Kwara United Football Club today, Friday August 22, 2025, unveiled 18 new players, including three players promoted from the U19 team, and registered 34 players overall for the season.
While giving the breakdown as well as the targets for the season during the unveiling ceremony at the club’s Secretariat, the General Manager, Bashir Badawiy said that 13 players left the club at the end of last season, while 15 players were retained.
“We retained 15 players, engaged 18 new players, including three players from our U19 team, as you are aware we won the 2025 Ń-Youth League Super Eight competition.
The new arrivals comprise seven attackers, four midfielders, five defenders, and two goalkeepers, aimed at giving the Harmony Boys a competitive edge in the upcoming campaign.
He said that the preparations for the season began in Offa, and ended with another camping in Ikenne, where they also participated in the 2025 ValueJet Pre-season competition, which afforded the technical crew enough opportunity to test the invited players.
“We have given the technical crew, being led by Coach Tunde Sanni, the mandate to successfully defend the President Federation Cup, win the 2025/2026 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and also do well in the CAF Confederation Cup competition.
He highlighted that the BC.Game shirt sponsorship secured by the club was to broaden the club’s financial window, “especially now that the club is playing in the continental competition”
While calling for support of all, he said that the club has introduced a Code of Conduct to check the conduct and attitude of players on and off the field, and also warned against involvement in betting. Badawiy also commended the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the NPFL for taking strong stance against betting in the league.
He commended Kwara Governor, Mallam AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Kwara State Sports Commission, Supporters and Fans of the club as well as other stakeholders, for their support to the team.
While also reacting, the Technical Adviser, Coach Tunde Sanni said that the technical crew wasn’t under pressure in picking players, as they have picked 30 playing players, not picking just any player.
While reacting to the targets set by the club, he said that his personal ambition is fueling him to achieve more as a coach, adding that he hopes to do more for the club as we as his career, pointing out that Kwara United is long overdue in winning the NPFL.
“There was no pressure in picking players. All the players we signed are playing players. And for our targets, my personal ambition is also propelling me to set personal targets. We hope to win the NPFL this season, because the club is long overdue for it.
The Club’s Captain, AbdulAfeez Musa Olororo said that the club is prepared and ready for the season, and will start demonstrating that with the match against Ikorodu City on Sunday.
THE LIST OF NEW PLAYERS
- Okon Ini Emmanuel (Attacker, from Akwa United)
- Said Charah Mubarak (Attacker, from Katsina United)
- Aule Shirsha Johnmark (Midfielder, from Lobi Stars)
- Ogunribide Samson Oluwaseun (Defender, from Remo Stars)
- Ogbonna Mathew Arinze (Defender, from Bendel Insurance)
- Gidado Olakunle Toheeb (Midfielder, from Ikorodu City)
- Ngomere Ezekiel Chisom (Midfielder, from Bendel Insurance)
- Babatunde Junior Bright (Attacker, from AS Douanes, Niger)
- Yekini Kazeem (Goalkeeper, from Aziza FC, Benin)
- Salawudeen Olasunkanmi Aliu (Defender, from Sporting Lagos)
- Ayinla Olarewaju AbdulRahman (Defender, from El-Kanemi Warriors)
- Ajiboye Moses Tobi (Attacker, from Bendel Insurance)
- Nyebe Ngede Moses (Attacker, from Crown FC)
- Eze Ogbodo Chibuzor (Attacker, from Rivers United)
- Obiorah Emeka Kingsley (Attacker, from Dragon FC, Benin)
THE U19 PLAYERS
- Kolawole Sheriff (Goalkeeper, from Kwara United U-19)
- Alege Mahee Mohammed (Midfielder, from Kwara United U-19)
- Ezenabo Somtonchukwu (Defender, from Kwara United U-19)
