Ikorodu City prepares to face Kano Pillars in their Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) opener and head coach Bright Ozebagbe is embracing the underdog tag.
The newly promoted side, established in 2022, has been tagged as underdogs, but Ozebagbe believes this will work in their favor.
In an interview with the club’s media team, Ozebagbe expressed confidence in his team’s preparation and mental state. “We have prepared very well; mentally, the boys are good.
Every match is difficult regardless of who we play. We will face the challenges; we are tagged as underdogs, and that will help us.”
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Ikorodu City has had a decent pre-season, playing top teams in Nigeria and signing new players, including Rivio Ayemwenre, who scored Sporting Lagos’ first goal in the NPFL last season.
Newly promoted to NPFL side Ikorodu City
Ozebagbe emphasized the importance of continuity, stating, “I think continuity is key, and that is why we have most of our players while we integrate new ones.
The synergy has been good from our pre-season; the outcome was positive, so I think the squad, in general, is balanced in every department.”
On the other hand, Kano Pillars has undergone changes in the backroom, with the return of 2019 NPFL-winning coach Usman Abdallah. Despite this, Ozebagbe remains optimistic about his team’s chances.
The match will be played at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium in Katsina due to ongoing renovations at the Sani Abacha Stadium in Kano.
Ikorodu City will look to make a good impression in their first season in the NPFL, and Ozebagbe’s positive attitude and emphasis on teamwork may just give them the edge they need.
The NPFL season kicks off and fans will be watching closely to see how Ikorodu City fares against more established teams. With their underdog tag and strong team dynamic, they may just surprise a few people.
