Warriors Secure Historic Away Win in Yenagoa

In a significant mid-season breakthrough, El-Kanemi Warriors captain Zayyad Musa has hailed his team’s resilience following their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bayelsa United. The match, played on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at the Samson Siasia Stadium, saw the Borno-based side secure their first away maximum points of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign.

The decisive moment came just before the halftime whistle when Sadiq Mohammed found the back of the net. His lone strike proved enough to silence the home crowd and hand the Warriors a much-needed boost before the league entered its scheduled mid-season hiatus. The victory was a tactical triumph for technical adviser Kabiru Dogo, who has been pushing his squad to replicate their home form on the road.

Speaking to the club’s media department shortly after the final whistle, skipper Zayyad Musa could hardly hide his relief and satisfaction. The captain expressed his gratitude to the Almighty for both the victory and the fact that the team emerged from the intense encounter without any major injuries. Musa noted that he had felt a surge of confidence leading up to the game, telling his teammates and coaching staff that a win in Yenagoa was well within their reach.

“I said before the game we were going to win, and Alhamdulillah, we achieved that with a lone goal,” Musa remarked. He also took a moment to acknowledge the club’s loyal supporters back in Maiduguri and beyond. Although the fans could not make the long trip to the South-South, Musa expressed his belief that they would be celebrating the result wherever they were, thanking them for their unwavering spiritual support throughout the season.

The three points gained in Yenagoa have significant implications for the NPFL table as the league pauses for the festive break. The win has propelled El-Kanemi Warriors to 11th position, bringing their total to 25 points from 19 matches. This upward movement provides the squad with a comfortable cushion from the relegation zone and sets a positive tone for the second half of the season, which is set to resume in mid-January.

For Bayelsa United, the loss on home soil is a bitter pill to swallow as they continue to struggle for consistency. The defeat keeps them in the lower half of the table, hovering dangerously close to the drop zone. The Samson Siasia Stadium, usually a fortress for the Prosperity Boys, was breached by a disciplined Warriors defense that refused to buckle under pressure in the closing stages of the match.

The NPFL now enters a two-week winter transfer window and mid-season break, allowing teams to rest and reinforce their squads. For the Warriors, this period will be spent reflecting on a historic away win that has transformed their season outlook. As Zayyad Musa and his teammates head back north, they do so with the knowledge that they can compete and win anywhere in the country.