NFF Disciplinary Committee to rule on explosive match-fixing claims in NLO playoffs.
Suspended matches await verdict as clubs face sanctions over suspicious results.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee is set to convene on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Abuja to hear several appeals filed by clubs over alleged match-fixing incidents that occurred during the 2025 Nationwide League One (NLO) playoffs.
The session will address multiple petitions challenging the NLO Secretariat’s sanctions, which were imposed under its summary jurisdiction powers after suspected cases of match manipulation surfaced at different playoff centers across the country.
Among the clubs facing disciplinary scrutiny is Campos FC of Owerri, which was sanctioned following a controversial 15-2 victory over A&A Kiviasennus Palvelut FC in Awka. The result raised eyebrows and led to accusations of match-fixing. In a separate case, Cynosure FC of Abakaliki lodged a formal complaint alleging suspicious conduct in the fixture between Liberty Lions and E-World FC during the Calabar playoff series.
Similarly, Positive Football Academy submitted an appeal against the NLO decision in another match-fixing case, further complicating the playoff proceedings.
Due to the ongoing investigations and appeals, the NLO Playoffs in three key centers, Port Harcourt, Sagamu, and Ijebu Ode, have been suspended until the NFF Disciplinary Committee delivers its final ruling.
According to a memo sent last week by Queen Otarakpo Esq., Secretary of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, all affected clubs were given a deadline of June 20 to submit their written defenses. A source within the NFF confirmed that the hearing will proceed as scheduled.
“The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will sit next week Tuesday, 1 July, to address the claims of the various clubs,” the source stated. “The affected clubs have been put on notice. We need to resolve these issues so that the remaining NLO Playoffs in Sagamu, Port Harcourt, and Ijebu Ode can proceed.”
The match-fixing allegations have cast a shadow over the integrity of the NLO, which serves as the third tier in Nigeria’s football league system. Officials hope that the committee’s findings will restore confidence and allow the suspended matches to resume without further controversy.
The upcoming disciplinary hearings are expected to be closely watched by stakeholders within Nigerian football, as the outcomes could lead to sanctions, suspensions, or reversals of results, depending on the strength of evidence provided by the clubs.
