El-Kanemi Warriors face transfer ban over unpaid wages to ex-players

El-Kanemi Warriors’ dreams of returning to the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) could be dashed by a looming transfer ban.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) ruled in favor of three former players whose contracts were unlawfully terminated and ordered the club to pay outstanding wages within 30 days.

Bala Yusuf Mohammed, Adoyi Emmanuel, and Suleiman Sadiq Abubakar, represented by FIFA Licensed Agent Mr. Eddie Iseri Ogbemudia, successfully challenged El-Kanemi Warriors’ actions through the NFF Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee.

The NFF found El-Kanemi Warriors guilty of breaching the players’ contracts and ordered them to pay 50% of the owed salaries.

While Mr. Ogbemudia expressed reservations about the percentage, he praised the committee’s improved functionality.

“The Nigeria Football Federation deserves commendation, particularly the committee in charge of Players’ status and Arbitration,” Ogbemudia said. “In the past, nothing would have happened, but this response and decision gives me the confidence that we can push for more. I was before the committee just a few days ago in Abuja where I presented the case of our clients. I know it’s a process, but with time we will get it right.”

Ogbemudia’s legal team is currently analyzing the decision, particularly “areas that are not too clear to us,” he explained. “We shall advise our clients accordingly on the next steps to take.”