Michael Akano

Right Back - Kun Khalifat
9 Jan 2027
Saturday
Process

Marked for Michael Akano

22 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

28 Dec 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Michael Akano in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Kun Khalifat this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

Kun Khalifat lose Hassan Olubode

17 days, the medical staff say, and medical staff are optimists by profession. The team sheet will look wrong without him.

Squad

Gabriel Lekan falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

In brief

Back issues
19 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

7 Dec 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Osayi Akinola puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Kun Khalifat, and it is not being withdrawn.

Squad

Musa Bassey falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

Squad

A falling-out at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

Squad

An unwelcome headline for Chinonso Romanus

He will be fined, he will apologise, and he will play on Saturday. The order of those three tells you everything about what a football club actually values.

Squad

Akpan Nsikak-Abong stays put

“The easiest signature of my career.” Akpan Nsikak-Abong and Kun Khalifat agree another 3 years, and the manager can plan around him rather than about him.

The dugout

No hiding place for Alex Amaefula

“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Alex Amaefula, and the manager let it.

In brief

18 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

30 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

The dugout

Ademola Eguavoen: that is not what I was promised

“Things were said to me before I signed. I am not going to repeat them, but I remember all of them.” Kun Khalifat have not answered, which is an answer of sorts.

Squad

Taiwo Ademola falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

Squad

Michael Akano in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Kun Khalifat this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

In brief

17 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

23 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Tempers go at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

Abah Chinonso out for 40 days

The medical room confirms 40 days on the sidelines for Abah Chinonso, and a plan built around him now has to be rebuilt.

The dugout

The manager makes an example of Michael Akano

“If you cannot run for the shirt, somebody else will wear it.” No name was used and none was needed; every player in that room knew who it was for.

In brief

16 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

16 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Words exchanged at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

Squad

A row about effort at Kun Khalifat

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Gabriel Lekan was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

The dugout

Chinonso Romanus asks for a word with the manager

“I would rather say it to his face than read about it.” The meeting was requested by the player, which tells you most of what you need to know.

In brief

15 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

9 Nov 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Victor Kelechi puts it in writing

“This is not anger. I have thought about it for months, and nothing that has happened lately changed my mind.” The request is on a desk at Kun Khalifat, and it is not being withdrawn.

Squad

A falling-out at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

Market

Gabriel Lawal steps up from the Kun Khalifat academy

There is no fee, no unveiling and no agent on the steps. Gabriel Lawal has been at this club since he was a boy and is now, formally, one of the first-team squad — which for a local readership beats any signing of any size.

Market

Kun Khalifat promote Musa Bassey from within

The academy exists for exactly this morning. Musa Bassey has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.

Squad

Words at Kun Khalifat training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Gabriel Lekan is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

The dugout

The manager makes Daniel Ifeanyichukwu a promise

Nothing in writing and nothing in public: a word about playing time, given face to face at Kun Khalifat. The team sheets over the next month will show whether it was worth having.

In brief

12 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

19 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Words at Kun Khalifat training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Taiwo Ademola is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

Squad

Words exchanged at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

The dugout

Taiwo Ademola knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Kun Khalifat, and both men came out saying it was fine.

In brief

11 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

12 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Market

Victor Kelechi asks to leave Kun Khalifat

“I have given everything here and I need a new challenge.” The request is formal, and the relationship will never be quite the same again.

Squad

A falling-out at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano and a teammate went at it, and not about football. Training grounds are small places and a long season makes them smaller.

Market

Kun Khalifat promote David Kalu from within

The academy exists for exactly this morning. David Kalu has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.

Squad

Words at Kun Khalifat training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Blessed Iyamu is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

The dugout

Daniel Ifeanyichukwu gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

The dugout

Alex Amaefula knocks on the manager's door

“It had gone on long enough. I would rather have it out than leave it sitting there.” Ten minutes behind a closed door at Kun Khalifat, and both men came out saying it was fine.

In brief

10 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

5 Oct 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Michael Akano in a row with a teammate

It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Kun Khalifat this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.

Squad

A row about effort at Kun Khalifat

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Gabriel Lekan was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

The dugout

Ademola Eguavoen knocks on the manager’s door

“Thirty minutes, door closed, everything said. We shook hands after.” Whatever was in the room stayed in the room, and Ademola Eguavoen trained the next morning like a man with less to carry.

