By Wale Mustapha
Bayelsa United have received a major boost ahead of their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) Matchday 9 fixture against Kun Khalifat, with the return of first-choice goalkeeper Andy Clinton.
The teenage shot-stopper, who recently featured for Nigeria’s Flying Eagles at the 2025 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Chile, rejoined the squad on Saturday and is expected to be available for Sunday’s clash at the Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa.
Clinton, 18, made three league appearances for Bayelsa United earlier in the season before earning a national team call-up. He was part of the Flying Eagles side that exited the tournament in the Round of 16 following a defeat to Argentina.
His return comes at a pivotal time for the Restoration Boys, who head into the encounter with renewed confidence after pulling off a surprise 2–1 away win over Rivers United in Port Harcourt last weekend.
Bayelsa United took to social media to welcome the young goalkeeper back to the fold, writing: “Welcome back, Clinton Goalie. Good to have you back.”
Clinton’s presence between the posts is expected to strengthen the team’s defensive setup as they aim for another positive result at home.
The Yenagoa-based club will be looking to build momentum and climb the NPFL standings with a victory over Kun Khalifat, and Clinton’s return could prove vital in achieving that objective.
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.
