Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) champions Remo Stars have directed their head coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, to temporarily step away from his club role so he can concentrate entirely on his national team responsibilities ahead of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Ogunmodede who led Remo Stars to their historic first NPFL title last season has not returned to the club since their early exit from the CAF Champions League following elimination by South African powerhouse Mamelodi Sundowns.
A club source confirmed that the decision was taken to ensure the coach channels all his attention into preparing the Super Eagles for the upcoming continental tournament.
“He was told not to worry about the team for now and to focus on the Super Eagles until after AFCON,” the insider revealed.
The move is believed to stem from internal concerns that juggling both roles had become too demanding for the highly regarded coach, popularly known as Ijaball, and could impact performance at both club and national levels.
This development comes shortly after Remo Stars issued a formal statement debunking rumours that Ogunmodede had been sacked. The club insisted he remains the head coach, describing the speculations as false and misleading.
On the field, Remo Stars currently sit ninth on the NPFL table with 22 points from 16 matches, trailing leaders Nasarawa United by eight points as the season nears its halfway mark.
The temporary arrangement is expected to give Ogunmodede the space needed to contribute significantly to the Super Eagles’ technical and tactical plans, as the coaching crew intensifies preparations to build a strong, competitive squad for AFCON 2025.
