Nigeria Leagues
NPFL: Magin blames stadium issues for Niger Tornadoes’ poor season performance

By Wale Mustapha
Technical Adviser of Niger Tornadoes, Mohammed Magin, has cited the team’s unstable home ground situation as a key factor behind their underwhelming performance in the just-concluded Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The Ikon Allah Boys narrowly escaped relegation on the final day of the campaign, securing a dramatic 3-2 win over Kano Pillars to preserve their top-flight status.
Tornadoes began the season on a promising note, earning solid results both at home and on the road.
However, their momentum was disrupted when the NPFL declared their home ground, the Bako Kotangora Stadium in Minna, unfit for league matches.
As a result, the team was forced to host matches at alternative venues, including the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna and the Lafia Township Stadium — a situation Magin believes affected the squad’s consistency.
“The season was characterized by ups and downs,” Magin told Daily Post.
“We started strongly and picked up crucial away wins. But once our stadium failed to meet NPFL requirements, we had to move our home games to Kaduna and later Lafia. That instability really affected our form.”
The coach expressed gratitude for the team’s survival but called on the Niger State government to urgently upgrade the Bako Kotangora Stadium ahead of next season.
“The next step is for the management and government to ensure our stadium is brought up to standard to meet NPFL requirements,” he added.
Niger Tornadoes will now focus on rebuilding and stabilizing ahead of the 2025/26 NPFL season, with stadium readiness likely to be a key part of their planning.