El Kanemi Warriors have secured their Nigeria Premier Football League status for another season thanks to a crucial goal by Barnabas Daniel, who has been named NPFL Player of the Week for Matchday 38.
Facing Sunshine Stars in a tense final day showdown, Daniel struck around the half-hour mark in Maiduguri, netting only his second goal of the season but arguably the most important of his career. The win ensured El Kanemi remained in the NPFL, narrowly avoiding relegation that would have seen them drop to the second-tier Nigeria National League in place of Heartland.
This moment of redemption capped a dramatic season for El Kanemi, who had only just returned to the top flight and lifted the 2024 Federation Cup along the way.
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Editorial
We often look for heroes in football among the goal machines and marquee names—but this week, that honour belongs to Barnabas Daniel. In a high-stakes match that defined survival, he delivered when it mattered most. This wasn’t just a goal. It was a lifeline. A club-saving, legacy-defining strike.
El Kanemi Warriors have endured a season of volatility, teetering on the edge of relegation, but Daniel’s finish brought calm to chaos. These are the moments that define not only seasons but careers. One touch, one moment of instinct, and suddenly a club’s immediate future is transformed.
It’s worth reflecting on how a single goal can have such outsized impact. Promotion and relegation aren’t just statistics they’re emotional and financial lifelines. For El Kanemi, staying in the top flight means stability, hope, and continued investment in northern Nigeria’s football resurgence.
Let’s not forget the significance of doing this just a season after promotion and a Federation Cup win. Survival in the NPFL isn’t guaranteed, and this year proved that even cup success doesn’t shield a team from the grind of league football.
Barnabas Daniel didn’t top scoring charts. He didn’t dominate headlines all year. But in one pivotal moment, he did what all great footballers aspire to do: deliver when everything was on the line.
Did You Know?
- El Kanemi Warriors were founded in 1986 and are based in Maiduguri, Borno State.
- The club returned to the NPFL for the 2023/2024 season after spending multiple seasons in the second tier.
- Barnabas Daniel previously played for Plateau United before moving to El Kanemi.
- El Kanemi’s 2024 Federation Cup win was their first major silverware in over two decades.
- The NPFL’s final matchday is often referred to as “Survival Sunday” due to the high number of relegation-deciding games.
