Barau FC

Barau FC

Full name	Barau Football Club
Nickname	Maliya Boys
Stadium	Dambatta Stadium
Owner	Barau I. Jibrin
Chairman	Ibrahim Shitu Chanji
Manager	Rabi'u Tala
League	Nigeria Professional Football League

Barau Football Club is a Nigerian football club from Dambatta, Kano State that plays in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for the 2025/2026 season. ^[1] The club, based in Kano, is privately owned by Senator Barau I. Jibrin, the Deputy Senate President of Nigeria. ^{[2] [1] [3]}

They were promoted to the NPFL for the first time in its history after finishing second in the 2025 Nigeria National League (NNL) Super 8 playoffs. ^{[4] [5]}

History

Founding

The club was established by Senator Barau Jibrin. In June 2024 he told Premium Times that he formed the club to reduce unemployment among young people and “make it a global brand”. At that time the team was competing in Nigeria’s third tier and had won promotion to the Nigeria National League by defeating Yoca Crocodiles FC. ^[6]

8 November 2025 incident

During a NPFL match between Katsina United and Barau with the match being 1-0 to Katsina United, Orji Kalu scored the equalizer for Barau in the 69th minute and then the home fans of Katsina United started attacking the players after that, Barau's Nana Abraham was found laying down bleeding from his neck so it was concluded that Katsina United fans slit his throat during the attack. ^[7]

Rivalries

It's a rival to local Kano's Kano Pillars F.C. ^[8]

Stadium

Barau FC’s traditional home ground is the Dambatta Stadium in Kano. ^[9]

See more

• 2025-26 Nigeria Premier Football League

References

1. Abe, Olamide (2025-07-10). "Wolves, Wikki, Khalifat, Barau promoted to NPFL". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
2. "Why I established football club – Deputy Senate President". www.premiumtimesng.com. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
3. Oyebola, Mike (2025-08-09). "NPFL: Barau FC unveil three new signings for 2025/26 season". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
4. Newspaper, The Hope (2025-07-10). "NNL Super 8: Wikki Tourists, Barau FC, Kun Khalifat,Warri Wolves secure NPFL promotions". The Hope Newspaper. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
5. Alebiosu, Niyi (2025-07-11). "NNL Super 8: Barau FC, Wikki Tourists seal promotion to NPFL". Sporting Tribune. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
6. Abdulqudus, Ogundapo (11 June 2024). "Why I established football club – Deputy Senate President". Premium Times . Retrieved 2025-08-11.
7. Owundele, Emmanuel (9 November 2025). "Katsina United fans slit throat of Nana Abraham, the Barau player". Sahara Reporters . Retrieved 2025-11-08.
8. Bello, Kabeer (2025-07-10). "Barau FC promoted to premier league, set for historic derby against Kano Pillars". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-08-11.
9. Oyebola, Mike (2025-08-03). "NPFL: Barau FC adopt Sani Abacha Stadium home ground for 2025/26 season". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 2025-08-11.