Nasarawa United F.C.

Nasarawa United Football Club is a soccer club based in Lafia, Nasarawa. They play in the Nigeria Premier League.

History

The team was founded in 2003 after the Nasarawa government took over Black Stars FC of Gombe. They joined the Nigerian Premier League in 2004–05. Their stadium, Lafia Township Stadium, has a capacity of some 5,000. The club's nickname is Solid Miners.

2009–10 seasons

The team went through financial shortfalls in the 2008–09 season that one player described as leaving them on the verge of "starvation". A 1–1 home draw on March 7 against Niger Tornadoes caused home fans to riot and even follow the Tornadoes to the hotel and attack them there. The team was sent to play in Ibadan for the rest of the season and assured relegation to the Nigeria National League with three games remaining. The resulting debt of 46 million naira (Approx. $300,000) threatened to cancel the team's 2009–10 season. Midway through the season, the debt was reportedly 58 million naira ($387,000) and the team missed 16 games due to its precarious financial position. They returned to the field April 24 after a five-month suspension was lifted with a 1–0 win over Mighty Jets. They were promoted back to the Premier League in 2012 after winning their division.