Fatai Osho, one of the best coaches in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), has been appointed to take over the helm at Akwa United. Family sources revealed that he signed the contract for the 2019/2021 NPFL Champions on Wednesday night.
🚨Fatai Osho will become the new manager of Akwa United following the expiration of Deji Ayeni’s contract.
Just a few paperwork details left before ‘E dun set’
I’m told Osho’s announcement will come as soon as the details of his contract are sorted. #NPFLTransferWithMike pic.twitter.com/DLyy6ughP7
— MikeThePundit (@Mike_ThePundit) June 21, 2023
The former Enyimba coach takes over from Deji Ayeni whose contract expired at the end of the 2022/2023 season. Fatai Osho's contract with the Uyo based club is a one year deal with option of an extension pending his performance at the end of the 2023/2024 season. It is reported that Osho will earn N2 million monthly salary (N24 million annually) as new Akwa United's coach.
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The newly appointed coach of Akwa United confirmed the news himself in a Tweet from his official Twitter handle on Wednesday evening. Official statement from Akwa United will follow soon.
I pray for God's divine grace for a successful 2023/2024 NPL campaign 🙏 #NewChallenge pic.twitter.com/7DRWGRKf0l
— Osho Fatai (@FataiOsho) June 22, 2023
Who is Fatai Osho?
Fatai Osho is a Nigerian football manager who has managed several Nigerian league clubs. He was the former manager of Remo Stars, Enyimba International and Rivers United. Akwa United joins the list of NPFL clubs to be managed by the gaffer.
Clubs Fatai Osho Managed Before
We have established before now that Fatai Osho whose football style is popularly called the ‘Sugarball', has managed some NPFL clubs in his coaching career. We'll delve into them now.
Remo Stars (2017-2019)
The gaffer shot into the limelight in 2018 after he guided Remo Stars to its first ever appearance in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL). Although the Sky Blue Stars got relegated that very season, Fatai guided them back again into the league the following season before he resigned from the club in 2019 due to Remo Stars appointment of Kennedy Boboye as the Technical consultant of the team.
Enyimba FC (2020-2021)
Fatai Osho joined Enyimba International as the assistant coach of the People’s Elephants in 2020. When Usman Abdallah left Enyimba in the middle of the season, Osho was appointed as the interim coach of Enyimba International and he guided the team up to the quarter-finals of the CAF Confederations Cup. The following season, he guided Enyimba to another quarter-final exit in the CAF Confederations Cup where Enyimba were knocked out by the Pyramids of Egypt in 2021. After that ouster, the gaffer decided to join Rivers United as the Chief Coach of the Port Harcourt club later that year.
Rivers United (2021-2023)
Ahead of the new 2021/2022 season, former Remo Stars and Enyimba manager, Fatai Osho, joined the coaching staff of Rivers United as the Chief Coach.
Osho replaced Ndubuisi Nduka, who was promoted to the role of a Technical Director of the Pride of Rivers. As the Chief Coach of Rivers United, Osho served as an assistant to then Technical Manager Stanley Eguma. Together they guided Rivers United to their first ever NPFL title. In 2023, Osho left Rivers United after the club lost the league title to Enyimba, and becomes the new coach of Akwa United.
Fatai Osho's Records
In the course of his coaching career, Fatai Osho has some impressive records to his name.
- Fatai Osho is the first manager to guide Remo Stars to Nigeria's top-flight league, the NPFL.
- Since the turn of the century, Fatai Osho is the only Enyimba manager to defeat a particular team (Adamawa United) in back-to-back away league meetings.
- Fatai Osho guided Enyimba to back-to-back quarterfinals in the CAF Confederations Cup.
- Fatai Osho is an NPFL title winner with Rivers United in 2021-2022 season.
This article was most recently revised and updated 2 years ago