The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Wikki Tourists FC

  • NPFL Transfers: Wikki Tourists reinforce midfield, attack

    NPFL Transfers: Wikki Tourists reinforce midfield, attack

    Wikki Tourists FC have stepped up preparations for the second half of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season with the acquisition of three new players during the January transfer window.

    Leading the reinforcements is the return of attacking midfielder Abubakar Aliyu, fondly known as “Korea,” who re-joins the Bauchi-based side from Nasarawa United. His creativity and experience are expected to add bite and imagination to the midfield as the club targets a stronger showing in the remainder of the campaign.

    Read Also: Morocco 2025:  NFF launches NAIJA 4 THE WIN campaign for Super Eagles

    Wikki Tourists have also secured the services of winger Obed Ponkap from Barau FC. The wide man is expected to provide pace, width and penetration on the flanks, offering the technical crew more attacking options going forward.

    Completing the trio is forward Ibrahim Shuaibu, who arrives from Remo Stars FC to bolster the club’s attacking department. Shuaibu’s addition is aimed at improving Wikki Tourists’ goal-scoring threat as the league enters its decisive phase.

    The club has called on its supporters to extend a warm welcome to the new signings and continue to rally behind the team as they push for improved results in the second stanza of the NPFL season.

  • Federation Cup: Plateau Utd hits Wikki Tourists 2-1

    Federation Cup: Plateau Utd hits Wikki Tourists 2-1

    Plateau Utd FC of Jos, on Wednesday at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium Bauch, beat hosts Wikki Tourists FC 2-1 in the ongoing Federation Cup competition.

    Anyor Ogbonna netted the opener for Plateau United in the 3rd minute after receiving a pass from Ogene Elijah.

    In the 45th minutes, Umar Kabiru broke loose, penetrated the  Tourists’ defence and found the net for the Plateau boys’ second goal.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Emma James would have given the United boys the third goal in the 47th minutes but wasted a penalty kick.

    Plateau United dominated the game and created many chances of scoring but their efforts failed to pay off due to yellow cards shown to Solomon Junior and Turba Benjamin by the centre referee.

    Wikki Tourists on their part, got the lone goal at the 85th minute through Abubakar Lawal.

    The tourists also lost the chance of leveling up when Solomon Junior of Plateau United brought down Abubakar Lawal and the consequent penalty kick by Chukwudi Samuel was ballooned.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Federation Cup, also known as Challenge Cup, is the main football single-elimination tournament in Nigeria.

    The Federation/AIETO Cup has a prize of N25 million in the men’s category.

    It was floated in 1945 as Governor’s Cup, having succeeded the War Memorial Challenge Cup which was limited to only teams in Lagos.

    Chief Coach of the Plateau boys, Kennedy Boboi, told NAN at a post match interview that he was happy that the team won.

    Kennedy described Wilki Tourists as a “good team to reckon with”.

    “They were not a bad team in today’s match, and hope that Wikki will get up from their slumbers; they are a good team and the coach too.

    “It is a very respectful team that you can give kudos to and they have a very sound coach,” he said.

    Wikki’s Chief Coach Bala Nikyu, declined comments when approached by a NAN correspondent.

  • NPFL: Nasarawa United defeat Wikki Tourists 2-0

    NPFL: Nasarawa United defeat Wikki Tourists 2-0

    Nasarawa United Football Club on Sunday defeated visiting Wikki Tourists FC 2-0 in a week 21 match of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Lafia Township Stadium.

    A foul by Peter Ambrose on Mohammed Shamasu earned the hosts a penalty kick converted by Seun Segbeso for Nasarawa United in the 36th minute of the first half.

    The second goal was scored by Adamu Hassan in the 43rd minute of the first half.

    Speaking after the match, Kabiru Dogo, the coach of Nasarawa United, described the win as a morale-booster for them to struggle to the top of the league.

    He therefore promised to work harder to ensure that the team achieved their target of winning the league this season.

    On his part, Mangut Mbwas, Assistant Coach of Wikki Tourists, described the penalty kick which led to the first goal as complicated and had left him wondering.

    He however attributed his team’s low performances to the changes being witnessed at the top echelon of the club’s management.

    The coach expressed the hope that they would overcome the challenges as a better team.

  • Wikki Tourists receive royal blessing

    Wikki Tourists receive royal blessing

    The management, technical crew as well as players of Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi have been urged to be more united towards achieving success this season.

    The Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleimau Adamu gave the charge in his palace when he hosted the team on Saturday.

    He said no meaningful development can be achieved without peace and he assured them of his continuous support and prayers.

    The chairman of the club, Isa Musa Matori told the Emir that the visit was to show respect and seek for his support and royal blessings.

    Matori, however, apologised to the royal father for their inability to come earlier before now.

    The chairman later presented the emir with a plaque and appointment letter as the royal father of Wikki Tourist FC.

    The Big Elephants lost 1-0 to Plateau United in the matchday 17 of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) clash in Jos on Sunday.

  • Ganaru is not Wikki Tourists’ problem, says Bosso

    Ganaru is not Wikki Tourists’ problem, says Bosso

    El Kanemi Warriors technical adviser, Isa Ladan Bosso has thrown his weight behind the embattled Wikki Tourists coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru.

