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.”