Exclusive: Coach Aweroro Eyes NPFL Title With Ikorodu City Next Season

Just months after making headlines with a stunning debut season in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), Ikorodu City FC, and their coach, Nurudeen Aweroro, are already back on the pitch, hungrier, sharper, and unapologetically ambitious.

Ikorodu City have resumed full training for the 2025-2026 season, and if Coach Aweroro’s words are anything to go by, this team is not just back to compete, they are gunning for the top.

“We have resumed training. We are preparing for some of the pre-season tournaments like the Gold Cup, Value Jet, and any other pre-season tournament around the South West,” Aweroro told Naija News in an exclusive interview.

But it is not just about shaking off the rust. The coach is not mincing words when it comes to where he sees his team going next.

“My target is to either win the NPFL title or qualify the team for a continental tournament at the end of next season,” he stated.

It is a declaration that might have raised eyebrows if not for what this young club pulled off last season. Recall that Ikorodu City finished fourth in their first-ever season in Nigeria’s top flight during the 2024-2025 season. The club went toe-to-toe with NPFL giants, racking up 17 wins, eight draws, and 13 defeats across 38 league matches.

Coach Nurudeen Aweroro won the NPFL manager of the month award for November 2025.

Their tally of 59 goals, though matched by a leaky defence that let in 60, painted the picture of a fearless, attack-minded team not content with merely surviving in the elite league.

They ended the season just three points behind third-placed Abia Warriors and six points off second-place Rivers United. For a newly promoted side, those margins are deeply motivating.

“We are currently training and preparing hard for next season. We have plans to participate in every pre-season tournament available. We are planning to sign new players as some old players are also leaving,” Aweroro added.

Ikorodu City For The Fans

What sets Ikorodu City apart, perhaps even more than their on-pitch exploits, is the bond they share with their fans. This is not just a team climbing the football ladder, it is a movement rooted in community pride.

From their grassroots beginnings to their NPFL breakthrough, every milestone has resonated deeply with the people of Ikorodu and Lagos at large.

Recall that last season, especially in the second half of the campaign, the fans of the fast-rising club literally turned home games at the Onikan Stadium (Mobolaji Johnson Arena) in Lagos into fortresses. Their passionate support for their team usually leaves the atmosphere so electric that they often feel like a twelfth man.

“I want the fans to keep supporting us and keep believing in our abilities. I assure them that we will not disappoint them next season,” Aweroro said.