Umar Ada

Right Midfielder - Nasarawa United
15 Dec 2026
Tuesday
Process

Marked for Umar Ada

20 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

14 Dec 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Market

Collins Onovughe is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

A row about effort at Nasarawa United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Umar Ada was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

Squad

Tempers go at Nasarawa United

Awal Auta was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

The dugout

Collins Onovughe gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

The dugout

Ameh Godwin gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Ameh Godwin is on it.

The dugout

Victor John asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

Back issues
19 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

7 Dec 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Squad

Segun Adekunle signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Segun Adekunle commits to Nasarawa United for another 3 years.

Squad

Tempers go at Nasarawa United

Umar Ada was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

A row about effort at Nasarawa United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Salomon Chigoziem was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

The dugout

No hiding place for Abubakar Garba

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Abubakar Garba, and the manager let it.

The dugout

When it matters, Sunusi Audu plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

Squad

Nasarawa United give King Osanga the armband

A decision that decides nothing on the pitch and everything in the room. The manager has said, without saying it, whose voice he wants heard when his own is not there.

In brief

18 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

30 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

The dugout

Abubakar Garba says Nasarawa United went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Market

Luka Ngwei is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

Victor John pulls a muscle — 14 days out

The injury that keeps coming back, keeps being rushed back from, and quietly costs more careers than the dramatic ones. 14 days is the estimate; the honest figure depends on whether anybody is patient.

Squad

Words exchanged at Nasarawa United

Umar Ada and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

Squad

A row about effort at Nasarawa United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Salomon Chigoziem was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

The dugout

Eshimitu Gomino Eya gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Eshimitu Gomino Eya is on it.

In brief

17 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

23 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Market

Oladeji Joshua is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

A row about effort at Nasarawa United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Umar Ada was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

Squad

Ameh Godwin in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Nasarawa United this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

The dugout

Darlintin Ovunda gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

The dugout

Chidera Nduka gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Chidera Nduka is on it.

The dugout

Ameh Godwin asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

16 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

16 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Market

Only the photograph left for Collins Onovughe

Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Collins Onovughe will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Nasarawa United the goodbyes have quietly begun.

Squad

Umar Ada in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Nasarawa United this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

Salomon Chigoziem falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

The dugout

No hiding place for Segun Adekunle

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Segun Adekunle, and the manager let it.

Squad

Chidera Nduka signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Chidera Nduka commits to Nasarawa United for another 2 years.

The dugout

Ameh Godwin has become a man the manager trusts

Nobody at Nasarawa United will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.

In brief

15 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

9 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Squad

Words at Nasarawa United training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Salomon Chigoziem is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

Squad

Tempers go at Nasarawa United

Collins Onovughe was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

The dugout

No hiding place for King Osanga

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to King Osanga, and the manager let it.

In brief

14 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

2 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Market

Luka Ngwei has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Nasarawa United they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

A row about effort at Nasarawa United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Umar Ada was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

Squad

A falling-out at Nasarawa United

Samuel Nnoli and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

The dugout

Joshua John gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

The dugout

Victor John knocks on the manager’s door

“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Victor John trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.

The dugout

Eshimitu Gomino Eya gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Eshimitu Gomino Eya is on it.

In brief

13 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

26 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Market

Oladeji Joshua is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

Words at Nasarawa United training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Umar Ada is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

Squad

Words exchanged at Nasarawa United

Alao Dabani and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

The dugout

The manager makes an example of Darlintin Ovunda

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

The dugout

Victor John knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Nasarawa United, and both men came out saying it was fine.

The dugout

Chidera Nduka has become a man the manager trusts

Nobody at Nasarawa United will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.

In brief

12 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

19 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

The dugout

Chukwudi Okoro says Nasarawa United went back on their word

“I was told what my role would be, and I signed on that basis. It has not happened.” A grievance with a date attached is the hardest kind to settle.

Market

Only the photograph left for Collins Onovughe

Fee agreed, terms agreed, medical booked. Collins Onovughe will be somebody else’s player by the weekend, and around Nasarawa United the goodbyes have quietly begun.

Squad

Umar Ada in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Nasarawa United this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

Salomon Chigoziem falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

The dugout

Ameh Godwin gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Ameh Godwin is on it.

