Euromatch NPFL: Usman Abdallah Reveals Why Ranchers Bees Are Struggling After Promotion

Ranchers Bees head coach Usman Abdallah believes his side’s lack of experience at the NPFL level is one of the major reasons behind their early struggles in the league.

The newly promoted side suffered a 2-1 defeat to Kwara United in their Matchday 7 clash in Ilorin, despite taking an early lead through Jamilu Yusuf in the eighth minute.

Kwara United fought back after the break, with Gidado Toyeeb equalising in the 51st minute before Stephen Gideon completed the comeback in the 79th minute. Ranchers Bees also played the final stages with 10 men after Faisal Sanni was sent off for a second yellow card.

Speaking after the game, Ranchers Bees head coach Usman Abdallah said his team is still learning at this level.

"This is a team. This is not the Ranchers Bees that we say 'Ranchers'. This is a team that just got promoted, and I think almost 50% of the team have never tasted the NPFL. So, the NPFL is a league of its own style. You will play well, and if you are not experienced, you will lose the match with few mistakes. I think this is where the team will have to work, in correcting mistakes and putting the right players in the right places, because sometimes experience wins you the game. You can see they have played very well.”

The result leaves Ranchers Bees with just seven points from seven games, and Abdallah hopes his young side learns quickly ahead of their next game.