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Lobi Stars Football Club, the pride of Benue State, has officially announced its long-awaited return to its traditional home ground after four years of forced homelessness.
In a statement released by the club’s media team, Lobi Stars confirmed that the team will resume playing competitive home matches at the McCarthy Stadium in Makurdi starting Saturday, February 21, 2026. The milestone match will see them host league leaders Doma United in Matchday 9 of the 2025/2026 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The club described the development as the end of a difficult four-year period during which they were compelled to play all home fixtures away from Makurdi, often in adopted venues where fans faced challenges and the team struggled to benefit from familiar surroundings and local support.
The announcement emphasised that the return is not about the aesthetic appeal of the stadium but about meeting the minimum requirements for approval by relevant football authorities. “We have met minimum requirement for approval,” the statement noted, underscoring that the priority remains providing fans the opportunity to watch and support their team in person without the need for long-distance travel.
Lobi Stars highlighted the emotional and practical advantages of returning home: supporters will no longer endure the inconvenience of travelling elsewhere to cheer on the team, while players can enjoy the psychological and competitive edge that comes with performing in front of passionate home fans.
The club extended special appreciation to Governor Hyacinth Alia for making resources available to facilitate the return, and to Simon Terver Ikya for his tireless efforts in overcoming resistance and bureaucratic hurdles that had previously frustrated the process.
The statement called on the people of Benue to turn out in large numbers to welcome the team back and create a vibrant atmosphere at McCarthy Stadium. “Our fans deserve to watch and support their club, the team too need to enjoy the support of their home fans and associated advantages of playing on a home ground,” it read.
The return marks a significant boost for Lobi Stars as they seek to strengthen their campaign in the NNL and potentially push for promotion to the Nigeria Premier Football League. For supporters who have followed the club through years of away games, the resumption of home fixtures represents not just a logistical change but a restoration of pride, identity, and community connection with the “Pride of Benue.”
