El-Kanemi Warriors slumped to a 3-0 defeat against Barau FC on Matchday 36 of the 2025/26 NPFL season, and coach Kabiru Dogo wasted no time pointing the finger squarely at the match officials.
Kabiru Dogo walked into the post-match press conference at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday and refused to accept the scoreline at face value. His El-Kanemi Warriors had just been beaten 3-0 by Barau FC, and the Desert Warriors are now staring at relegation with only two games left in the 2025/26 NPFL season.
Dogo’s verdict was blunt: the referee, not his players, caused the collapse.
How the Goals Went In
Sunday Anthony opened the scoring for Barau in the 33rd minute, giving the home side a 1-0 lead at the break. Henry Ezeonye doubled the advantage in the 70th minute, and former Enyimba forward Joseph Atule wrapped it up in the 79th.
Three goals, none of them answered. El-Kanemi slipped to 18th place in the NPFL table on 43 points, with Matchday 37 and the final day still to play.
Dogo’s Referee Allegations
The Warriors boss did not soften his words when reporters asked for his reaction after the final whistle.
“I was disappointed, not because of the result, but by the way the match was officiated. When you’re frustrated, there’s nothing you can do.”
Dogo went further, alleging that the same referee had officiated El-Kanemi’s home match against Katsina United weeks earlier and had impressed everyone on that occasion. Sunday’s display, he claimed, was a completely different story.
“From the very beginning, the referee showed that he had a side. Even before we started the game, he had already chosen a side. And when you’re frustrated, there’s nothing you can do.”
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Dogo Insists His Tactics Were Right
Pressed on his substitutions and game management, Dogo pushed back hard. He said the conversation about tactics missed the real issue entirely.
“Forget about tactics. Look at the way he was protecting their players but not ours. Before Barau scored their first goal, we should have had a penalty because our striker had a clear opportunity. Go and watch the video clip.”
It is a claim that will be hard to verify without footage, but Dogo clearly believes his team was denied at a crucial moment that changed the complexion of the match.
Survival is Still Possible
With two games remaining, Dogo insists El-Kanemi can still save themselves. Their Matchday 37 fixture at home against Niger Tornadoes is now a must-win.
“By God’s grace, we’ll go back home, prepare well, and make sure that we win at all costs against Niger Tornadoes. I believe that with those three points, our position will be safe.”
He also made a pointed comparison to a previous heavy defeat, noting that he did not complain after losing 0-3 to Kano Pillars. Sunday’s officiating, he said, was the worst he had seen all season. NPFL fans who want to follow every twist of the relegation battle can get the Bet9ja’s current promo code to get started ahead of Matchday 37.
The Bigger Picture
El-Kanemi Warriors’ situation is made more precarious by the fact that the 2025/26 NPFL season is scheduled to end on May 24. Every point in the final two rounds is worth its weight in gold for clubs in the bottom four.
For a club that only regained promotion to the NPFL in June 2024 and went on to win the Federation Cup that same year, dropping back down to the second tier would be a painful reversal of fortune. Those who want a clear breakdown of how the relegation mathematics work can find useful detail in this Bet9ja booking code guide for planning their final day bets.
Dogo’s immediate job is to ensure the drama at the Sani Abacha Stadium on Sunday is the low point, not the beginning of the end. Niger Tornadoes are up next, and there is no margin for error.
📌 Did You Know?
- El-Kanemi Warriors were previously relegated from the NPFL to the Nigeria Division 1 in 2007, and did not return to the top flight until 2012, a five-year absence that tested the club’s survival.
- The club plays their home matches at El-Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri, Borno State. During the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency in 2014, they were forced to relocate their home games to Kano for safety reasons.
- El-Kanemi Warriors won the 2024 Federation Cup just months after regaining NPFL promotion, defeating Abia Warriors 2-0 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena in Lagos — one of the fastest turnarounds from promotion to cup glory in recent Nigerian football history.
- Joseph Atule, who scored Barau FC’s third goal in this match, is a former Enyimba forward. Enyimba is Nigeria’s most decorated club, with eight NPFL titles and two CAF Champions League trophies to their name.
- Barau FC’s win moved them to 8th place with 49 points after 36 matches, a solid mid-table position that reflects their improvement over the second half of the season.
- The 2025/26 NPFL season is scheduled to conclude on May 24, making it one of the few recent seasons to finish before June 1, a target the league has been pursuing to align with international football calendars.
- El-Kanemi Warriors’ next fixture is at home against Niger Tornadoes on Matchday 37, before their final-day trip to face Enyimba. Both games are now survival fixtures for the Maiduguri club.
