WIKKI TOURISTS FOOTBALL CLUB OF BAUCHI BACK TO WINNING WAYS AS IT THRASHED 3SC FOOTBALL CLUB OF IBADAN IN BAUCH.

BY JENNIFER EMMANUEL

Wikki Tourists roared back to life with an impressive 2–0 win over Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan in their Matchday 10 encounter of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

The home side started brightly, dominating possession and pushing forward with intent. Their early pressure paid off in the 33rd minute when Abdullahi Usman calmly finished off a fine team move to open the scoring for Wikki Tourists.

Moments before halftime, the stadium erupted once again as Jonathan Mairiga produced a moment of magic, connecting perfectly with a cross to score a spectacular bicycle kick in the 42nd minute, doubling Wikki’s advantage and sending the home supporters into wild celebration.

In the second half, Shooting Stars came out stronger and pushed for a way back into the contest. Their forward, Sadiq Ibrahim, had a few golden moments to reduce the deficit, but his efforts were either saved by the alert Wikki goalkeeper or went narrowly wide of the post.

Wikki, however, remained compact and disciplined at the back, managing the game with maturity and protecting their two-goal lead until the final whistle.

The victory marked a crucial turning point for the Bauchi side, ending their four-match winless run and restoring belief within the team. With the win, Wikki climbed to 13th position on the NPFL table, while Shooting Stars slipped to 5th place after ten matchdays.

After the game, Wikki’s Technical Adviser Abdu maikaba expressed satisfaction with his players’ improved performance and fighting spirit, describing the result as a reward for their commitment and hunger to return to winning ways.

On the other hand, Shooting Stars’ coach, Nurudeen, was disappointed that his tactical setup failed to work against Wikki’s organization, though he expressed confidence that his team would bounce back in their next fixture.

Looking ahead, Wikki Tourists will travel to Kano to face newcomers Barau FC, hoping to build on their momentum, while Shooting Stars will return to Ibadan to host sixth-placed Katsina United as they seek redemption on home soil.

The win in Bauchi was more than just three points it was a statement of intent from a revitalized Wikki side. With Abdullahi Usman’s composed opener and Jonathan Mairiga’s breathtaking bicycle kick, the Tourists reminded fans of their quality, resilience, and determination to climb higher in the NPFL standings.