Nasarawa United’s impressive start to the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign may have surprised many followers of the local league, but for the Solid Miners’ head coach, their success is no fluke.

Despite losing 1–0 to Rivers United on Matchday 11 at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, the team has shown admirable consistency, resilience, and a clear sense of purpose early into the season, Footballrover reports.

Young, Self-Motivated Squad Driving Nasarawa United’s NPFL Rise

Reflecting on his side’s strong run so far, the coach attributed their form to a combination of youth, discipline, and intrinsic motivation within the squad.

“We have a young team that is self-motivated. We try to guide them properly. I believe so far they have been putting their heads together, and with the response from our side, the technical area to them, they are adjusting fast. Things are getting well because of that. I believe the boys themselves are self-motivated to win.”

That unity and hunger have seen Nasarawa United claim two away victories already this season—an achievement that few predicted at the start of the campaign.

The defeat to Rivers United, sealed by Zachariah Timothy’s late strike, was only their third of the season and came after a fiercely contested battle that highlighted both sides’ tactical awareness and defensive organisation.

“It’s Just Packaging”: The Coach Explains the NPFL’s Changing Landscape

When asked about the surprising shape of the NPFL top five after 11 games—with Nasarawa United, Abia Warriors, Warri Wolves, and Ikorodu City all jostling for position—the coach offered an intriguing take on what defines success in the Nigerian league.

“I must be frank with you; in Nigerian football, to me, all the teams are the same. It’s just packaging. And what I mean by packaging is, if what is backing your team is serious, they will get to where they want.”

He further explained that the balance of quality and commitment across teams has tightened the competition this season.

“And if you can look at the players, especially the unknown players, they are ready to take instructions. We are having a group of players that are also doing that. With due respect, there are bigger teams in the league, and every season they are all there because they have what it takes to get the quality.

Because for you to keep the standard, you must have quality. We look around, play roles, and try to polish them out to see how we can challenge them as well. So, it’s not a new team.”

Eyes on the Marathon Ahead

For the coach, the season remains far from over. He insists that his players understand the demands of a long campaign and are ready to fight for every point.

“It’s a marathon. We keep exchanging the battle each game that comes. You can see it’s getting tighter, and we expect to push ourselves to be able to come out of it.”

Nasarawa United will now look to bounce back quickly as they host Remo Stars in an outstanding Matchday 10 fixture at the Lafia City Stadium on Thursday, November 5, before another home encounter against Kwara United on Matchday 12.

With 19 points from 10 matches, they remain well-placed to reclaim the top spot and continue their unexpected title chase in what is turning out to be one of the most unpredictable NPFL seasons in years.

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Last Updated on November 3, 2025 11:31 pm by footballrover