Wikipedia

Lobi Stars F.C.

Lobi Stars Football Club (formerly known as Mosquito football club, Lobi Bank, BBL Hawks, and Hawks) is a Nigerian professional soccer club based in Makurdi, Benue. The club competes in the Nigerian Professional Football League. The Stars' home is the 8,000-seater Aper Aku Stadium.[1]

Lobi Stars F.C.
Lobi Stars F.C.
Full nameLobi Stars Football Club
Nickname(s)Alia Boys
Founded1981 by late Bishop A.A. Usuh
GroundAper Aku Stadium
Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria
Capacity8,000
ChairmanDr Philip Nongu
ManagerMika Lönnström
LeagueNigeria Premier Football League
2023–24Nigeria Premier Football League, 6th of 20

History

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Founded as Hawks of Makurdi in 1981 by the Benue State sports council, the club was renamed Benue Breweries Limited (BBL) Hawks Football Club, when the state-owned Breweries acquired the club in 1985. There was another change again when the state-owned Lobi Bank acquired the club in 1990 and named it Lobi Bank Football Club.[2]

In 1999, the Nigeria Football League was played in a new format which saw the top four teams squaring up in a knockout Super League at the National Stadium, Surulere. Lobi Stars won the maiden edition of the Nigerian Super League under coach Godwin Koko Uwua's management. Lobi Stars won its first and only FA Cup title in 2003 after beating Sharks FC of Port-Harcourt.[3]

In 2005 they reached the finals of the domestic FA Cup where they lost to Enyimba.[4]

They finished the 2008–09 season with 13 wins, 10 draws and 15 losses after winning a game on appeal against Enugu Rangers, avoiding the drop by one point.[5]

In August 2009, the Benue State government announced the club will be leased to private ownership, ending direct support from the State, but that never materialised.[5] Lobi finished 3rd in Glo premier league in 2012. They also reached the Federation Cup final that season but lost to Heartland F.C. of Owerri.[6]

Honours

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Performance in CAF competitions

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2000 – Group stage
2018–19 – Group stage
2004 – Second round
2006 – Second round
2012 – First round
2010 – First round

Current squad

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As of 8 February 2024[7]

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   NGA Daniel Atsaka
2 DF   NGA John Lazarus
31 DF   NGA Solomon Kwambe
6 DF   NGA Jimmy Iteji
10 FW   NGA Stanley Oganbor
8 MF   NGA Kumaga Suur
9 FW   NGA Barnabas Imenger
11 FW   NGA Samuel Tiza Iorwuese
12 GK   NGA Emmanuel Daniel
13 DF   NGA Orji Kalu Okagbue
14 FW   NGA Dabani Godwin Alao
16 FW   NGA Waheed Adebayo
17 DF   NGA Moses Tsehuan
No. Pos. Nation Player
20 MF   NGA Ajibola Adeleke
19 CF   NGA Ossy Martins
21 MF   NGA Christian Madu
25 DF   NGA Nnamdi Frank
33 MF   NGA Ifeanyi Assurance
22 MF   NGA Onah Peter
27 DF   NGA Monday Akile
28 MF   NGA Ahmadu Liman
5 FW   NGA Yem Reubem
30 GK   NGA Akor Itodo
33 DF   NGA Agbanyi Vershima
34 CB   NGA Arinze Ogbonna
37 FW   NGA Olorintoba Segun
35 FW   NGA Itim Paul


Coaching staff

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As of 8 November 2024

Name Role
  Mika Lönnström Head coach
  Tar Akombo Assistant coach
  Save Okoh Goalkeeping coach
  Benjamin Bemgba Jiki Coach
  Daniel Amokachi Technical advisor

Former managers

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Notable players

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References

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  1. ^ "Lobi Stars Football Club History". sitesng.com. Retrieved 2021-05-19.
  2. ^ "Dominic Iorfa Online : About Lobi Stars". Dominic Iorfa Online. Retrieved 2018-07-06.
  3. ^ Omuya, Kevin (2022-03-19). "Lobi Stars players, owner, stadium, coach, trophies, world rankings". SportsBrief - Sport news. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  4. ^ "Nigeria: Enyimba Break Fa Cup Jinx".
  5. ^ a b Adigun, Taye Hassan. "Lobi Stars". Felele247 Football. Retrieved 2021-05-18.
  6. ^ KickOff. "Heartland FC and Lobi Stars FC reach Federation Cup final". KickOff. Retrieved 2022-11-22.
  7. ^ CAF Champions League squad
  8. ^ Strack-Zimmermann, Benjamin. "NFT player — National team & Club appearances: Okoye, Kelechi". national-football-teams.com. National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 4 October 2023. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
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