Kadri Ikhana holds the distinction of being the first Nigerian coach to win the CAF Champions League.
This accomplishment was realized during his tenure with the Enyimba football club of Aba in 2003 when he successfully led the team to this prestigious title.
As a testament to his coaching prowess, Ikhana was honoured with the Coach of the Year award by CAF in the same year.
Born in 1951, Ikhana played as a midfielder.
He boasts a rich background in football, having played for the Eagles, Nigerian Army's 1st Infantry Division, Bendel Insurance, and the defunct Abiola Babes.
His illustrious career also includes representing Nigeria in international competitions like FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and the 1980 African Cup of Nations.
Transitioning into coaching, Ikhana's leadership extended to various clubs such as El Kanemi Warriors, BCC Lions, Sunshine Stars, Kastina United, Nasarawa United, and Yobe.
Noteworthy is his role as the manager of the Nigerian men's Olympic team in 2004.
Later on, Ikhana assumed the role of managing Kano Pillars, only to resign in May 2008, citing corruption within the sport as the reason for his departure.
Prior to his resignation, he successfully led Kano Pillars to their first-ever league title.
Ikhana went on to coach Nassarawa United, Enyimba FC, Shooting stars, and later returned to manage Kano Pillars.
Subsequently, he was appointed as the manager of the Nigerian women's national team in April 2012 but resigned from the position in November 2012.
Furthermore, in November 2019, Ikhana underwent a hip replacement surgery, which was deemed successful.
With these accomplishments, the 72-year-old is widely recognized as one of the greatest local managers in the history of the sport.