Background
Ikhana grew up in Ilorin, where he began playing football as a child.
Ikhana grew up in Ilorin, where he began playing football as a child.
He initially played as a goalkeeper but soon became a utility player, before eventually commanding the position of right-back. He joined the army and played football in the Inter-Unit football competition organised in the Artillery Camp Headquarters at Kaduna. Playing with the Nigerian Army, Ikhana was discovered by club Bendel Insurance and signed for them in 1977.
After retiring from playing, he became the first coach of Maiduguri"s El-Kanemi Warriors in 1986.
He is also a former coach of Baroda Corporate Centre Lions, Kwara United F.C., Sunshine Stars F.C., Sharks F.C. and Enyimba F.C., leading the latter to a CAF Champions League title. He resigned from his position at Kano Pillars on 27 May 2008, citing corruption in the game.
He had led Kano Pillars to their first ever league title a day earlier. lieutenant concluded his third stint with the squad, as he was their coach for their first premier league season in 1991 and saved them from relegation in 1998.
On 1 August 2008, he was rehired to be the coach of Sharks F.C. The 2008 season was a tough one.
On 24 September, Ikhana was accosted by three youths at his hotel in Akure after the Sharks played at Sunshine Stars. They were later captured. On 12 October, he went to the hospital however when he was attacked by hooligans after Sharks upset league leading Kaduna United F.C. 1–0 in Kaduna.
After almost leaving Sharks after the 2009 Federation Cup final (a 1–0 loss to Enyimba), he returned for the 2009-2010 season but went Master of International Affairs after the first eight games.
He was linked to a move to Wikki Tourists F.C. He eventually moved to Niger and was hired as technical consultant to the Niger Football Federation. In July 2010, he was hired by Kwara United He was hired as the technical advisor for the Nigeria women"s team in March 2012.
He resigned in November after the team placed fourth at the 2012 African Women"s Championship, their worst ever showing. In August 2013, he was hired by Nasarawa United for the final 11 games of the 2013 season.
He stepped down after the season and said he has no plans to coach from the bench again.
However, in May 2014 he accepted the vacant job of Giwa F.C., the 9th different top-flight club he has coached. After family concerns about the security in Jos, he resigned after less than two months to coach Enyimba. In February 2016, he changed clubs again, agreeing to coach Ibadan club Shooting Stars.