Abakaliki, Ebonyi State — November 15, 2025 — Abakaliki FC has announced the indefinite suspension of Chief Coach Ifeanyi Onyedika, citing the team’s disappointing start to the season, Vanguard reports.
The decision came after the club’s 1‑1 draw with Calabar Rovers in their opening Nigeria National League fixture. According to Senator Obinna Ogba, the club chairman, management has “run out of patience” with Onyedika’s results, describing the performances as “utterly unimpressive.
Ogba also pointed to Abakaliki FC’s poor showing at a preparatory tournament in Shagamu, Ogun State, where the team failed to reach the knockout stages — a key factor in the suspension decision.
In the wake of the suspension, Assistant Coach Starplus Anista has been appointed to take over the team’s technical responsibilities.
Richard Idike, Ebonyi State Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, publicly supported the move. He lamented Onyedika’s lack of tactical leadership during matches and stated that the suspension is a warning: “Anybody who is not serious this season would be shown the door.
Anista expressed regret over his colleague’s suspension, describing their roles as a shared project: “Two of us are on this project together … we should have been allowed to fix things.”
The suspension is particularly notable given Abakaliki FC’s recent successes. Just months ago, the club — which only recently returned to the Nigeria National League (NNL) — reached the final of the 2025 Federation Cup in its debut season.
Club leadership emphasized its commitment to improvement: Senator Ogba said the team would continue to motivate players “in every possible way” and called for better performances in the coming weeks.