Coaches Cry Foul as NNL Super 8 Drama Heats Up
As the 2024/2025 Nigeria National League Super 8 Playoffs entered Day Two at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, emotions ran high—not just among players, but on the touchlines as well.
Yobe Desert Stars fought back impressively to edge Doma United 2–1 in the day’s opening match, a result that sent them soaring to the top of the Northern Conference standings with four points from two games.
But instead of focusing on his team’s bluntness in front of goal, Doma United’s Head Coach, Akinade Onigbinde, placed blame squarely on the officials.
‘In the second half, we came out to play. But our eventual defeat has to do with officiating, let’s be frank with ourselves,’ he said, visibly frustrated.
He accused the first assistant referee of yielding to pressure from the Yobe Desert Stars bench, citing three controversial calls, including the free-kick that produced the decisive second goal.
In the second match, Wikki Tourists were held to a goalless draw by Barau FC. Their Head Coach, Abdul Maikaba, joined the chorus of officiating complaints.
‘They’ve taken sides, and I’m not happy at all,’ Maikaba fumed.
However, critics argue that the coaches’ criticisms are a smokescreen for their teams’ inefficiencies in front of goal, with Wikki squandering multiple opportunities—even when the Barau goalkeeper was caught off position.
