The Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL) may toe the part of previous two seasons as it faces the possibility of ending abruptly after the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) gave June 30 deadline for member-associations to present representatives for the 2021/2022 continental competitions.
Recall that similar situation occasioned Lobi Stars being declared ‘winners’ of the penultimate season, while the emergence and subsequent escalation of the coronavirus pandemic led to the suspension of the league last season, with Plateau United, the then table toppers, declared ‘winners’.
Similar scenario is likely going to play out this season as a source at the League Management Company (LMC), organisers of the NPFL, confirmed to Daily independent about CAF’s directive with regards to the submission of their representatives for the 2021/2022 CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup tourneys.
“There is such directive but we will see how we can end the league so that nobody will feel cheated because already, some people are aware of this and there is agitation here and there,” said the source.
Recall that last season, the decision between Rivers United and Enyimba on who would follow Plateau United to the CAF Champions League nearly turned sour with fans and officials of the two sides throwing verbal attacks at each other.
However, the LMC later settled for Enyimba after applying setting tie breaking rules, even as the decision did not go down well with Rivers United.
Africa soccer governing body Competition Committee met on Monday and set June 30 as deadline date for the clubs and players registrations for the 2021/2022 inter-club competitions