By Wale Mustapha
Forward Aliyu Baba has signed a contract extension with Sporting Lagos, committing his future to the club until 2026, Nigeriafootball.ng reports.
Fondly nicknamed “Tiger”, Baba joined the Noisy Lagosians from Abuja-based Mahanaim FC at the start of last season and quickly established himself as a key figure in the squad.
The 20-year-old striker’s renewal represents both continuity and stability for Sporting Lagos, as the club aims to secure promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) next season.
Baba impressed with his sharp attacking instincts during the last campaign, scoring five goals in just nine appearances, and has been praised for his versatility and work ethic.
Club insiders believe his development will be further accelerated under the renewed deal, while his presence offers Sporting Lagos an important edge in their promotion push.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey 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.
