Maikaba eyes one season in NNL

Technical adviser of Bayelsa United, Abdul Maikaba, says the club has a clear mandate, which is to return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the end of the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.

Maikaba, speaking after a pre-season game victory over De Go-Pro FC of Sapele, said that the Prosperity Boys are fully focused on the task ahead as the NNL gets underway on October 31.

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Heartland of Owerri are scheduled to host Crown FC of Ogbomoso in a Conference A matchday one fixture to open the season.

“I am satisfied with the display and the way they played. But the truth is, we are assessing the players because we are recruiting. We are looking to see who will add value to the team, and any player who will not add value, we will let him go,” the former Wikki Tourists coach said.

The former Kano Pillars tactician signed a one-year deal specifically to take Bayelsa United back to the Nigerian top-flight.

“We have more than 60 players in the camp. We are gradually trimming down to our maximum of 35.

With quality games and proper training, we will pick the best. That is why I have a one-season contract — to do the job in one year.

“We are in the NNL to face any team. We are not here to handpick opponents. Any team we are drawn with, we are ready to face. The target is to qualify for the Premier League in one season,” he added.

Meanwhile, the Prosperity Boys will compete in Conference B alongside Beyond Limit FA (Ogun), Solution FC (Anambra), Akwa United (Akwa Ibom), Smart City FC (Lagos), Right-2-Win FC (Abia), Dokka Khairu FC (Osun), Abakaliki FC (Ebonyi), and Ekiti United (Ekiti).

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