Bayelsa United Ready for NNL Campaign, Target NPFL Return
…Maikaba Confident in Team’s Promotion Push
Bayelsa United Technical Adviser, Abdul Maikaba, has expressed confidence in his team’s readiness for the forthcoming Nigeria National League (NNL) season, following the Prosperity Boys’ emphatic 4-1 victory over Ogunbor United FA of Sapele in a pre-season friendly.
The encounter, played at the Southern Delta University, Ozoro, Delta State, saw the former Aiteo Cup champions produce an impressive attacking display, with Okardi Okardi Inikurogha grabbing a hat-trick to underline the team’s growing goalscoring threat ahead of the new campaign.
Inikurogha found the back of the net in the 23rd, 53rd and 87th minutes, while Tijani Aleloju added another in the 30th minute. Thompson Ogunbor scored the consolation goal for Ogunbor United in the 65th minute.
Reacting after the encounter, Coach Maikaba said he was encouraged by the team’s performances in the series of pre-season fixtures, particularly their attacking efficiency and ability to convert scoring opportunities.
According to the experienced tactician, Bayelsa United have scored an impressive 35 goals in 10 pre-season matches, averaging 3.5 goals per game, a statistic he described as a positive indication of the team’s attacking strength.
He maintained that sustaining the goalscoring momentum into the league campaign would significantly strengthen the club’s quest to secure promotion back to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the end of the season.
Although acknowledging that there were still a few grey areas requiring tactical refinement before the commencement of the league, Maikaba expressed satisfaction with the team’s overall progress and readiness for the new challenge.
The former Plateau United and Akwa United manager also commended the club’s management for putting together what he described as a top-notch pre-season programme, noting that the tour had provided the players with valuable exposure and competitive match experience.
He explained that the series of friendly matches had enabled the technical crew to assess individual performances, identify the team’s strengths and weaknesses, improve tactical understanding and build cohesion within the squad ahead of the new season.
Maikaba added that playing against different opponents had also offered the coaching crew an opportunity to evaluate the players’ responses to various tactical challenges and address identified shortcomings before the league kicks off.
Meanwhile, Coach of Ogunbor United FA, Ogunbor Silas, said he was impressed with the performance of his players despite the defeat, stressing that the primary objective of the friendly was to gain exposure and test his squad against a more experienced opponent rather than focus on the result.
Bayelsa United captain, Gabriel Biriduba, also expressed confidence in the team’s ability to secure immediate return to the NPFL, assuring that the players were determined to translate their pre-season preparations into positive results when the league begins.
Speaking on behalf of the club’s chairman, a board member of Bayelsa United, Mr Godson Ekadi, said the team was approaching the new season with a clear mandate to regain its place in the country’s top-flight league, in line with the vision of Governor Douye Diri.
Ekadi expressed delight at the improvement in the players’ performances, observing that several members of the squad had rediscovered their form in recent weeks, a development he said reflected the growing seriousness and competitive spirit within the camp.
Bayelsa United will begin their NNL campaign against Abia Comets of Umuahia on November 8, 2026, at the Samson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa, as the Prosperity Boys commence their quest for an immediate return to the NPFL.
