Bayelsa United’s head coach Monday Odigie admitted his side’s 1-0 loss to Niger Tornadoes was the result of a critical defensive slip in their Sunday NPFL Matchday 3 outing at Minna’s Bako Kontagora Stadium, according to.
Ismaila Sarki’s 27th-minute header proved decisive and snapped Bayelsa’s two-match unbeaten streak. Odigie, a former Golden Eaglets coach, pinpointed a lapse on the left flank that allowed the Tornadoes to deliver a dangerous cross culminating in the goal.
“Football is a game of mistakes. In the first half, you could see their attack from the left. The defenders failed to mark properly on the left side and the cross came in, leading to the goal,” he explained, defending his players’ overall effort. “That’s football. Defenders are human beings. We need to go back and work on the mistake, and I hope we correct it before our next game.”
Looking ahead, Bayelsa United prepare to host nine-time NPFL champions and two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba in Matchday 4. Reflecting on the defeat, Odigie kept it blunt “Nothing different from what you saw. At the end of the game, Niger Tornadoes 1, Bayelsa United 0. It happens in football. We made a mistake, and they punished us. That’s how the game goes.”
Despite the setback, Odigie remains optimistic about the league’s potential: “We can always get better. No matter what we see now, the league can always get better. Many factors are responsible for its growth, but as we start this new season, improvement is key,” he remarked.
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He stressed the importance of respecting every opponent in such a competitive league: “I’ve always said every team in the NPFL is strong. Football is about taking your chances. If you take yours better than your opponent, you win. Every team in the NPFL deserves to be there. If you don’t respect them, it will be your undoing. Today, Tornadoes got their goal and defended it with everything they had. The league is very competitive, if you ask me.”
Editorial
We feel the sting of that solitary goal deeply. It encapsulates how a season’s early promise can hinge on the tiniest of errors.
We witnessed confidence and composure in Bayelsa United’s opening games, making this sudden reversal all the more painful. Their defensive misstep was not born of complacency but rather the fine margins that define football’s unpredictability. In that moment, attention to detail slipped, and the Tornadoes took full advantage.
We stand with Odigie in asserting that mistakes are intrinsic to the sport. It is how one responds that counts. A period of reflection, targeted training and renewed focus can transform this setback into fuel for improvement. The upcoming match with Enyimba offers a formidable test, yet also a potent chance to reinforce character and creativity under pressure.
We recognise the NPFL’s growing intensity. When every team is resilient, respecting opponents becomes a strategic necessity, not mere courtesy. Bayelsa’s acknowledgment of that reality speaks volumes about the changing dynamics in our top-flight league.
We believe the response to this early adversity will shape the trajectory of Bayelsa’s campaign. It is a moment for resolve, not retreat. We maintain that their reaction now will define their identity for the season—and we hold firm to that conviction from the start.
Did You Know?
- Bayelsa United lifted their first NPFL title in 2009, clinching the championship with a 2-2 draw against Warri Wolves on 14 June of that year.
- In the same season, tragedy struck when captain Abel Tador was tragically killed hours after the title-securing match.
- Niger Tornadoes are nicknamed the ‘Ikon Allah Boys’ and play their home fixtures at the Bako Kontagora Stadium, which holds around 5,000 spectators.
- Founded in 1977, Niger Tornadoes have a long history in Nigerian football, having once battled relegation by just three points back in 2005.
- In their only previous meeting this season prior to Sunday’s match, Bayelsa United held Niger Tornadoes to a 1-1 draw at home on 20 April 2025.
