Coach Abubakari Damba began his tenure at Sankara Nationals FC on a winning note as his side secured a hard-fought 1–0 victory over TF Exponential FC in a Matchweek 14 fixture of the Access Bank Division One League. The match was played at the Yendi Resource Centre, the home ground of Sankara Nationals FC, on January 3, 2026.
Damba was officially unveiled as the club’s new head coach on December 30, 2025, succeeding Coach Bashiru Joe Baah, who left the club earlier in the season on mutual terms.
With the game looking likely to end in a stalemate, substitute forward Osman Ibrahim popularly known as “Cavani” struck deep into stoppage time in the 90+7 minute to hand Sankara Nationals all three points and spark jubilant celebrations among the home supporters.
Reflecting on his debut victory, Coach Damba praised the commitment and resilience of his players: “It was a very tough game, but my players gave a tireless performance and deserve a lot of credit. The three points are the most important thing, though like Oliver Twist, we will always ask for more, So I’m not completely satisfied. Thumbs up to the players for their effort.”
” To our fans, this victory is a New Year gift to them”- He added.
The result marks a positive start to Damba’s reign as he looks to build momentum and sharpen the team’s performances in the coming weeks.
The victory keeps Sankara Nationals FC in third place on the league table with 23 points , two points behind second-placed Real Tamale United and six adrift of league leaders Tamale City.
Sankara Nationals now turn their focus to a crucial encounter against Real Tamale United in their next league fixture.