By Dayo Awoniyi
Barau FC have achieved a historic milestone by earning promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for the first time in the club’s history.
The Kano-based side sealed their place in Nigeria’s top flight with a 2–0 victory over Doma United in the NNL Super 8 playoffs on Tuesday in Ozoro. The win guarantees Barau FC a spot in the 2025/26 NPFL season and marks a landmark moment for the club.
Barau’s journey has been hailed as one of the standout stories of the campaign, with their rise to the elite level built on discipline, determination, and tactical cohesion.
Their promotion has captured widespread attention among fans and pundits, as the club now prepares to face Nigeria’s top teams in the coming season.
Elsewhere, Wikki Tourists of Bauchi confirmed their return to the NPFL with a resounding 4–0 win over Yobe Desert Stars in Asaba. Both clubs from Group A have now secured promotion.
With two more NPFL slots still to be decided, the NNL Super 8 continues to build intensity. But for Barau FC, the dream has already become reality.
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.
