Kwara United have ended their association with head coach Tunde Sanni after a string of disappointing results in both domestic and continental competitions. The decision follows a difficult spell that saw the Ilorin-based side crash out of the CAF Confederation Cup and slump to a home defeat in the Nigeria Premier Football League.
The Harmony Boys fell 1–0 to Abia Warriors in Ilorin on Sunday, just days after being eliminated from continental contention by Asante Kotoko of Ghana, losing 5–3 on aggregate. The double setback reportedly left the club’s management frustrated, leading to swift action.
Club chairman Kumbi Titiloye confirmed the development, stating that Sanni had been directed to step aside from his role as Technical Adviser. In the meantime, assistant coach Ashifat Suleiman has been appointed to take charge of the team.
According to Titiloye, the move came after an extensive evaluation of the team’s recent performances, which fell short of expectations despite a bright start to the season.
“Following the disappointing home loss, Club Chairman Mr. Kumbi Titiloye confirmed to the club’s media that Coach Tunde Sanni has been asked to step aside as Technical Adviser,” the club statement reads.
“Assistant Coach Ashifat Suleiman will take charge of the team with immediate effect.”
After Sunday’s loss, Sanni voiced his frustration, noting that his players dominated the first half but failed to make their chances count. Emeka Obioma’s 48th-minute penalty, awarded after a handball in the box, proved decisive for Abia Warriors.
The defeat added to a worrying trend for the club, whose struggles were also evident on the continental stage. Their CAF Confederation Cup journey ended with a narrow 1–0 loss to Asante Kotoko in Abeokuta, following an earlier 4–3 defeat in Accra.
Reports from ACLSports attributed Kwara United’s early exit to tactical frailties and inadequate preparation. Analysts faulted the team’s lack of structure in both attack and defence, as well as their sluggish transitions and poor finishing.
Sanni, who had earlier claimed the Ghanaians were “lucky” in the first leg, came under fire for questionable tactical calls in the return fixture — including his decision to bench Shola Abdulraheem, the forward who scored in Accra.
With his exit now confirmed, new interim coach Suleiman faces the challenge of steadying the team ahead of their rescheduled NPFL Matchday 6 clash with Kano Pillars on Wednesday. Kwara United currently occupy 10th place on the league table and will be hoping this change sparks a turnaround in fortunes.