    Ganaru and his technical crew as well as the players were given four-match ultimatum by the management to change the situation at the club following series of poor results.

    Bosso told SportingLife that the Nigerian system was frustrating the former Nasarawa United coach, adding that Ganaru achievements in the Nigeria league have not been appreciated.

    “I think the system is frustrating Ganaru,” Bosso lamented. “This is a coach that has won the league back-to-back when he was at Kano Pillars and nobody from the system considered him good for the national team job (U-17, U-20, U-23 and Super Eagles), even as an assistant coach. Just last season, some coaches were given Super Eagles jobs because they did well at the beginning of the season.

    “I know Ganaru as a good coach. He has worked under me and I know his worth, and I have never doubt his competency as far as coaching is concerned. He should not be placed under undue pressure because things are not going the way they want it at the moment. I don’t think he is the problem of the Wikki Tourists and I believe that results will come if everybody rally behind and give him all the necessary support,” Bosso said to SportingLife.

  • Wikki Tourists get new logo

    Wikki Tourists get new logo

     

    Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi State have unveiled a new logo for the club ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    According to a statement on the club’s social media page, the club has adopted The Giant Elephant has their new nickname.

    “This is the modified Logo of the Club when unveiled to the corporate world as a Trade mark by the Marketing Committee, unauthorized use will be illegal. This is in line with Business practice worldwide. As a Professional Club representing the Country in the Continent, it intends to derive value for its services,” the statement reads.

    Wikki Tourists is a Nigerian football club based in Bauchi, and currently playing in the Nigeria Premier league after promotion from the second-tier Nigeria National League (NNL) after the 2014 season.

    The club won the Nigerian FA Cup in 1998 and they were NNL champions in 2011.

    The club made its first appearance in the CAF Cup Winners’ Cup in 1999 and reached the second Round of the competition before they crashed out.  In 2008, Wikki Tourists participated in the CAF Confederation Cup and they were knocked out in the First Round.

    The club is expected to represent Nigeria in the CAF confederation Cup next year after finishing third in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the end of the 2015/2016 season.

  • Omo Johnson, Zikiye set to complete Wikki Tourists switch

    Omo Johnson, Zikiye set to complete Wikki Tourists switch

    Wikki Tourists of Bauchi are in negotiations to complete transfer deals for the duo of Omo Johnson and Jonathan Zikiye ahead of the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) season.

    It’s understood that the Bauchi-based outfit are making frantic efforts to make a good replacement for some of its key players that have left the club.

    First team players like Shittu Lawal, Alhassan Ibrahim ‘Muazam’, Christopher Waziri and Charles Henlong have all moved to other clubs while club’s top striker Godwin Obaje is undergoing trials at Spartak Moscow in Russia.

    A source in the team’s camp informed SportingLife that Johnson and Zikiye have resumed at Wikki Tourists camp and they are happy to reunite with their former coach Mohammed Baba Ganaru who is now club’s technical adviser.

    The pair worked under Baba Ganaru at Kano Pillars last season, although, Jonathan left Sai Masu Gida during mid-season transfer to Heartland FC of Owerri.

    “All things being equal, we are in advance talk with Omo Johnson and Jonathan Zikiye as well as other top players too. They are already training with us and hope to finalise the deals very soon,” a source disclosed to SportingLife.

    “We are happy that everything is going as planned. Our pre-season is going on well and I can tell you that there is good understanding between the old and new players. The technical crew under Baba Ganaru is fine-tuning a good programme for the club. We believe to have strong squad for the coming season.”

  • Wikki Tourists appoint Mangut as chief coach

    Wikki Tourists appoint Mangut as chief coach

     
    The management of Wikki Tourist has appointed Mbwas Mangut as the new chief Coach of the Club ahead of 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League season.
    SportingLife report that Mangut a native of Plateau State was until his new appointment the chief Coach of Heartland FC. He will assist technical adviser, Mohammed Baba Ganaru.
    The new chief coach, who assumed duty on Monday, said he is happy with the new appointment and promised to do his best for the club to succeed assuring his total loyalty to the Technical Adviser and management of the club.
    Meanwhile, the management of Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi has described the exit of some key players of the club as a blessing in disguise.
    SportingLife had on Monday reported that the trio of goalkeeper Emeka Nwabulu, left full back Christopher Waziri and Charles Henlong have dumped the Bauchi-outfit for Rangers International of Enugu.
    In a chat with SportingLife, the club’s chairman hinted that the club is not losing sleep over their exit, stressing that some of them leave because they want change of environment.
    He also denied media report that majority of the first team players have dumped the club.
    “There was no time we tried to stop any players from leaving the club. Even when Maikaba told the club he is moving to Akwa United we wish him best of luck. Waziri told us that he want a change of environment after spending three seasons with the club; the same thing applied to other players too. As I am talking to you now, we still have majority of our players with us while new players are already coming to our team too. All I can say is that their exit would be a blessing in disguise to our team,” Matori disclosed to SportingLife.