NFF Overturns NLO Sanctions Against Cynosure FC
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee has overturned the sanctions imposed on Cynosure FC by the Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO), ruling in favour of the club after reviewing its protest, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The committee decided during its meeting on July 15, 2026, after examining the circumstances surrounding the NLO's ruling, and concluded that the sanctions were not based on any formal or informal complaint against the club.
In its findings, the committee established that player Orngudwem Raphael was initially registered with Abakaliki FC before moving to Nigeria National League (NNL) side Solution FC, Awka, where he featured during the first half of the 2025/26 season.
According to the committee, Solution FC officially released the player through a letter dated January 20, 2026, before Cynosure FC completed his registration on March 17, 2026, after he observed the mandatory 30-day waiting period. Documentary evidence presented to the committee confirmed that the transfer process complied with the regulations.
The committee also examined the case of Ogbodo Valentine Chizoba and found that the midfielder originally belonged to Cynosure FC before joining NNL outfit Osun United through a mutual agreement between the two clubs.
However, it noted that Ogbodo never signed a binding contract with Osun United after his registration for the 2025/26 NNL season and did not feature in any competitive match, with his name only appearing on the match sheet for the February 14, 2026 fixture against Godswill Akpabio FC.
Following the required 30-day waiting period, the player returned to Cynosure FC and was re-registered on March 16, 2026, with documentary evidence supporting the process.
The committee further criticised the NLO for failing to investigate a letter dated April 2, 2026, in which Osun United declared Ogbodo missing, describing the omission as an abdication of responsibility.
After reviewing all the evidence, the NFF Disciplinary Committee ruled that the allegations of fielding ineligible professional players in the amateur league were not substantiated.
"The evidence against Cynosure FC on the alleged illegal participation of professional players in the amateur league is unsustainable. It is shrouded in doubt and therefore unreliable," the committee stated.
Consequently, the committee ordered that the sanctions contained in the NLO Disciplinary Committee's decision of May 19, 2026, be set aside, declared Cynosure FC's protest successful, and noted that the ruling remains subject to the right of appeal by any aggrieved party.
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