Kaduna club part ways with technical adviser by mutual agreement as Bees slip into relegation zone with eight points
Ranchers Bees Kaduna have parted ways with Technical Adviser Usman Abdallah and some members of their technical crew following a disappointing start to the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
The Kaduna-based club confirmed the development in an official statement, describing the separation as a mutual agreement, as pressure mounts following their latest setback in the EuroMatch NPFL.
The announcement came two days after Ranchers Bees suffered a 3–1 defeat to Shooting Stars in Ibadan, a result that left them in 17th position on the league table and inside the relegation zone.
Ranchers Bees have collected just eight points from nine matches, recording two wins, two draws and five defeats. They have also conceded more goals than they have scored, leaving them with a negative goal difference of three.
The club’s latest defeat appears to have intensified concerns about their ability to compete consistently following their return to the top flight.
In their statement, Ranchers Bees expressed appreciation to Abdallah and the departing technical crew for their contributions.
“We thank Usman Abdullah and the departing members of the technical crew for their efforts and contributions during their time with the club,” the statement read.
The club also wished the outgoing officials success in their future endeavours but did not announce a replacement or disclose further details about the circumstances surrounding the decision.
A campaign of inconsistency
Ranchers Bees’ season has been marked by contrasting performances, with their two victories offering brief relief amid a series of disappointing results.
Their campaign began with a 3–1 defeat away to Ikorodu City before they responded emphatically with a 4–0 home victory over Abia Warriors.
They followed that performance with a 3–1 loss to Barau before recording a 2–1 home win against Bendel Insurance. However, a 1–0 defeat to Enugu Rangers and a goalless draw against Rivers United slowed their progress.
A 2–1 loss away to Kwara United was followed by another goalless draw, this time against Niger Tornadoes, before Shooting Stars inflicted their fifth defeat of the campaign.
Against Shooting Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ranchers Bees briefly restored parity through Isah Ndala Aliyu’s 38th-minute goal after Desmond Ojietefian had opened the scoring.
However, Damilola Akinola restored the hosts’ lead in first-half stoppage time before substitute Qamar Adegoke sealed the 3–1 victory in the 71st minute.
The result pushed Ranchers Bees into the relegation places, underlining the urgency of the challenge facing the club.
Pressure mounts ahead of next fixture
Abdallah had expressed optimism about his team’s prospects shortly before his departure, stressing that the players needed time to adapt to the demands of the NPFL.
His exit now leaves Ranchers Bees facing an important decision over the direction of their technical department as they attempt to arrest their slide.
The club’s next league assignment is a home fixture against Doma United on October 25, offering an immediate opportunity to begin rebuilding momentum.
With the season still in its early stages, Ranchers Bees have time to improve their position. However, their return to winning ways will need to come quickly if they are to avoid being dragged deeper into the relegation battle.
For the Kaduna side, the departure of Abdallah marks a major turning point in a campaign that has so far yielded only eight points from a possible 27.
