The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has quietly sent Kwara United as the country’s fourth delegate to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) ahead of the upcoming 2022/23 continental club competitions.
Every CAF member nation receives a certain number of slots for clubs to compete in the CAF Champions League and Confederations Cup.
As a result, Nigeria received four berths based on our ranking, with the winner of the Federation Cup and three of the top clubs from the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) set to represent the nation in the competitions.
Rivers United and Plateau United will both represent Nigeria in the CAF Champions League next season, while Remo Stars, who finished third, will compete in the CAF Confederation Cup.
Kwara United has been handed the other spot, which is designated for the winner of the Aiteo Cup, which is yet to be concluded.
According to reliable sources, the NFF has written Kwara United regarding the most recent development. The CAF club competition draw is scheduled for Tuesday, August 9, 2022, and as a result, the remaining eight clubs competing in the ongoing FA Cup have threatened to quit the competition before the quarterfinal stage.
The clubs are Niger Tornadoes, Lobi Stars, Wikki Tourists, Nasarawa United, Heartland FC, Katsina United, Kogi United and Kano Pillars.
According to the president of NPFL Club Owners Association, Barr. Issac Danladi, the clubs have expressed their displeasure and are threatening to pull out of the competition if the NFF fails to address this issue.
“Our attention has been drawn to a list of clubs for the CAF confederation cup where one of our member-clubs Kwara United FC was nominated as the country’s representative to the CAF slot meant for the winner of the Aiteo Cup.
“In as much as we are not against the nomination of Kwara United FC, we however express our displeasure over the nomination because the slot is designed for the winner of the Aiteo Cup.
“Again, if such a decision was to be taken, clubs needed to be informed earlier to avoid a waste of resources and energy playing the Aiteo cup.
“More particularly that the slot according to CAF is meant for the FA cup winners and NFF having set a precedent before now with Kano Pillars FC.
“Meanwhile we have made contacts with the Federation expecting their response before the close of work today otherwise the 8 clubs in the quarter finals 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
