Ahmad Hamisu Gwale
Ranchers Bees FC have officially secured their place in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for the 2026/2027 season.
The Independent Mirror reports that the Kaduna State–based club sealed promotion despite a 2–0 loss to Gombe United on Wednesday in their Nigeria National League (NNL) Matchday 12 fixture.
Ranchers Bees finished top of the NNL Conference D table with 20 points in the 2025/2026 season.
They joined Inter Lagos, Sporting Lagos, and Doma United as the four clubs promoted to the NPFL for next season.
Their last appearance in the top-flight league was during the 2009/2010 season.
Meanwhile, all four promoted clubs are privately owned, highlighting the growing role of private investment in Nigerian football.
Super Eagles striker Sadiq Umar and a member of the House of Representatives representing Kaduna North, Bello El-Rufai, have recently acquired ownership of Ranchers Bees FC.
Founded in the 1970s, Ranchers Bees FC was once a dominant force in northern Nigerian football, reaching the 1988 CAF Cup Winners’ Cup final and winning the 1989 WAFU Cup.
