Wikki Tourists walked tall with their heads high after the conclusion of the 2024/2025 NNL Super 8 Promotion play-Offs Saturday at Stephen Keshi Stadium Asaba, Completesports.com reports.
The Abdul Maikaba side went home with two of the individual awards as Wonderson Yakubu was adjudged as the tournament’s top scorer with four goals. Wonderson also scored four goals during the regular season.
Also, Wikki Tourists goalkeeper, Urum Godswill Solomon, was voted Best Goalkeeper of the Super 8 play-offs.
In the coaches category, Rabiu Tata of Barau FC was voted as the Best Coach of the tournament just as Warri Wolves forward, Lati Yusuf, emerged as the 2024/2025 Super 8 Promotion Play-offs Most Valuable Player, MVP.
Doma United consoled themselves with the Best Behaved Team Award.
Wonderson Yakubu, a former FC One Rocket player, said continuity will be Wikki Toursists’ watch word as the Abdul Maikaba’s team aims to avoid going down to the NNL again.
“Yes, Coach (Abdul Maikaba) has spoken to us about the need for us to stay together,” Wonderson said while reflecting on his award and how the team can avoid further relegation to the lower league.
“Most times, players leave and some also come in, that’s the game. But coach has reminded us there’s no time and as such it’s important we remain together.
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“Also, there’s the need for hard work. For me, when you work hard, there is bound to be good result.”
Wonderson admitted that Wikki Tourists were unlucky in their 3-2 defeat to Warri Wolves in Saturday’s epic final.
“I think we’re not that lucky. We missed some chances we should have converted while Warri Wolves converted theirs. That’s football and we’ve put that behind us now and focusing on the NPFL which starts next month,” he concluded.
The Abdul Maikaba side fell 2-3 to Warri Wolves, no thanks to Warri Wolves’ early raid that saw them take a commanding 3-0 lead in the first 26 minutes.
Lati Yusuf handed the Seasiders the lead seven minutes after kickoff, quite against the run of play.
Igbunu Evwierhurhoma made it 2-0 in the 19th minute while while
Amutesiro Shemaya scored the third goal in the 26th minute before Wikki Tourists pulled one back through Aliyu Mamuda in the 34th minute as Wolves took a comfortable 3-1 lead going into the break.
Wonderson fetched Wikki Tourists’ second goal in the 59th minute of the gritty clash.
By Sab Osuji in Asaba
