Yewa FC Academy Head Coach Bolaji Abdulkadri Says Team to Bounce Back After NNL Ticket Miss

Yewa FC Academy Head Coach Bolaji Abdulkadri Says Team to Bounce Back After NNL Ticket Miss


Yewa FC Academy head coach, Bolaji Abdulkadri, has expressed optimism that his side will return stronger next season after narrowly missing promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL), insisting the club will build on the positives from an impressive campaign.

The Ogun State-based side enjoyed a memorable 2026 Nationwide League One season, finishing as champions of the Abeokuta Centre before progressing to the promotion playoffs. They also recorded a 1-0 victory over FC Ebedei in the rescheduled playoff fixture.

However, their dream of securing an NNL ticket ended with a 2-0 defeat to Dokkal Hairu FC at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado-Ekiti—the team's only loss of the season.

"It hurt that we missed out on the promotion spot after the regular league season," Abdulkadri admitted. "We gave everything we had, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to get us over the line."

Despite the disappointment, the coach believes the season demonstrated the quality and character of his team, crediting their success to hard work and tactical discipline.

"What really drove us was the commitment from my players and the way we played purposeful, tactical football," he said. "The boys gave everything, and our preparation before the season was top class."
Yewa FC Academy ended the campaign with an impressive record of 14 matches, winning 11, drawing two and losing just one. They scored 43 goals while conceding only 12, making them one of the standout teams in the competition.

Looking ahead, Abdulkadri revealed that there would be no time to dwell on the setback, as preparations for the new season would begin immediately.

"We're starting right from where we stopped," he said. "We'll pick up exactly where we left off. The boys are ready to go again and give it everything."

The coach also reserved special praise for his players, urging them to remain confident despite the missed promotion opportunity.

"They all did well and they should hold their heads up high," he said. "The sky is just the beginning for them."

With another promotion campaign already on the horizon, Abdulkadri reaffirmed the club's ambition of reaching the Nigeria National League while also helping players attract opportunities abroad.

"We will regroup the boys and start the new season in style," he said. "We'll pick up from where we left off. We'll do everything humanly possible to secure promotion next season and keep the boys in top shape for opportunities in Europe."

For Yewa FC Academy, the numbers tell the story of a team that came agonisingly close to promotion. After winning the Abeokuta Centre, losing just once in 14 matches, and producing 43 goals during the campaign, Abdulkadri believes the experience gained this season will serve as the platform for an even stronger challenge in the next NLO season.

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