Yobe Desert Stars F.C.

Yobe Desert Stars
Full nameYobe Desert Stars Football Club
Founded1991[1]
GroundPotiskum Stadium, Damaturu
Capacity2,000
OwnerYobe State Government
LeagueNigerian Premier League
2017 Nigeria National League2nd (Promoted)

Yobe Desert Stars Football Club is a Nigerian football (soccer) club based in the city of Damaturu. Starting in 2018 they will play in the Nigerian Premier League after consecutive promotions.[2]

History

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They started as an Amateur club and eventually were promoted to the Second Division in 2000. After winning promotion to the top level in 2001, they spent just one season in the NPL before being relegated with just 11 wins in 34 games. They also made it to the final of the 2002 Nigerian FA Cup where they lost 3–0 to Julius Berger FC. They were relegated to the Amateur League in 2007.

2017 season

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After being promoted from the Nigeria Nationwide League in 2016, the Desert Stars won promotion to the NPFL on the last day of the National League season when they beat Adamawa United 2–0, returning to the top-flight for the first time in 15 years. They finished the season with twelve wins, four draws and seven losses.[3]

Current squad

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As of January 2018

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Nigeria NGA Ahmed Yusuf
30 GK Nigeria NGA Itodo Akor
2 Nigeria NGA Moses Yanmar
7 Nigeria NGA Shagari Muhammad
8 Nigeria NGA Ikekhai Sebastian Sunday
9 Nigeria NGA Edward Okhoya
11 Nigeria NGA Ali Aliyu
12 Nigeria NGA Philip Asuquo
13 Nigeria NGA Bagayan Ismael
14 Nigeria NGA Philip Auta
17 Nigeria NGA Buhari Musa
19 Nigeria NGA Manika Usman
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 Nigeria NGA Matthew Oshoke
24 Nigeria NGA Moses Tsehuan
25 Nigeria NGA Mustapha Musa
33 Nigeria NGA Mukaila Musa
34 Kenya KEN Kiti Patrick Nyale
35 Nigeria NGA Bashir Azado
40 Nigeria NGA Mamman Sani
Nigeria NGA Chinedu Ohanacham
Nigeria NGA Echendu Osita
Nigeria NGA Lazarus Chukwu
Nigeria NGA Zayyad Musa
Nigeria NGA Paul Alfred

Coach: Mohammed Baba Ganaru

References

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  1. ^ Yobe State Sports council
  2. ^ "Profiling The Newly Promoted Teams For The 2018 NPFL Season". December 30, 2017.
  3. ^ YOBE DESERT STARS SEAL NIGERIA PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE PROMOTION