Former Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions, Lobi Stars, endured one of the worst seasons in their history during the 2024/2025 campaign, culminating in a painful relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL).
The Makurdi-based club was officially relegated with five games left to play in the season, and also crashed out of the President Federation Cup in the Round of 32 following a shock defeat to a non-league side.
While the team’s on-field struggles were glaring, much of the blame has been directed at the leadership of club chairman, Dr Philip Nongu, whose tenure has been marred by controversial decisions and instability.
Lobi Stars went through six coaches in a single season—Eugene Agagbe, Daniel Amokachi, Mika Lönnström, Samuel Addingi, Mohammed Babaganaru, and Tony Bolus—without finding a winning formula. The club managed just one win in 19 second-round matches, a sharp decline from the five wins recorded in the first half of the season.
One of the most criticised decisions by Dr Nongu was relocating the club from their adopted home in Lafia, where they had previously thrived, first to Bauchi and then to Enugu. The team failed to win any match in Bauchi and managed just one victory at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium in Enugu, a venue many now describe as the "coffin" of Lobi Stars' NPFL hopes.
Off the pitch, the situation was equally grim. The dismissal of Coach Eugene Agagbe, who had a valid two-year contract, was carried out without due process or severance arrangements. Agagbe won his case at the NFF Arbitration Committee, which ordered the club to pay ₦31 million in compensation. However, Lobi Stars failed to meet the deadline, resulting in a sweeping transfer ban issued on 17 June 2025. The ban includes prohibition from registering new players or transferring players to or from the club.
To compound matters, the current Lobi Stars board has yet to pay the June salaries of players who were not formally released after the season. The state government had reportedly released funds for the month, raising further questions about financial mismanagement.
With growing unrest among supporters and stakeholders, many are calling for urgent intervention.
“It is time for Governor Hyacinth Alia to act decisively,” said a concerned source familiar with the club’s affairs. “Lobi Stars is a club with rich history and passionate fans. This ongoing mismanagement risks condemning the club to total obscurity in the amateur ranks of Nigerian football.”
As Lobi Stars face uncertain times in the lower division, fans and observers alike are hoping for a leadership overhaul that can restore the club’s pride and competitive edge.
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