By Wale Mustapha
Wikki Tourists Technical Adviser, Abdu Maikaba, has commended his players for their fighting spirit despite a narrow 1-0 loss to Ikorodu City in the quarterfinals of the 2025 President Federation Cup.
The Bauchi-based side, known as the Bauchi Elephants, bowed out of the competition after a hard-fought match held in Bwari, Abuja, on Saturday.
Both teams ended the game with 10 men following a pair of red cards in a tense and physical contest.
Despite the result, Maikaba praised his squad’s effort and character, expressing pride in their performance and lamenting missed opportunities in front of goal.
“You all saw how we played — we dominated from start to finish, but the goal just wouldn’t come,” Maikaba told the club’s media team.
“That’s football for you. It just wasn’t our day. I’m proud of the boys; they showed great character, resilience, and determination.”
With their Cup run now over, Wikki Tourists will turn their attention to the Nigeria National League (NNL), where they are pushing for a playoff spot in a bid to return to the top flight.
“Now, our full focus shifts to the remaining league matches. We are still on a mission to secure promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League. We ask for continued patience, prayers, and support from our fans,” Maikaba added.
Wikki Tourists currently sit within reach of the playoff zone, and their remaining league fixtures will be crucial in determining their promotion fate.
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.
