Kwara United F.C.

Kwara United Football Club is a Nigerian football club based in Ilorin. They play in the top division in Nigerian football, the Nigeria Professional football League after promotion in 2017 from the Nigeria National League. Their home stadium is the Kwara State Stadium.

Kwara United
Full nameKwara United Football Club
Nickname(s)Harmony boys, The Afonja Warriors
Founded1997
GroundKwara State Stadium
Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
Capacity18,000
ChairmanKumbi Titiloye
ManagerBiffo Abdullahi
LeagueNigeria Professional Football League
2019–20NPFL, 19th out of 20

History

The club's roots go back to the Kwara Water Corporation Football Club in 1974. It was supposed to be an in-house club for the staffers of the Water Corporation. Due to the results and depth of talents in the club, the scope was opened and by 1979 qualified to play in the National League second division alongside the First Bank F.C. of Lagos. That same year, the club got to the quarter-final stage of the Football Association Cup (otherwise called the Challenge Cup) where she lost to Bendel Insurance football club of Benin 2–1. In 1985, due to the change in the name of the parent corporation to Kwara Utility Board, the club changed its name to Kwara Utility Bombers of Ilorin. It was relegated to division three at the end of that season. With the disengagement of the parent corporation from financing the team in 1990, the club adjusted its name to Kwara Bombers football club of Ilorin. It suffered financial stress, which culminated in her relegation to division three in 1996. The new state government led by Colonel Peter Asum Ogar led the purchase in March 1997 of the Exide Club of Ibadan, moved them to Ilorin and took their slot in the Second Division. Ogar christened the new outfit Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin.

The club came third at the end of the 2006 Super Four play-off behind Ocean Boys and Nasarawa United FC and qualified for the 2007 edition of the CAF Confederation Cup.

The coaching staff for the 2006–07 season included Swedes Roger Palmgren and Johan Eriksson (son of former England and Mexico manager, Sven-Göran Eriksson). The team was coached by former players of the team: Toyin Ayinla, Tunde Sanni and Aliyu Muzambilu (Goalkeeper trainer) following the passing of Technical Adviser Kafaru Alabi on January 8, 2008. However, they were relegated from the Premier League on the last day of the 2007/08 season on goal differential. They regained promotion back to the top level the next year as Champions of Division 1-A. The team appointed an Investment Consultant, Goldenwing33 Nigeria Limited, headed by former Nigerian international and former deputy editor (Sports) of Thisday newspaper, Olajide Ayodeji Fashikun. The Investment Consultant is to organise the privatisation and private sector participation in the club's funding in two years. The fans of the club have one of the worst reputations in Nigeria, as witnessed during a vicious beating of the referees after a 0–0 tie in 2008. Kwara played some of the 2010/11 season in Offa and Abeokuta as the ground was renovated. After relegation in 2013 they won promotion back in 2014. After their last game with Ranchers Bees was abandoned in Kaduna with 28 minutes to play tied at 2–2, they played again at a neutral site with Kwara needing the win and three points to leapfrog Ranchers for promotion. The replay was again abandoned when Bees' players attacked the referee and team staff encroached the field. The League ruled Bees at fault, fined the club and awarded the win to Kwara United, thus securing the promotion.[1]

Farm Club

The club is owner of Kwara United Feeders Team of Ilorin.[2]

Club Names

  • 1974–85: Kwara Water Corporation football club
  • 1985–90: Kwara Utility Bombers of Ilorin
  • 1990–97: Kwara Bombers Football Club of Ilorin
  • 1997–: Kwara United Football Club of Ilorin

Achievements

2006 Regular Season champions, 3rd in Super Four Play-off
1997

Performance in CAF competitions

2007 – Group stage
1999 – Quarter-finals

Current squad

As of 1 January 2021

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  NGA Dele Aiyenugba
2 DF  NGA Samuel Ganda
3  NGA Deji Bamidele
4 DF  NGA Onigbari Hakeem
5 DF  NGA Bashir Monsuru
7 FW  NGA Abdulsalam Abdulsalam
10 FW  NGA Agboola Joshua
11 MF  NGA Kalu Nweke
12 MF  NGA Kamal Sikiru
13 FW  NGA Isah Magaji
14 DF  NGA Oladejo Mutiu
15  NGA Kabir Balogun
16 FW  NGA Kabir Adeniji
17 FW  NGA Isa Saidu
19 MF  NGA Michael Ohanu
20 FW  NGA Taiwo Ayoola
No. Pos. Nation Player
21 FW  NGA Adebeshin Nurudeen
22 FW  NGA Musa Abdulafeez
23 FW  NGA Kehinde Olajuyin
24 DF  NGA Muritala Lawal
25 MF  NGA Stephen Adah
26 DF  NGA Nwanze Christopher
27 MF  NGA Alao Dabani
28 MF  NGA Jide Fatokun
30 MF  NGA Ganda Samuel
31 GK  NGA Joseph Isreal
34 GK  NGA Ishola Abdullateef
35 GK  NGA Emmanuel Iwu

Former coaches

  • Kafaru Alabi
  • Toyin Ayinla
  • Johann Eriksson
  • Kosta Papić
  • Roger Palmgren (2006–07)
  • Kadiri Ikhana (1997), (2010–11)
  • Tunde Sanni (2011–12)
  • Samson Unuanel (2012–13), (2013–14)
  • Babatunde Abdulrahmon (2014–2015)
  • John Sam Obuh (2015–2017)
  • Abubakar Bala (2017–2019)

Notes

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