Market

Louis Umoh is free to find somewhere else

“I was told straight, and I would rather have it straight.” The manager at Kun Khalifat has been clear about where Louis Umoh stands, which is more than many ever get.

The dugout

When it matters, Chinonso Romanus plays

It is never announced and it is entirely visible: the biggest afternoons of the season keep containing him. A press box works this out long before anybody at the club confirms a word of it.

Squad

Kun Khalifat have started building around Tega Ebetomane

He used to be one of the options. He is now one of the men the options are picked around, and the change happened quietly enough that only the dressing room noticed on the day.

In brief

9 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

28 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Squad

Tempers go at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Squad

A row about effort at Kun Khalifat

Somebody said out loud what several people thought about how hard another man trains, and Gabriel Lekan was in the middle of it. The one dressing-room argument that is genuinely about football.

Squad

Dennis Musa signs a new deal

“I never wanted to be anywhere else. There is unfinished business here.” Dennis Musa commits to Kun Khalifat for another 3 years.

In brief

8 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

21 Sep 2026
From our football correspondent Uneasy

Match

No end in sight to Kun Khalifat's wait for a win

9 matches now without a victory, and the excuses have worn thinner than the patience. Somebody at Kun Khalifat has to find a result from somewhere.

Squad

Words exchanged at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano and a teammate said things this week that will take longer than a week to unsay. It was not about football, and both of them play on Saturday.

The terraces

One of their own: Wisdom Obichere

He is 23 and the ground already sings his name, which is a thing that happens to local boys and almost never to signings. Everything from here is measured against an affection he did nothing to earn except be from here.

Squad

Words at Kun Khalifat training over how hard people work

Somebody said out loud what several people had been thinking. Hassan Olubode is at the centre of it, and the squad will now find out whether the standard rises or the pair of them simply stop speaking.

Player ratings

Wisdom Obichere was the difference for Kun Khalifat

Marked 7.43. Ask anyone leaving the ground what settled it and you will get one name, which is the only award that has ever really counted.

Squad

Umar Amoo signs on for more

“Some decisions take a long time. This one took ten minutes, and most of that was finding a pen.” Umar Amoo and Kun Khalifat agree another 3 years.

The dugout

Somebody else is better right now than Ademola Eguavoen

The team sheet says it in public every week until it changes. The only version of being dropped a footballer cannot argue with, and the one he takes hardest.

The dugout

Gabriel Umar on the point

“A point is a point and I will take it, but we should have had all three.” Gabriel Umar after the 0‑0 draw, and the sentence every manager in the country said at some stage this weekend.

The dugout

Chinonso Romanus gets it from the manager

“Nobody here is above being told.” It was not said with a name attached, but the dressing room can count, and so can everybody who was listening.

In brief

5 Edition

The Kun Khalifat Chronicle

31 Aug 2026
From our football correspondent Crisis

Match

The wait goes on for Kun Khalifat

6 without a win now, and the ground has developed the special quiet of a crowd that expects the worst. One scrappy 1-0 would cure most of it; that is the maddening part.

Market

Tega Ebetomane hands in a written request

“I have nothing bad to say about this place. I just need to be somewhere else.” It is in writing now, which changes what Kun Khalifat can pretend not to have heard.

Market

Dynamo Douala come back empty-handed

The bid was some way short and Kun Khalifat did not need long over it. Nobody in the game reads a first refusal as the end of anything.

Player ratings

Purpose Ahubaraezenna runs at them all day

Successful dribbles: 23. There is a particular sort of despair on a full-back's face by the seventieth minute, and it was on display.

Match

3 matches without a goal for Kun Khalifat

The chances are being made and something is happening between the making and the finishing. 3 matches now, and the anxiety in the ground arrives a little earlier every week.

Transfer targets

Bayelsa United tell Kun Khalifat: Don-Pedro Samuel is not for sale

The approach was made and the answer came back in a sentence. There is no number on the table because there was no number that would have been enough.

Squad

Tempers go at Kun Khalifat

Michael Akano was at the centre of it, and by the time it was pulled apart there were three or four others involved. Training grounds are small places and long seasons make them smaller.

Match

A bad afternoon for Kun Khalifat against Niger Tornadoes

0‑1 to Niger Tornadoes, and no complaints worth printing. The performance asked for nothing more than it got.

Squad

Hassan Olubode falls out with a teammate over standards

The oldest argument in any dressing room and the only one that is genuinely about football: one man thinks another is not putting enough in. It is also the row a manager privately does not mind having happened.

In brief