The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disqualified Nigeria’s flag-bearers Enugu Rangers from this year’s CAF Confederation Cup, for featuring junior international goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel in the competition.

In a letter addressed to the NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, and dated 2nd July, CAF said it was basing its decision on “documents and letters sent by the club Shooting Stars and its Chairman”, which confirmed that “by the time the player was registered on December 24th, 2012, no agreement was found between Shooting Stars and Enugu Rangers for the player Daniel Emmanuel.”

However, the League Management Company, in charge of Nigeria’s elite
division, on Tuesday confirmed that player Emmanuel Daniel plays in the Glo Premier League with a valid license that recognises him as a player of Enugu Rangers.

Also on Tuesday, Enugu Rangers, which prevailed 1-0 on aggregate over CS Sfaxien to reach the prestigious mini-league phase, and is the only Nigeria club left in contention for continental honours this year, immediately set in motion the process to appeal the decision.

NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, said that the Nigeria Football Federation will give Rangers the full support in the appeal process.

“We are absolutely shocked that an internal transfer matter between two clubs could snowball into a situation that will see a Nigerian club disqualified from continental competition.

“We have seen the player’s contract. He signed a contract to play for Shooting Stars FC between January and December 2012, and at the expiration of his contract, duly signed for Enugu Rangers. The player did not start playing for Enugu Rangers until he secured his license from the LMC in April this year.

“It is also on record that the player had featured for Enugu Rangers against clubs like Heartland FC and Sunshine Stars, and even against Shooting Stars in Enugu a couple of weeks ago, without any of the clubs protesting his eligibility.”

Amadu added: “The NFF and LMC will afford Enugu Rangers total support
in this case and we are confident that the club will be re-instated in the competition.”

“We are absolutely shocked that an internal transfer matter between two clubs could snowball into a situation that will see a Nigerian club disqualified from continental competition.

“We have seen the player’s contract. He signed a contract to play for Shooting Stars FC between January and December 2012, and at the expiration of his contract, duly signed for Enugu Rangers. The player did not start playing for Enugu Rangers until he secured his license from the LMC in April this year.

“It is also on record that the player had featured for Enugu Rangers against clubs like Heartland FC and Sunshine Stars, and even against Shooting Stars in Enugu a couple of weeks ago, without any of the clubs protesting his eligibility.”

fingard02k: do they (Rangers) think its nigeria premier league where any can do as they please??.
See the embarrassment they brought to their name and nigeria as a whole.

Cool Kizzy:

anu, did u read the whole news before commenting?

collynzo2: I never knew the Yoruba hate for Igbos will one day enter our football. Shooting stars betrayed the only Nigerian representative left in the continent, can you imagine that?

collynzo2: I never knew the Yoruba hate for Igbos will one day enter our football. Shooting stars betrayed the only Nigerian representative left in the continent, can you imagine that?

4peace:

big shame on you
must everything happen in nigeria be seen as tribal war.
Sunday Mba saga should still be free on your memory.
If due process was follow, nothing like this will happen

true2god: If this is happening in football u can imagine wats happening in the civil service, banks, oil companies etc. this same 'ineligible' player featured against 3sc and they didnt complain.

This is just a tip frm my Yoruba friends. Fear yoruba pple.

A-ZeD:

That I come from a country with idiots like you really bugs me.
Are you allergic to due process?

true2god: If this is happening in football u can imagine wats happening in the civil service, banks, oil companies etc. this same 'ineligible' player featured against 3sc and they didnt complain.

This is just a tip frm my Yoruba friends. Fear yoruba pple.

Dis Guy: is the Tunisian CSS now owned and controlled by the nigerian 3SC?

no blame anyone for your mago mago slackness bro, pay your players well, sign them and complete all paperwork
no dey use mercernary

Cool Kizzy:

anu, did u read the whole news before commenting?

kenkruse: Rangers should know how to follow due process in their dealing however, Shooting stars could have petitioned to NFF or LMC instead of CAF. What do they want to achieve by bringing the country's only representative down. That's where they got it wrong. CAF also could have referred the matter to NFF since it is internal crisis.

kenkruse: Rangers should know how to follow due process in their dealing however, Shooting stars could have petitioned to NFF or LMC instead of CAF. What do they want to achieve by bringing the country's only representative down. That's where they got it wrong. CAF also could have referred the matter to NFF since it is internal crisis.

true2god:

This is just a tip frm my Yoruba friends. Fear yoruba pple.