Jonathan James Naisa, widely known by the family or compound name “Mairiga,” which he shares with his teammate and relative Jephthah Jonathan James, announced his arrival on the Nigeria Premier Football League stage in memorable fashion by scoring his debut goal for Wikki Tourists in their Matchday 6 encounter against Rangers International. The 18-year-old attacking midfielder composed finish marked a dream start to his NPFL journey and underlined his immense potential.
The young midfielder, who joined Wikki Tourists from Galadima FC ahead of the 2025/26 season, delivered a clinical finish to announce himself on the big stage and further justify the club’s decision to bring him to Bauchi as part of its ambitious rebuilding project.
Having been officially unveiled by Wikki Tourists on 25 August 2025, James Naisa arrived with a growing reputation as one of the most promising young attacking talents in Nigerian football. Against Rangers International, he demonstrated exactly why the club invested in his potential, combining intelligent movement, composure and confidence in front of goal to register his first strike in Wikki colours.
The goal was more than just a personal milestone; it represented the beginning of what many supporters hope will be a successful journey for the youngster in the NPFL. Calm under pressure and fearless against experienced opposition, James Naisa “Mairiga” displayed glimpses of the qualities that have already marked him out as one of the exciting prospects to watch this season.
For Wikki Tourists, the performance reinforced the club’s strategy of blending youth with experience following their return to the top flight. The management’s commitment to identifying, developing and nurturing emerging talents appears to be paying dividends, with Naisa making an immediate impact.
The former Galadima FC player also demonstrated the temperament required to thrive at the highest level of domestic football. His relentless work rate, intelligent positioning and composed finishing against Rangers earned admiration from supporters and teammates alike.
As the season unfolds, expectations will naturally grow around the young lad, but his memorable first goal has already given Wikki Tourists fans plenty of reasons for optimism. If this performance is any indication of what lies ahead, “Mairiga” could emerge as one of the breakout stars of the 2025/26 NPFL campaign and play a key role in the club’s pursuit of success.
