Wikki Tourists missed the NNL Super 8 title but shone with key individual awards.
Striker Wonderson Yakubu and goalkeeper Godswill Solomon led a proud showing despite final loss.
Wikki Tourists may have missed out on the 2024/2025 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 title, but they emerged with their pride intact after dominating the individual awards at the season-ending promotion playoffs held at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
Despite falling 3-2 to Warri Wolves in a dramatic final on Saturday, Wikki Tourists’ standout performers still grabbed headlines. Striker Wonderson Yakubu clinched the Top Scorer award, having netted four goals in the competition, a tally that matches his regular-season output. Goalkeeper Urum Godswill Solomon also earned top honors as the tournament’s Best Goalkeeper, cementing Vikki’s strong presence throughout the playoffs.
Yakubu, a former FC One Rocket attacker, expressed optimism for the team’s return to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), stressing the importance of consistency.
“Coach Maikaba has told us how important it is to remain together. That continuity can help us avoid returning to the NNL,” Yakubu said. “Yes, players come and go, but we need to stay focused and committed. Hard work always brings results.”
The final, however, didn’t go Wikki’s way. Warri Wolves raced to a 3-0 lead within the opening 26 minutes, with Lati Yusuf opening the scoring in the 7th minute. Igbunu Evwierhurhoma doubled the advantage in the 19th minute, and Amutesiro Shemaya made it three just seven minutes later.
Wikki Tourists responded through Aliyu Mamuda in the 34th minute and then Wonderson Yakubu again in the 59th, but the comeback fell short.
“Football is like that sometimes,” Yakubu admitted. “We had chances that we couldn’t convert. They took theirs. Now, our focus is on the NPFL, which begins next month.”
Elsewhere, Warri Wolves’ Yusuf was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, while Rabiu Tata of Barau FC was voted Best Coach. Doma United walked away with the Best Behaved Team award.
Although the ultimate prize slipped through their fingers, Wikki Tourists’ impressive individual performances suggest they could be a force to reckon with in the upcoming NPFL campaign. With Coach Abdul Maikaba set to continue at the helm, the team’s focus now shifts to building cohesion and maintaining form ahead of the top-flight season.