The dugout

Jofrank Istifanus asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

11 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

12 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Squad

Umar Ada falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

Squad

Words exchanged at Nasarawa United

Ameh Godwin and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

Squad

Abubakar Garba signs on for more

“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Abubakar Garba and Nasarawa United agree another 5 years.

The dugout

The manager makes an example of Ameh Godwin

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

The dugout

Jofrank Istifanus knocks on the manager’s door

“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Jofrank Istifanus trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.

The dugout

Sunusi Audu gets picked when it counts

Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Sunusi Audu is on it.

In brief

10 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

5 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Market

Austin Onyemaechi asks to leave Nasarawa United

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Market

Luka Ngwei has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Nasarawa United they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

Squad

Words exchanged at Nasarawa United

Umar Ada and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

Squad

Salomon Chigoziem falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

Squad

Too much change too quickly at Nasarawa United

5 signings in three months. Every one of them may be an upgrade and the team can still be worse for a while, which is the part of a rebuild that never appears in the transfer-window verdicts.

The dugout

Oladeji Joshua gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

In brief

9 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

28 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Market

Oladeji Joshua is on his way

The clubs have agreed terms, and what remains is formality: a medical, a photograph, a signature. Nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending he will be back in the shirt.

Squad

A falling-out at Nasarawa United

Umar Ada and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

Squad

Words at Nasarawa United training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Izuchuckwu Chimezie is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

The dugout

Darlintin Ovunda gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

The dugout

Segun Adekunle asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

The dugout

Chidera Nduka has become a man the manager trusts

Nobody at Nasarawa United will say this on the record and the team sheets have been saying it for weeks. There is a small group in every squad who get picked when the fixture is difficult, and he has joined it.

In brief

8 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

21 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Upbeat

Match

Chukwudi Okoro leads the rout of Kano Pillars

4‑1, and Chukwudi Okoro took the headlines on an afternoon when everything Nasarawa United tried came off. Days like this are retold all winter.

Player ratings

Both of them Chukwudi Okoro's — 9.26

2 goals, and the second was the one that settled it. Marked 9.26, and he could have had a third with better luck at the near post.

Squad

Ameh Godwin stands alone

8 saves, and a scoreline the ten men in front of him had no right to. Goalkeepers only get noticed on the bad days; this was one of the other ones.

Player ratings

Umar Ada scores twice — 9.00

Two goals and a mark of 9.00 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.

Market

Collins Onovughe has one foot out of the door

Terms are settled between the clubs and the rest is paperwork and a photograph. Around Nasarawa United they have already started talking about him in the past tense.

The terraces

The crowd has taken to Umar Ada

At 22 he is being sung about by people twice his age, which is an affection a signing has to earn over years and a local kid gets for turning up. It is also the hardest thing in football to live up to.

Player ratings

Nobody could get near Idris Ajiya

Successful dribbles: 18. Every time he got the ball somebody had to make a decision, and every time the decision was wrong.

Squad

Words at Nasarawa United training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Umar Ada is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

Player ratings

A masterclass from Austin Onyemaechi

Marked 8.06 — the sort of number a correspondent writes down twice to be sure. Everything he tried came off, and what he did not try was not worth trying.

In brief

5 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

31 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Match

Nasarawa United out of the cup

Rivers United ended it 2‑3. The season narrows to the league now, and everyone in the ground knew it before the final whistle.

Match

Nasarawa United tear Katsina United apart

Rarely has this fixture seen a display like it: 3‑0 against Katsina United, and it could have been more.

Market

Collins Onovughe has said yes to Rangers International

The last thing about a transfer that is still about the player is his signature on his own terms, and it is there. Nasarawa United have lost him in all but the paperwork.

Player ratings

Umar Ada scores twice — 8.75

Two goals and a mark of 8.75 to go with them. Strikers are judged on afternoons like this one and remembered for far fewer of them than people imagine.

Player ratings

Sunusi Audu, 21, steals the show — 7.92

Marked 7.92 at 21, in a side that makes no allowances for age. He did not need any, and he looked the least nervous man on the pitch.

Market

Samuel Ogodo puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Nasarawa United, and it is not being withdrawn.

Player ratings

Samuel Ogodo was unplayable

Successful dribbles: 24. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.

