The management of Abakaliki FC in Ebonyi has announced the indefinite suspension of its chief coach, Ifeanyi Onyedika, due to the team’s “unimpressive” performances so far.

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

The club’s chairman, Obinna Ogba, told journalists after the match that Onyedika, an AFCON 80 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 take over the technical department immediately.

“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 improved performances,” he said.

The Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Richard Idike, said Onyedika’s suspension was welcome, as it was hoped to ensure better performances.

“The coach just stood on the bench watching without doing much to motivate the players or make tactical input.

“We would not allow the mistakes of last season to repeat, and anybody who is not serious this season would be shown the door,” he said.

He said that everything would be done to ensure that Governor Francis Nwifuru’s investment in the club yielded the desired fruit.

In a brief remark, Anista regretted Onyedika’s suspension, saying that both of them worked as a team.

Coach Christian Okonkwo of Calabar Rovers praised his players for following instructions and promised that the performance would be sustained.

“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,” Okonkwo said.

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

(NAN)