By Wale Mustapha
Wikki Tourists head coach Abdu Maikaba has called for renewed focus and determination from his players as they prepare to face Barau FC in Matchday Two of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs in Asaba on Monday.
The Bauchi-based club, aiming to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), opened their playoff campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against Doma United.
Maikaba expressed frustration over the result, noting that his side dominated proceedings and created numerous scoring opportunities but failed to capitalize.
“It was a tough opener. We created chances but couldn’t convert,” Maikaba said in a post-match interview.
“The most important thing now is to stay focused and prepare better for the next match. I’m confident the boys will bounce back stronger.”
The experienced tactician, who previously managed Enugu Rangers and Akwa United, described Monday’s fixture as a must-win encounter in the club’s push for top-flight football.
Wikki Tourists will be looking to collect all three points against Barau FC to stay firmly in contention for one of the NPFL promotion spots.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
