Niger Tornadoes coach Abubakar Bala has tipped his 'quality' mid-season recruitments to improve his squad and compete with the best in the league.
The Niger state government bankrolled team who play their home games at their adopted ground, Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, surprisingly surpassed expectations, finishing fourth at the end of the first round of league games.
Experienced defender and one-time Super Eagles player Reuben Ogbonnaya arrived from Kano Pillars; Gombe United striker Samuel Agba; former Nigeria u20 goalkeeper Kazeem Yekeen, El-Shittu Lawal, Yakubu Auta and Malachy Ilo complete the list of new additions for Tornadoes.
Coach Bala, in an interview with npfl.ng stated his delight at the quality of signings his club made in what he described as a busy transfer window.
"I am happy with our signings and the entire squad as it is. We've been very decent and direct with our business, lots of players wanted to join us but we are only interested in quality and technically sound players that can help us get better in the second round,' said Bala.
"We had other players in mind before the closure of window but I'm satisfied with those we've got. I believe we've used what we have to get what we want.
"Our major challenge is attack, especially scorers and backup for defence. Ogbonnaya suits what we wanted; he's a leader in defence and has league experience," he stated.
"Shittu Lawal will give us better options at left back and we all know what Yekeen can do as a goalkeeper which is why we brought him to create better competition in that department.
"Agba, Auta and Malachy meet up with what we need in a striker and I hope they will give us goals to help us the way we want them this season," Bala concluded.