By Victor Kanayo
Fresh crisis may erupt within the Nigeria football circle after the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) secretly sent Kwara United as fourth representative for the country to Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of upcoming 2022/23 continental club engagements.
Every regular football season, each CAF member country is allocated a number of slots for clubs to take part in both CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
For Nigeria, CAF has already provided four slots with three top clubs from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and winner of Federation Cup expected to represent the country at the competitions in line with continental and global best practices.
NPFL Champions Rivers United, Plateau United and Remo Stars finished as top three at the end of 2021/22 league season.
However, information emerged on Sunday that the Nigeria’s football body has now forwarded the name of fourth-placed NPFL club Kwara United while the Federation Cup also known as FA/Aiteo Cup expected to produce winner and the country’s fourth representative is still ongoing.
Heritage Times HT was reliably informed that already, NFF has written Kwara United about the latest development with CAF club competitions’ draw set for Tuesday August 9, 2022.
This decision is now causing ripples with remaining eight clubs participating at the ongoing FA Cup threatening to pull out at the quarter-final stage of the contest.
The clubs are Niger Tornadoes, Lobi Stars, Wikki Tourists, Nasarawa United, Heartland FC, Katsina United, Kogi United and Kano Pillars.
Confirming this development on Monday morning, President of NPFL Club Owners Association, Barr. Issac Danladi, said, “…We have made contacts with the Federation expecting their response before the close of work today (Monday), otherwise the eight clubs in the quarter final will have no other option than to stop further participation and withdraw from the Aiteo cup.
“In view of the circumstances, We hereby urge clubs affected by this development to remain calm and await further necessary action as Our decision is premised on the doctrines of justice, equity and fair play as ” injustice to one is injustice to all.”
As at the time of filling this report, NFF leadership has neither commented, nor clarified the latest development.
