By Wale Mustapha
Nigeria midfielder Toyeeb Gidado has penned an emotional farewell to Ikorodu City after confirming his departure from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side.
The 21-year-old is on the verge of sealing a move to Kwara United ahead of the 2025/26 season, bringing an end to his three-year spell with the Oga Boys.
Gidado played a pivotal role in Ikorodu City’s promotion to the NPFL in 2023, becoming a key figure in the club’s midfield and earning recognition for his composure and creativity on the ball.
In a heartfelt note shared with fans, Gidado expressed deep appreciation to the club and reflected on the significance of his time in Lagos.
“Dear Ikorodu City FC, it’s been an interesting three seasons together filled with joy, happiness, tough and memorable moments,” Gidado wrote.
“The experience garnered with the team in the last three seasons has shaped who I have become, and the memories will remain with me forever. I’m so grateful for the opportunities to learn and grow.”
Ikorodu City are yet to officially comment on Gidado’s departure, but his move to Kwara United is expected to be finalized before the start of the new NPFL campaign.
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.
