The 2025/2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) season kicked off in style on Saturday, November 8, at the Lafia City Stadium, as FC Basira marked their debut in Conference C with an unforgettable performance.
Led by coach Aminu Musa, FC Basira made an instant impact when Abubakar Yusuf opened the scoring in the 6th minute, becoming the first player to score in the new season. Yusuf doubled the lead in the 37th minute to record the first brace of the campaign, before earning the Man of the Match award for his outstanding display.
Despite a defensive mix-up that led to an own goal by Emmanuel Iliya, Basira restored their dominance when Peter Eneji struck in the 46th minute to seal a 3–1 victory.
Their spirited performance also earned the team ₦56,000 from NNL partners Betpawa. Captain Jibrin Kaura and teammate Ochoche Ngbedo both expressed delight at the gesture.
“I have received the alert, I’m very excited this is happening. I’m highly motivated,” Kaura said. Ngbedo added, “I feel great. This is a good empowerment for us, and I can confirm many of my teammates have received theirs too.”
The season opener was graced by Nasarawa State Governor Engineer Abdullahi Sule, who kicked off the match. He was joined by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, represented by the federation’s General Secretary Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, and NNL Chairman Chief George Aluo.
The Lafia City Stadium hosted an NNL season opener for the second time, providing a fitting backdrop for FC Basira’s record-breaking debut.
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