Teenage forward Jonathan James Naisa scores in Wikki Tourists’ defeat to Bendel Insurance

Teenage midfielder Jonathan James Naisa continued his impressive rise in the Nigeria Premier Football League after scoring for Wikki Tourists in their hard-fought 2-1 defeat to Bendel Insurance on Sunday.

Bendel Insurance stunned the home supporters with an early opener inside the opening minutes of the encounter, putting Wikki Tourists under immediate pressure at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium. However, the hosts responded positively and found their way back into the contest through the highly-rated Jonathan James Naisa, who calmly grabbed the equaliser in the 24th minute.

The forward who is also capable of playing the attacking midfield role, born on 28 December 2006, showed composure beyond his years as he restored parity for Wikki Tourists with a well-taken finish to register another important contribution in an increasingly impressive campaign. The goal marked another addition to his growing tally this season as the youngster continued to establish himself as one of the emerging talents in the NPFL.

The game remained evenly balanced after the equaliser, with both sides battling intensely in midfield before Bendel Insurance regained the advantage in the second half through Efe Ubiomo, who netted what eventually proved to be the winning goal in the 51st minute.

Wikki Tourists pushed forward in search of another equaliser, but the visitors held on to secure maximum points away from home.

Naisa’s performance once again attracted attention, especially considering his age and growing influence within the Wikki Tourists squad. Beyond football, the young midfielder also shares the “Mariga” compound connection with one of his teammates, a notable family heritage linked to the Mariga community in Niger State.

As the season progresses, Jonathan James Naisa continues to build his reputation as one of the promising young players to watch in Nigerian football.