NPFL pardons Boboye after 17-game ban

Kennedy Boboye, head coach of Bendel Insurance, has been cleared to return to the dugout after the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) board suspended his 17-game touchline ban. The ban, imposed in March following allegations of assaulting match officials after a match against Plateau United, meant Boboye missed the final six games of the previous season.

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Your good conduct in the intervening period of the sanction has been taken into consideration and counted as a positive for you.

The league body's decision comes after a review of Boboye's case, prompted by a letter of apology and appeal for leniency from the club. The NPFL Board acknowledged Boboye's "good conduct in the intervening period of the sanction" and his "past service to the country as a player and a technical member of the national team" as significant factors in their review.

While the remainder of the punishment has been suspended, the NPFL Board cautioned Boboye that the ban would be reinstated should he engage in similar conduct within the next season. He is expected to maintain exemplary behavior, recognizing his role as a role model for players and junior coaches. Boboye has been cleared to manage Bendel Insurance starting with their opening fixture of the 2026/27 season against Warri Wolves on Sunday, August 30.

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Your past service to the country as a player and a technical member of the national team is also being recognised in reviewing the case.

Boboye was appointed in October 2025 and led Bendel Insurance to a fifth-place finish in the 2025/26 season, narrowly missing out on a continental spot by four points. His return is timely as the team prepares for the start of the new season.

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You are expected to be of exemplary behaviour in your role as a coach of an NPFL club, as players and junior coaches view you as a role model.