By Wale Mustapha
Plateau United have been handed a timely boost with the return of their captain, Albert Hilary, ahead of their crucial Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) clash against Barau FC this weekend.
Hilary, a key figure in the midfield, has been sidelined since sustaining an injury during Plateau United’s Matchday Four fixture against Remo Stars.
The injury saw him miss three consecutive league matches against Elkanemi Warriors, Kwara United, and Shooting Stars, during which the team struggled to find stability in the middle of the park.
The 26-year-old is now back in full training and is in contention to feature when the Peace Boys host NPFL newcomers Barau FC at the New Jos Stadium on Sunday.
The match comes at a critical time for Plateau United, who currently sit in 18th place on the NPFL table with just six points from their opening fixtures.
Hilary’s leadership, experience, and energy could prove vital as the Jos-based side looks to climb out of the relegation zone and revive their campaign.
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.
