Kwara United head coach, Ashifat Sulyman, has described the GUSAU/AHLAN Preseason Tournament in Katsina as a crucial opportunity to assess his squad ahead of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.

The Harmony Boys began their Group B campaign on a winning note, defeating Ranchers Bees of Kaduna 2-0 at the Mohammed Dikko Stadium.

However, Sulyman said the result was secondary to his main objective of evaluating his players, testing different combinations and fine-tuning his tactical approach ahead of the new league season.

The coach utilised the encounter to give several members of his squad playing time, with Anthony Nnamdi, Qudus Opeyemi, Abdulsalam Abdulsalam and Jerry Alex introduced in the second half for Emmanuel Ekpeyong, Abutu Gabriel, Sanni Muhammed and Tosin Olawale respectively.

"This is the best way to test our players. We came here with 35 players, and all of them will be tested to build on our strengths and improve on our weak areas," Sulyman said after the match.

The coach added that the tournament would provide every member of the squad with an opportunity to prove their readiness for the competitive season.

Sulyman also welcomed the hot and humid weather conditions in Katsina, saying they would help his players adapt to conditions they could encounter during the NPFL campaign.

"The weather is humid and hot. This is good for us because we are going to play under these conditions when the league starts," he said.

Kwara United took the lead in the 19th minute through Solomon Shoola, while Qudus Opeyemi doubled the advantage three minutes after the restart.

Goalkeeper Ouattara Khalifa also produced several important saves, while Shoola was named Man of the Match.

Despite the victory, Sulyman is expected to remain focused on player development and tactical improvement as the tournament progresses.

With Kwara United scheduled to face Kano Pillars in their opening NPFL fixture, the GUSAU/AHLAN tournament offers the Harmony Boys a valuable platform to identify their strongest combinations, address weaknesses and sharpen their preparations for the new campaign.