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
Kwara United F.C. logo
Full nameKwara United Football Club
Nickname(s)Harmony boys, The Afonja Warriors
Founded1997 (1997)
GroundKwara State Stadium
Ilorin, Kwara, Nigeria
Capacity18,000
ChairmanKumbi Titiloye
ManagerBiffo Abdullahi
LeagueNigeria Professional Football League
2020–21Nigeria Professional Football League, 4th of 20

History

The club's roots go back to the Kwara Water Corporation Football Club in 1974.[1] 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.[2]

Farm club

The club is owner of Kwara United Feeders Team of Ilorin.[3]

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 (after the Kwara State government bought Exide Sparkers Football Club of Ibadan and renamed the team)

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

Former coaches

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

Notes

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