{"id":2913,"date":"2026-07-10T08:37:48","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T05:37:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/kabiru-dogo-apologizes-after-relegation-targets-president-federation-cup-glory\/"},"modified":"2026-07-10T08:37:48","modified_gmt":"2026-07-10T05:37:48","slug":"kabiru-dogo-apologizes-after-relegation-targets-president-federation-cup-glory","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zalebs.com\/news\/kabiru-dogo-apologizes-after-relegation-targets-president-federation-cup-glory\/","title":{"rendered":"Kabiru Dogo Apologizes After Relegation, Targets President Federation Cup Glory"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>El-Kanemi Warriors coach Kabiru Dogo has offered an apology to the club\u2019s supporters and the State Government after the team\u2019s relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Despite the setback, he says the \u201cBorno Army\u201d are now focused on finishing the campaign strongly by winning the 2026 President Federation Cup.<\/p>\n<h3>Quick facts<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>Kabiru Dogo apologised to El-Kanemi Warriors supporters and the Borno State Government after NPFL relegation.<\/li>\n<li>The coach says the relegation was difficult to explain and not expected.<\/li>\n<li>El-Kanemi Warriors face Ikorodu City in the 2026 President Federation Cup final on Saturday.<\/li>\n<li>The final is at Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba, Delta State.<\/li>\n<li>Dogo believes winning the cup can bring relief and renewed optimism after a disappointing league season.<\/li>\n<li>He called for unity among government, club leadership, and stakeholders for an immediate return to the NPFL.<\/li>\n<li>Dogo also urged merit-based recruitment during the rebuilding process.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Before Saturday\u2019s showpiece against Ikorodu City, Dogo acknowledged that the relegation still feels hard to rationalise. The Maiduguri-based side, he said, has found the outcome painful for everyone connected to the club.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI sincerely apologise to our supporters and the people of Borno State for our relegation. It is still difficult to explain because we never expected it,\u201d Dogo said. \u201cAt times, it felt like it was destined to happen despite all our efforts.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Cup as a route to recovery<\/h3>\n<p>Dogo, a seasoned tactician who previously coached Lobi Stars, Nasarawa United and Sunshine Stars, believes lifting the President Federation Cup can provide some form of comfort following a disappointing league run. He stressed that the trophy would not erase the relegation pain entirely, but it can restore joy among the fans.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWinning the President Federation Cup will not completely erase the pain of relegation, but it will certainly put smiles back on the faces of our supporters. That is our focus now, and the players are fully committed to giving everything to bring the trophy home,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>The coach also expressed confidence that his team is prepared for the final. He said the players understand the weight of the occasion and are determined to close the season with something tangible.<\/p>\n<p>Looking past Saturday, Dogo urged the Borno State Government, club management and all stakeholders to rally together behind El Kanemi Warriors. His message was clear: unity is essential if the club wants to secure an immediate return to the top flight.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEveryone connected with the club must put El Kanemi Warriors first. The club should not be politicised because that will only hinder progress. We need unity and a shared commitment to rebuilding the team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, Dogo called for a recruitment approach based purely on merit. He insisted that the rebuilding phase should bring in players strictly on quality, rather than through sentimental choices.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe management must work together and ensure that players are recruited strictly on merit. The club needs the best available players, not selections based on sentiments. If we get that right, I believe El Kanemi Warriors can return to the top flight immediately,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n<p>El-Kanemi Warriors will meet Ikorodu City in the 2026 President Federation Cup final on Saturday, with the Maiduguri club aiming to cap a tough season with a major domestic trophy.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>El-Kanemi Warriors coach Kabiru Dogo has offered an apology to the club\u2019s supporters and the State Government after the team\u2019s relegation from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL). Despite the setback, he says the \u201cBorno Army\u201d are now focused on finishing the campaign strongly by winning the 2026 President Federation Cup. Quick facts Kabiru Dogo [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2912,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_yoast_wpseo_title":"Kabiru Dogo Apology After NPFL Relegation, Targets Cup","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Kabiru Dogo apologizes after El-Kanemi Warriors\u2019 NPFL relegation, pledging a strong finish and aiming for 2026 President Federatio","mma_seo_breadcrumb_text":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_url":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_hide_ui":"","mma_seo_breadcrumb_labels":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2913","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Kabiru Dogo Apology After NPFL Relegation, Targets Cup<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Kabiru Dogo apologizes after 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