Boko Haram : El Kanemi to play in Maiduguri

El Kanemi Warriors are hopeful they will host their opening game of the new Nigeria league season against Wikki Tourists at their home ground of Maiduguri, which has been suspended for several seasons because of the activities of the terrorists group Boko Haram.

Maiduguri in the northeast of Nigeria is one of the battle grounds of the Boko Haram and as a result the league has long suspended the staging of league matches there.
El Kanemi have therefore had to play their home games in Kano and most recently Katsina.

However, club spokesman Prince Anthony Obaseki said the security situation in Maiduguri is now fully under control and they are waiting on the League Management Company (LMC) to send inspectors to have an on-the-spot look at the stadium.

“We are just waiting for the LMC to come an inspect our stadium. Maiduguri is now very safe and we do not expect to play our home games away from there in the new season,” said Obaseki.

He further said hosting their home games outside Maiduguri has cost them dearly financially.

“We spend thrice what we are supposed to spend when we play our home games in either Kano or Katsina,” he disclosed.