NFF Overturns NLO Sanctions Against Cynosure FC After Disciplinary Review

Posted : 17 July 2026

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee has overturned the sanctions imposed on Cynosure FC by the Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO), bringing an end to the club's successful protest against the league's earlier ruling.

The committee reached its decision during a meeting held on July 15, 2026, after reviewing the circumstances surrounding the case. It ruled that the sanctions were not based on any formal or informal complaint submitted against Cynosure FC and questioned the process followed by the NLO in reaching its decision.

A major part of the review focused on the registration of player Orngudwem Raphael. The committee found that the player was initially registered with Abakaliki FC before moving to Nigeria National League side Solution FC, where he featured during the first half of the 2025/26 season.

According to the findings, Solution FC officially released Raphael through a letter dated January 20, 2026. Cynosure FC then completed his registration on March 17, 2026, after he observed the mandatory 30-day waiting period required under the regulations. The committee stated that the transfer was supported by the necessary documentary evidence.

The committee also examined the status of Ogbodo Valentine Chizoba. It established that the player originally belonged to Cynosure FC before joining Osun United through a mutual agreement between both clubs.

However, the committee noted that Ogbodo never signed a binding contract with Osun United after his registration for the 2025/26 Nigeria National League season. It also found that he did not feature in any competitive match for the club, with his name appearing only on the match sheet for the February 14 fixture against Godswill Akpabio FC.

Following his return to Cynosure FC, Ogbodo was re-registered on March 16, 2026, after observing the required 30-day waiting period. The committee said documentary evidence confirmed that the process complied with the regulations.

The NFF also criticised the NLO for failing to investigate a letter dated April 2, 2026, in which Osun United declared the player missing. The committee described the league's failure to examine the document as an abdication of its investigative responsibility.

After reviewing all the available evidence, the committee concluded that the allegations of illegally fielding professional players in the amateur league were not proven. It described the evidence presented against Cynosure FC as unreliable and insufficient to sustain the sanctions.

As a result, the NFF set aside the sanctions imposed by the NLO Disciplinary Committee on May 19, 2026, upheld Cynosure FC's protest, and clarified that any party dissatisfied with the ruling retains the right to appeal.

NFF Overturns NLO Sanctions Against Cynosure FC After Disciplinary Review

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