Fresh coaching appointments and stadium facelift signal Niger Tornadoes’ big ambitions.

Niger Tornadoes Football Club has reinforced its technical department with the appointment of renowned tactician Abdullahi Umar Tyabo as Chief Coach and experienced goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Abideen Baruwa as the club’s first-ever Goalkeeper Coach ahead of the 2026/2027 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The appointments were announced in a statement signed by the Chairman of the Niger Tornadoes Management Committee, Dr. Abubakar Abdullahi Kuso, and made available to sports journalists in Minna on Tuesday.
The club expressed confidence that Tyabo’s extensive experience and tactical expertise would enhance the performance of the Minna-based side, popularly known as the Ikon Allah Boys, in the upcoming NPFL campaign.
According to the statement, Tyabo brings more than a decade of coaching experience, having managed several clubs across Nigeria. He holds a CAF C Coaching Licence and began his coaching career in Minna, where he nurtured amateur teams before progressing to the elite league.
He also possesses advanced coaching qualifications from Brazil, including a Diploma B Certificate, further demonstrating his technical competence.
Tyabo made his breakthrough in the Nigeria Premier Football League with Wikki Tourists, where he served under veteran coach Abdul Maikaba. He later moved with Maikaba to Akwa United and played a significant role in the club’s successful 2017 Aiteo Cup campaign, which ended with a final victory over Niger Tornadoes.
In another strategic move, the club appointed former Nasarawa United goalkeeper trainer Olatunji Abideen Baruwa as its pioneer Goalkeeper Coach.
Baruwa is widely respected for his ability to develop quality goalkeepers and is expected to bring his wealth of experience to help Niger Tornadoes build a formidable squad for the new season.
He will work alongside Bello Mohammed, who has been named the club’s second Goalkeeper Coach, completing the technical crew for the forthcoming campaign.
Meanwhile, renovation work has commenced at the Bako Kontagora Memorial Stadium in Minna as part of efforts to upgrade the facility to FIFA standards before the start of the 2026/2027 NPFL season.
The stadium upgrade is expected to provide Niger Tornadoes with a modern home ground that meets international requirements while improving the match-day experience for players, officials, and supporters.
Sports enthusiasts in Minna said the appointments and ongoing infrastructure development reflect the club’s determination to mount a stronger challenge in the new NPFL season.