Kennedy Boboye: Sunshine Stars’ Veteran Coach Eyes Third NPFL Title and Nigeria Return

Former Nigeria international and Sunshine Stars coach, Kennedy Boboye, has his sights set on securing his third Nigeria Professional Football League title.

Prior to his second stint at the Owena Whales, the veteran coach guided Plateau United (2017) and Akwa United (2021) to their sole Nigerian top-flight titles.

Now, he’s hoping for a third-time charm—this time with his hometown team, Sunshine Stars, where he began his coaching journey after concluding his playing career with South Africa’s Manning Rangers.

"Every coach dream of winning the league title each season, and my ambition is no different. I've won the NPFL title twice, and my focus now is to secure a third with Sunshine Stars," Boboye told SportsBoom.

"This will also allow us to represent Nigeria in next season's CAF Champions League. I must admit, it won’t be an easy task, but I am determined to achieve this, and my players are ready and motivated.

Last season, we spent most of our time battling against relegation, but this time we’ve started strong. Our goal is to build on our results and become Nigerian champions.

"We have a relatively young team, and we understand that we will likely face some losses along the way. However, we will keep pushing to make this dream a reality. I know how much Sunshine Stars wants this, especially since we have never won the league in our history—now could be our time."

Boboye Applauds Progress in the NPFL

Image Credits: Boboye

Stepping away from his personal goals, the 50-year-old highlights the advancements in the Nigerian top flight, while also noting that there is still room for further improvement.

"To be fair, the NPFL has been improving year after year, thanks to the efforts of the league organizers," he continued. "We’ve seen significant enhancements in various aspects, including the quality of pitches, officiating, organization, and overall standard of play, which we have often critiqued.

"However, there is still more work to be done to reach the standards of countries like South Africa, Morocco, and Egypt.

"The league has seen several away victories, and goals are flowing in, which are all positive indicators. I can only hope that the league continues to grow, benefiting our national teams as well.

Mayi Poised to Inspire Nigeria in CHAN Qualifiers

As the 2025 African Nations Championship qualifiers between Nigeria and Ghana approach, coach Augustine Eguavoen has called up 35 players, including Sunshine Stars’ Seth Mayi.

Mayi made his Super Eagles debut in Nigeria's 4-0 loss to Mexico during an international friendly on July 4, 2021, held in the United States.

While praising the midfielder's selection, the former Nigeria international believes his presence could make a significant impact against the Black Stars.

Boboye stated, "I am very pleased with Mayi's invitation to the Super Eagles. He has been exceptionally impressive this season with Sunshine Stars, and I firmly believe this call-up is well-deserved.

"This isn't his first time with the senior national team, so I expect him to leverage his experience to help Nigeria qualify for the CHAN at the expense of our rivals, Ghana.

"His call-up has also served as motivation for his teammates here, inspiring them to work harder in hopes of catching the attention of the national team selectors."