Coach Tunde Sanni has responded to his dismissal from Kwara United with words that reflected calm resignation rather than protest.
Speaking with Naija News shortly after the news of his sack was confirmed, Tunde Sanni chose not to defend himself or explain his side of the story. Instead, he said, “Anything they say is final. You can confirm from them.”
When pressed further, the former Kwara United boss maintained the same stance. “I give you permission, anything they said is final. Don’t bother about my own side,” he said. His remarks summed up the quiet way he has chosen to step away, a decision that comes at a turbulent moment for the Ilorin-based club.
Naija News reports that Kwara United’s management announced Sanni’s dismissal on Sunday evening, just hours after the team fell to a 1-0 home defeat against Abia Warriors in the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL).
The result followed their elimination from the CAF Confederation Cup at the hands of Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko on a 5-3 aggregate, a double setback that left the board with little confidence in the technical direction of the team.
Club chairman, Kumbi Titiloye, made the decision official in a statement released through the team’s media department. “Following the disappointing home loss, Coach Tunde Sanni has been asked to step aside as Technical Adviser. Assistant Coach Ashifat Suleiman will take charge of the team with immediate effect,” the statement read.
The loss to Abia Warriors highlighted many of the problems that have dogged the team in recent weeks. During Sunday’s game, Kwara United controlled possession and created chances in the first half but wasted opportunities in front of goal.
Early in the second half, a handball in the box handed Abia Warriors a penalty. Emeka Obioma converted the spot kick in the 48th minute, and Kwara United could not find a response despite dominating large spells of the game.
Supporters at the Kwara State Stadium left frustrated, not just by the scoreline but also by what they saw as recurring tactical flaws. That frustration had already been brewing after the team’s Confederation Cup campaign ended prematurely.
A 4-3 loss in Accra was followed by a 1-0 defeat in Abeokuta, a tie where critics questioned Sanni’s decision to drop striker Shola Abdulraheem despite his goal in the first leg.
While the team sits 10th on the NPFL table with eight points from six matches, fans had expected more after last season’s progress. The mid-table position is not disastrous on paper, but it reflects inconsistency at a time when the club had hoped to push higher and match the ambitions of rival teams.
Sanni himself had acknowledged the disappointment after the Confederation Cup exit, but insisted that the squad had what it takes to bounce back. That optimism did little to ease tensions, and Sunday’s defeat to Abia Warriors became the tipping point for the board.
The decision now places assistant coach Suleiman at the helm, with his first assignment being a rescheduled clash against Kano Pillars on Wednesday. The match is already shaping up as a test of his ability to steady a shaken squad and restore confidence to a team that has struggled to make its chances count.
Speculation has also begun over who will take the role permanently. Reports suggest veteran coach Gbenga Ogunbote, who left Shooting Stars before the season began, is being considered. Flying Eagles head coach Aliyu Zubairu is also believed to be on the club’s shortlist, as Kwara United weigh options for a more experienced technical adviser.
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