By Wale Mustapha
Coach Mohammed Babaganaru has stepped down from his role as Technical Adviser of Lobi Stars, just under a month after his appointment, as the club faces growing concerns over relegation in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
Babaganaru’s departure followed a series of disappointing results, including a 1-0 home loss to Ikorodu City in Enugu.
The veteran tactician reportedly walked out of the team’s training session on Monday, citing a lack of dedication from the players as the primary reason for his decision to resign.
Lobi Stars’ struggles this season have left them at the bottom of the league table with only five wins, eight draws, and 15 losses from 28 matches.
The Markudi based team is now fighting for survival as they face a crucial encounter against Bayelsa United in Yenagoa this weekend.
The club’s poor form has heightened relegation fears, and Babaganaru’s exit further compounds the challenges ahead for Lobi Stars as they aim to avoid dropping out of the top flight.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career 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.
