2025/2026 NNL Match Day 1: Abakaliki FC Begins Lower League Campaign on a Shaky Note

Posted : 17 November 2025

The management of Abakaliki FC of Ebonyi has announced the indefinite suspension of Chief Coach Ifeanyi Onyedika over the team’s “unimpressive” performances so far.

The decision was announced on Saturday at the Pa Ngele Oruta Stadium, Abakaliki, following the team’s 1–1 draw with Calabar Rovers of Cross River in its opening Nigeria National League fixture.

The Chairman of the club, Sen. Obinna Ogba, told newsmen that Onyedika, an AFCON 1980 winner, was suspended indefinitely because “the management has run out of patience with him.”

“We started preparing for the season over three months ago, but results have been utterly unimpressive. The team recently participated in a preparatory tournament in Shagamu, Ogun, but couldn’t qualify for the knockout stages. We have given him a lot of time to make amends, but he hasn’t, and we cannot continue waiting,” Ogba said.

He further announced that the team’s Assistant Coach, Starplus Anista, would immediately take over the technical department.

“This is the first match of the season, but we are hoping that the team will improve. We will continue motivating the players in every possible way for better performances,” he added.

The Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Richard Idike, welcomed Onyedika’s suspension, hoping it would ensure stronger performances.

“We are not happy with this result and the ones before it, so a definite decision had to be taken. The coach just stood on the bench watching without doing much to motivate the players or make tactical input. We will not allow the mistakes of last season to repeat, and anybody who is not serious this season will be shown the door,” Idike said.

He added that every effort would be made to ensure Governor Francis Nwifuru’s investment in the club yielded the desired results.

In a brief statement, Anista expressed regret over Onyedika’s suspension, saying both had worked as a team. “Two of us are on this project together and should have been allowed to fix things,” he said.

Calabar Rovers coach Christian Okonkwo praised his players for executing instructions and promised to sustain their performance. “We came here to win, but the home team frustrated our game plan of keeping the ball on the ground with their kick-and-follow approach,” he said.

Abakaliki FC took football fans across the country by surprise when it won silver in the 2025 Federation Cup during its debut season.

2025/2026 NNL Match Day 1: Abakaliki FC Begins Lower League Campaign on a Shaky Note

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