By Wale Mustapha
Lobi Stars head coach, Benedict Atule, has revealed that the club is using the ongoing Ahlan Cup preseason tournament as a platform to rebuild and strengthen the team ahead of the new campaign in Nigeria’s second-tier football league.
The Makurdi-based side, relegated from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) last season, is currently participating in the annual tournament held in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Speaking to the club’s media team, Atule emphasized the importance of the preseason competition in laying the foundation for a more cohesive and confident squad.
“We are in the building process, and we are focused. We want to instill confidence into the players,” said Atule.
“The friendly match was crucial in boosting the team’s morale and confidence as they prepare for the new season.”
The Pride of Benue will aim for a strong comeback this season, with hopes of securing promotion back to the NPFL.
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.
