Azeez, Katsina Utd Coach Target End to Four-Year Away Jinx

Katsina United head coach Azeez Falolu has expressed optimism that his side can finally break their four-season away winless streak in the NPFL.

Azeez pointed out that the players have shown signs of improvement and cohesion in training, emphasising the need for mental strength and consistency to secure results on the road. Despite their recent struggles away from home, the coach believes that with better concentration and tactical discipline, Katsina United can turn their fortunes around.

Katsina United’s last league victory away from home came in June 2021, ending a 61-match winless run on the road that spanned several seasons.

Editorial

We view Azeez’s confidence not as mere bravado, but as a necessary step in reshaping the mindset of a team weighed down by past failures. A four-season drought on the road is more than a statistic it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, conditioning players and staff to expect poor results in hostile environments. By publicly stating his belief that the run can end, Azeez is signalling a shift: he wants his players to break free from that baggage and play with freedom and belief.

That said, optimism must be accompanied by action. Mental shifts alone won’t be enough to overturn such a long-standing issue. The team needs to translate belief into performance: sharper defensive organisation, better game management, and a clearer tactical plan for dealing with the intense pressures of away fixtures. The way Katsina United respond to early setbacks in away matches whether they regroup or fold will be key to whether Azeez’s optimism is well-founded.

We also think this approach speaks to a broader requirement within NPFL clubs: the need for resilience training, psychological support, and match-day planning that addresses away-game adversity explicitly. Too often, teams assume that the same tactics used at home will suffice on the road, without accounting for travel, crowd hostility, and the mental strain of playing away. Katsina United’s away run suggests that they, like many others, have not fully adapted to these challenges.

We believe that if Azeez can instil a belief that away matches are winnable  and pair that belief with structured preparation and in-match adaptability  Katsina United have real potential to end their winless streak. It won’t take just one win to change everything, but that first victory could be the spark that shifts their away mindset permanently.

Did You Know?

1. Katsina United’s 61-match away winless run in the NPFL began after their last away win in June 2021 at Jigawa Golden Stars.
2. The club was relegated from the NPFL at the end of the 2021–22 season, making their road struggles even more pronounced.
3. Midfielder Azeez Falolu has previously scored decisive goals for Katsina United, including a 27th-minute winner that ended another winless stretch earlier in his career.
4. NPFL statistician Samuel Areo has tracked several long winless runs for clubs on the road, noting that mental fatigue and travel logistics often play significant roles.
5. Katsina United’s turnaround win in Jos against Plateau United in 2025 was seen as a potential turning point and a dramatic end to one of the league’s longest away-day droughts.