Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) newcomers Ranchers Bees have appointed Ma’aji Muhammad as their new head coach for the remainder of the 2026/2027 season, following the departure of Technical Adviser Usman Abd’Allah by mutual consent.

READ ALSO: NPFL: Ranchers Bees Part Ways With Usman Abd’Allah After Just 115 Days, Two Wins in Nine Matches | Sports247 Nigeria

Sports247 reports that the appointment comes after the Kaduna-based club suffered a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Shooting Stars in their Matchday 9 encounter in Ibadan on Friday, October 16, 2026.

Muhammad now takes charge of a Ranchers Bees side seeking to rediscover its form and improve its position in the league following a difficult start to the campaign.

The decision to appoint Muhammad represents a new chapter for the newly promoted side as they attempt to establish themselves in Nigeria’s top flight.

Ranchers Bees have struggled for consistency in their opening nine league matches, recording just two victories, two draws and five defeats. The club’s latest setback came against Shooting Stars, where goals from Desmond Ojietefian, Damilola Akinola and Qamar Adegoke condemned the Kaduna outfit to a 3-1 defeat.

Although Isah Ndala Aliyu scored for Ranchers Bees and goalkeeper Tofa saved a second-half penalty, their efforts were insufficient to prevent another defeat.

The result increased the pressure on the club’s technical crew and ultimately preceded Abd’Allah’s departure.

Abd’Allah’s tenure came to an end after just 115 days in charge. The club confirmed his departure alongside some members of the technical crew in an official statement.

“Ranchers Bees Kaduna confirms that the club has parted ways with Technical Adviser Usman Abdullah and some members of the technical crew by mutual agreement,” the statement read.

During his nine NPFL matches in charge, Abd’Allah recorded two wins, two draws and five defeats, collecting eight points from a possible 27. His departure leaves Muhammad with the responsibility of addressing the team’s inconsistent results and restoring confidence within the squad.

For Ma’aji Muhammad, the appointment presents an opportunity to guide Ranchers Bees through a crucial period of their return to top-flight football.

The new head coach will be expected to improve the team’s performances, strengthen defensive organisation and help the players convert competitive displays into positive results.

Having collected eight points from their opening nine fixtures, Ranchers Bees need greater consistency to avoid becoming embroiled in a prolonged struggle near the lower end of the table.

Muhammad will also face the challenge of motivating a squad that has endured a difficult sequence of results.

The coaching change underlines the club’s determination to improve its fortunes before the season progresses further.

With Muhammad appointed for the remainder of the campaign, attention will now turn to how quickly he can implement his ideas and produce a positive response from the players.

The coming fixtures will provide an early indication of whether the managerial change can deliver the improvement Ranchers Bees require.

For the newly promoted Kaduna club, the message is clear: Ma’aji Muhammad has been handed the responsibility of turning around a difficult start and helping Ranchers Bees secure their place in the Nigeria Premier Football League.

Rangers International have petitioned the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to order their CAF Champions League return leg against MC Alger to be played behind closed doors following the destruction of stadium property by visiting supporters in Abeokuta.

READ ALSO: CAFCL Qualifier: Chaos in Abeokuta! MC Alger Fans Destroy Stadium Seats, Force Gate Open After 2-0 Defeat to Rangers | Sports247 Nigeria

The Nigerian champions, Rangers International, made the request after defeating Algerian club MC Alger 2-0 in the first leg of their second preliminary-round tie at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, Ogun State, on Sunday, October 18, 2026.

In a formal complaint sent to CAF, Rangers accused travelling fans of damaging stadium facilities, breaking down an entrance gate, vandalising seats, and entering the venue without following standard ticketing procedures.

Rangers, through their general manager and chief executive officer Amobi Ezeaku, asked CAF to investigate the incidents and impose appropriate sanctions. The club also requested payment of outstanding admission fees resulting from the unauthorised entry, providing photographic and video evidence alongside their petition.

The incidents have raised serious security concerns ahead of the return leg scheduled for Friday, October 23, in Algiers, Algeria.

The Nigerian side urged CAF to ensure adequate security measures are put in place to protect players, technical crew, and officials. They also asked that MC Alger and the Algerian Football Federation provide written assurances regarding crowd control and protection against violence or intimidation.

Rangers explained that their request for a closed-door match was intended to prevent further incidents and guarantee the safety of everyone involved, rather than punish responsible fans. The club cited several provisions of CAF Champions League regulations regarding disciplinary measures, ticketing arrangements, and match commissioner responsibilities.
Rangers urged CAF to review the match commissioner’s report before making a decision ahead of Friday’s encounter, stressing that football passion should never justify property destruction.

Despite the off-field concerns, the Nigerian club holds a solid 2-0 advantage heading into the crucial second leg as they target qualification for the CAF Champions League group stage.