By Wale Mustapha
Newly promoted Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Barau FC are in advanced discussions to appoint experienced coach Kennedy Boboye as their new Technical Adviser, sources close to the club have confirmed.
The Kano-based outfit, set to make their NPFL debut next season, is reportedly targeting the two-time league-winning manager to lead the team as they prepare for top-flight football for the first time in their history.
Boboye, who is yet to make a decision on his future with Akwa United following their relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL), recently held talks with Barau FC’s management. An official announcement is expected before the end of the week.
The 46-year-old tactician is one of the most respected coaches in the domestic scene, having previously managed clubs such as Sunshine Stars, Heartland FC, and Plateau United. He won the NPFL title with Plateau United in 2017 and repeated the feat with Akwa United in 2021.
Barau FC are banking on Boboye’s top-flight experience and proven track record to help stabilize the team and compete effectively in their debut NPFL campaign.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. He began his career at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
