

Although the group includes a number of challenging opponents, Maikaba said his team would not seek to avoid any particular club. He insisted that Bayelsa United’s approach would be the same regardless of who they face.

“We are in the NNL to face any team. We are not here to handpick opponents. Any team we are drawn with, we are ready to face,” he said.

“The target is to qualify for the Premier League in one season.”

The club will arrange further high-quality friendlies as Maikaba continues to examine the squad, identify areas for improvement and assess new signings. Those matches will also give him an opportunity to settle on the team he believes can deliver an immediate return to the NPFL.