.Delta Queens out of Super Six ticket

By Gowon Akpodonor

FEAR has gripped top officials of Delta Sports Commission and the state’s football association following the “poor position” of Warri Wolves FC in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

The Seasiders, as the Warri Wolves are called, currently sit in the relegation zone (17th position) with 43 points, with minus six, after winning just 11 matches in 35 matches.

Warri Wolves FC gained promotion to the elite division at the end of last season, where they finished top during the Super Eight playoff in Asaba.

The club will host ninth-placed Plateau United this weekend, and anything short of victory might end their hope of remaining in the top division next year. They have an away fixture against Kano Pillars next week before hosting title hopefuls, Abia Warriors, in their last game of the season.

A top official, who spoke with The Guardian yesterday, said: “It is so sad that Warri Wolves is struggling to escape relegation despite all the huge financial resources the government has spent on the club this season. I am an insider, and I can tell you that Warri Wolves FC is among the top clubs in Nigeria, with players and coaches on a huge salary scale. I don’t know where the problem is coming from.”

According to the official, the most worrisome aspect of it is the effort being made by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to complete the Warri City Stadium.

“At the beginning of the season, the Warri Wolves FC recruited some quality players, placed them on the top salary level. At first, the club gave us that false hope, and we thought they could even win a continental ticket.

“The chairman of the sports commission is doing his best by ensuring every request by the team is attended to on time. Our Governor even increased his efforts to ensure the completion of the Warri City stadium by September this year. It will be so sad for the Warri Wolves to be relegated to the lower division (NNL) at the end of this season. I know how much it cost the state government to bring the club from the NNL last year,” the official lamented.

The Guardian recalls that Warri Wolves FC has experienced coaching instability this season, with former head coach Napoleon Aluma suspended in September 2025 following a poor run of results, including a home loss to Shooting Stars. His Assistant coach, Johnny Austin, took over temporarily, while former NPFL coach Kennedy Boboye was brought in to replace Aluma.

Meanwhile, Delta Queens FC are struggling to survive in the women’s league. The club, which used to be a regular face in the women’s top table, are already out of contention for the Super Six ticket this season.