From Plateau to Lafia: Experienced Coach Mangut Mbwas Joins Nasarawa United
Nasarawa United have officially unveiled Coach Mangut Mbwas Ayuba as the club’s new Technical Adviser on a two-season deal ahead of the 2025/26 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) campaign. The announcement comes after the mutual departure of Coach Salisu Yusuf, who guided the Solid Miners to safety last season and has now taken up a new role with a team in Benin Republic.
Coach Mangut Mbwas, a 47-year-old tactician from Plateau State, boasts a rich coaching and playing background. He has previously handled several top Nigerian clubs, including Heartland FC, Wikki Tourists, Enugu Rangers, and most recently led Plateau United to a respectable 7th-place finish in the 2024/25 NPFL season. Mbwas holds a CAF B Coaching Certificate and is highly regarded for his tactical acumen and developmental philosophy.
As a player, Mbwas enjoyed a successful career across various continents, turning out for clubs such as Mighty Jets, Sharks (now Rivers United), FC Lens, Deportivo de Cali, Al-Hilal, and Al-Arabi Doha. His honours include an Asian Champions of Champions title with Al-Hilal and an All Arab Cup win in Riyadh.
Club Chairman, Solomon Babanjah, expressed confidence in Mbwas’s ability to lead the team to new heights, noting that his appointment marks a fresh chapter for the Solid Miners. He also appreciated the consistent support of Governor Abdullahi Sule, Deputy Governor Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, Sports Commissioner Kwanta Yakubu, and the Nasarawa FA led by Salisu Galadima, all of whom have contributed immensely to the club’s growth.
Coach Mbwas, while addressing the media, expressed gratitude for the opportunity and outlined his vision to restore the club to continental football. He praised the solid foundation already in place and emphasized the need for strategic additions to the squad. Confident in the backing of both government and stakeholders, he promised to deliver results through a unified team approach and a fresh tactical direction.
The unveiling ceremony, held at the Ministry of Youth and Sports in Lafia, was attended by key stakeholders including Sports Commissioner Kwanta Yakubu, who hailed the appointment as a turning point. He assured the coach of the government’s full logistical and moral support. Coach Mbwas’s first league test will be an away game against Niger Tornadoes on August 24, 2025, after the team’s ongoing participation in the Gusau/Ahlan Preseason Tournament.
