El Kanemi Warriors will play their home games in the new Nigeria league season in Katsina “for the time being” no thanks again to recent Boko Haram terrorists attacks around their base in Maiduguri.

Top El Kanemi officials disclosed that clubs in the premier league were favourably disposed to returning to play league matches in Maiduguri, the birth place of Boko Haram. The Islamic State affiliate group has killed over 17,000 people since 2009.

“The clubs were all okay to return to play in Maiduguri until another Boko Haram attack about 20 kilometres from Maiduguri around the time a decision was to be taken,” said a very disappointed El Kanemi official.

Boko Haram

“So, the agreement is that the decision be put on hold for the time being, may be after the first four weeks of the season.” The 10,000-capacity El Kanemi Stadium in Maiduguri has undergone a major renovation in anticipation of the new season, which begins this weekend.

The Warriors last hosted a Nigeria league match in Maiduguri in the 2013 season, where they finished an impressive fourth.

They have struggled in the past two seasons, finishing 13th and 14th in those campaigns, while they have had to spend thrice as much when they have been forced to stage their home games in safer northern cities.

El Kanemi will now play their new opening home game against Wikki Tourists in Katsina on Sunday.