Player ratings

Izuchuckwu Chimezie in the eights

A performance of 8.66 does not come along often, and when it does the rest of the team becomes scenery. He was magnificent.

Squad

A row about effort at Nasarawa United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Bright Ihionu was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

In brief

4 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

24 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Steady

Match

Nasarawa United march on in the cup

Shooting Stars are out and Nasarawa United go through, 1‑0 the final word. The bracket opens up a little, and everyone allows themselves a look at it.

Match

Abubakar Garba leads the rout of Kun Khalifat

3‑0, and Abubakar Garba took the headlines on an afternoon when everything Nasarawa United tried came off. Days like this are retold all winter.

Player ratings

A brace, and Abubakar Garba takes the afternoon — 8.82

There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Abubakar Garba provided it, and the 8.82 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.

Player ratings

No sign of nerves from Umar Ada at 21 — 8.74

The hardest thing about being 21 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Umar Ada did not need any: 8.74, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.

Market

Collins Onovughe hands in a written request

“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Nasarawa United can pretend not to have heard.

Squad

A one-man rearguard from Ameh Godwin

There were 6 saves in it, and at least three that had no business being saves at all. The ten outfield players owe him a drink and they know it.

Market

Nasarawa United turn down Berekum Chelsea for Luka Ngwei

The offer was not close and it was refused without much discussion. Whether the second one is refused as quickly is another matter.

Transfer targets

Nasarawa United rebuffed over Christian Boakye

Not now, not at any price the club was prepared to say out loud. Wa All Stars have kept their man, and Nasarawa United go back to a list with one name crossed off it.

Squad

Umar Ada in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Nasarawa United this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

In brief

3 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

17 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Crisis

Market

Terms done: Oladeji Joshua is going

Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Ikorodu City waiting with a shirt. Nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.

Market

Nasarawa United say no — this time

The offer from Segesta for Umar Ada was heard out and sent back the same day. First bids are rarely meant to succeed; they are meant to find out how loudly the door closes.

Squad

Tempers go at Nasarawa United

Umar Ada was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Match

Nasarawa United come up short against Bendel Insurance

Bendel Insurance left with the points after a 0‑1 defeat that will take some explaining on the terraces.

Squad

A row about effort at Nasarawa United

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Salomon Chigoziem was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

The dugout

Kelechi Umar faces the questions

“We were not good enough today and I am not going to dress it up.” Kelechi Umar after 0‑1, in the tone of a man who knows the next question and does not intend to answer it.

Market

Hassan Adamu told to find a new club

“They were honest with me, and I would rather know.” Hassan Adamu has been informed he is not in the manager's thinking at Nasarawa United.

The dugout

No hiding place for Hussaini Mubarak

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Hussaini Mubarak, and the manager let it.

Player ratings

Austin Onyemaechi was unplayable

Successful dribbles: 12. He went past people as if he had been told there was a prize for it, and by the end the full-back had stopped pretending to try.

In brief

2 Edition

The Nasarawa United Gazette

10 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Player ratings

A brace, and Sunusi Audu takes the afternoon — 8.16

There is a particular kind of quiet from an away end watching one man score twice. Sunusi Audu provided it, and the 8.16 beside his name is if anything generous to everybody else.

Market

Terms done: Luka Ngwei is going

Fee agreed, wages agreed, and Wikki Tourists waiting with a shirt. Nobody at Nasarawa United is pretending otherwise, and the supporters have stopped asking whether and started asking when.

Market

Austin Onyemaechi asks to leave Nasarawa United

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Player ratings

No sign of nerves from Abubakar Garba at 20 — 7.76

The hardest thing about being 20 in a senior side is that nobody makes allowances. Abubakar Garba did not need any: 7.76, and he looked the most comfortable man on the pitch.

Market

Bendel Insurance come back empty-handed

The bid was some way short and Nasarawa United did not need long over it. Nobody in the game reads a first refusal as the end of anything.

Squad

A falling-out at Nasarawa United

Umar Ada and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

The terraces

One of their own: Sunusi Audu

He is 21 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.

Market

Calvin Ejuke steps up from the Nasarawa United academy

There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Calvin Ejuke has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.

Squad

Bright Ihionu falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

In brief