1By Wale Mustapha
Wikki Tourists head coach Abdu Maikaba has called on his players to maintain discipline and increase their efforts as they look to sustain their strong start to life back in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The Bauchi Elephants returned to the topflight this season after two years in the lower division and have quickly made an impression, securing two wins and a draw in their opening three matches. They currently sit second on the log, behind leaders Remo Stars.
Their most recent outing saw them grind out a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Abia Warriors in Bauchi on Sunday — a performance Maikaba described as a measure of his side’s growing quality.
“It was a big test for us. Abia Warriors are a continental team with experience and structure,” Maikaba told Nigeria Players’ Gallery.
“I didn’t expect it to be easy, but my boys were disciplined and showed real character. They earned this win.
“I’m happy with our progress so far, but the league is a marathon. We need to remain focused and dedicated if we are to withstand the challenges that lie ahead.”
Wikki Tourists will look to build on their unbeaten run when they travel to Lafia this weekend for a North-Central derby clash against Nasarawa United.
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.
