El-Kanemi Warriors F.C.

El-Kanemi Warriors F.C.
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Full nameEl Kanemi Warriors Football Club
NicknameDesert Warriors
Founded1986 (1986)
GroundEl-Kanemi Stadium, Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria
Capacity10,000
ChairmanIbrahim Mainu Mustapha
ManagerKabir Dogo
LeagueNigeria Premier Football League
2025–2618th, Relegated

El-Kanemi Warriors Football Club is a professional football club based in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria. Their playground is the El-Kanemi Stadium, Maiduguri. The club is on a positive rebound having gained promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League in 2024 and doubling as the winners of the President Federation Cup in the same year.

History

El-Kanemi Warriors ended the 2005 season in the lower half of the Nigeria Premier League and were relegated to the Nigeria Division 1 in 2007.

In 2012, the Warriors were promoted back to the top level. Due to the Boko Haram insurgency in 2014, they played their home games in Kano. From 2015 to 2016, they hosted their home games at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina before returning to Maiduguri and El-Kanemi Stadium.

In October 2017, the club announced former Enugu Rangers coach Imama Amapakabo as their new coach on a one-year deal.

In June 2024, El-Kanemi Warriors regained promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League and later went on to win the Federation Cup after defeating Abia Warriors 2–0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.[1][2]

El-Kanemi Warriors finished 18th and got relegated at the end of the 2025–26 season at the last matchday after a poor run of form but shockingly won the Federation Cup that season with a 1–0 victory over Ikorodu City for the fourth time and their second in three seasons despite having been relegated.[3][4]

Achievements

1991, 1992, 2024, 2026
1991, 2000

Performance in CAF competitions

1992 – First Round
1993 – Semi-finals
2024–25 – First Round
2026–27 – ? ?

Current squad

As of 17 April 2019

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
30 GK  NGA Itodo Akor
2 DF  NGA Joe Maamo
3 DF  NGA Adebesin Afeez
5 FW  NGA Babatunde Solomon
6 DF  NGA Lucky Erimuya
7 MF  NGA Isiaka Olawale
8 MF  NGA Sunday Anthony
12 FW  NGA Ibrahim Mustapha
13 DF  NGA Innocent Gabriel
14 MF  NGA AbdulRazak Aliyu
16 FW  NGA Anthony Yeful
No. Pos. Nation Player
17 FW  NGA Chinedu Ohanachom
19 FW  NGA Analaba Uche
21 DF  NGA Solomon onome
22 FW  NGA Abdulwaheed Afolabi
23 MF  NGA Kabiru Balogun
24 GK  NGA Jobe Modou
26 FW  NGA Abubakar Umar
28 DF  NGA Osita Echendu
30 FW  NGA Ocheme Edoh
33 MF  NGA Tchoanfine Pade
39 FW  NGA Ba'akaka Ajikolo

References

  1. ↑ "El-Kanemi Warriors, Ikorodu City, 2 others gain promotion to NPFL". Leadership. 12 June 2024.
  2. ↑ Ledger, Jonathan (29 June 2024). "El-Kanemi defeat Abia Warriors to win first federation cup in 32 years". TheCable. Event occurs at 19:58.
  3. ↑ "Rangers claim ninth title, Remo Stars, El-Kanemi relegated". NPFL. 24 May 2026.
  4. ↑ "President Federation Cup: El-Kanemi Warriors edge Ikorodu City to win fourth title". Premium Times. 11 July 2026.