NPFL pardons Boboye after 17-game ban

The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) has lifted the 17-game touchline ban imposed on Bendel Insurance head coach Kennedy Boboye, allowing him to return to the dugout just days before the commencement of the new season, according to PUNCH Sports Extra. Initially sanctioned in March following allegations of assaulting match officials during the matchday 32 clash against Plateau United last season, Boboye missed the remaining six games of the 2025/26 season due to the ban.

Despite denying any wrongdoing, the NPFL board reviewed his case following an appeal, taking into account his positive conduct during the ban period and his past service to the country as a player and technical member of the national team. The NPFL board acknowledged that his behavior in the intervening period was commendable and recognized his contributions as a player and coach.

Consequently, the board decided to suspend the remaining period of his sanction. However, Boboye has been cautioned to maintain exemplary behavior in his role as a coach, as players and junior coaches view him as a role model. Should he exhibit similar conduct in the subsequent season, the ban will be reinstated. Boboye, who was appointed by Bendel Insurance in October 2025, led the club to a fifth-place finish in the 2025/26 season, narrowly missing out on a continental spot by four points.