The Ekiti State Government, through the Office of Sports Development, has appointed experienced tactician Coach Jacob Vandi as the new Head Coach of Ekiti United Football Club ahead of the forthcoming football season.
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Sports247 reports that the appointment comes just hours after Vandi officially parted ways with Nigeria Women Football League side Ekiti Queens, bringing an end to his two-year spell with the Baoress Babes.
Coach Vandi leaves the women’s team after a successful stint during the 2024/25 and 2025/26 NWFL seasons, where he guided Ekiti Queens to retain their Premiership status despite a challenging campaign.
His work with the club earned him praise for his professionalism, leadership, and ability to build a competitive team under difficult circumstances.
The experienced coach now returns to men’s football, taking charge of Ekiti United as the club seeks to strengthen its ambitions ahead of the new campaign.
Sports247 gathered that Vandi arrives with an impressive coaching résumé and extensive experience within Nigerian football. Before his time at Ekiti Queens, he served as Technical Adviser of Adamawa Queens between 2019 and 2024, playing a significant role in the development of several players who later progressed to national team recognition.
The highly respected tactician has also worked with Adamawa United, where he held roles as Technical Adviser and Assistant Coach, further enhancing his reputation as one of the country’s experienced football managers.
As a player, Vandi enjoyed a distinguished career that took him across several countries, featuring for clubs in Oman, Egypt, Sudan, and Nigeria. Domestically, he represented notable sides including Gombe United, Adamawa United, and Jimeta United.
His achievements have not gone unnoticed. Vandi was named the Nigerian Women Premier League Coach of the Season in 2019 and possesses a CAF C Licence, alongside advanced coaching certifications from the National Institute for Sports and other international certifocations in performance analysis and coaching psychology.
The Office of Sports Development expressed confidence that Vandi’s vast experience and leadership qualities will help instill discipline, tactical excellence, and a winning mentality within the Ekiti United squad.
The appointment signals the club’s determination to build a competitive team capable of achieving success in domestic competitions.
For Vandi, the move represents an exciting new challenge and an opportunity to bring his wealth of experience to another ambitious project. As preparations for the new season intensify, all eyes will be on the former striker as he begins a new chapter with Ekiti United Football Club.
