PSAC:NANPF Demands Points Deduction From Kano Pillars, Katsina United Niger Tornadoes as NPFL Enforcement Comes Under Scrutiny
The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) has called for points deductions against clubs that allegedly fielded newly registered players despite being under sanctions arising from decisions of the Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC).
The demand has also raised fresh questions over the consistency of enforcement of PSAC decisions ahead of and during the opening weekend of the 2026/27 Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) season.
Several NPFL clubs were affected by PSAC decisions over outstanding financial obligations to players, with some understood to have complied with the directives before the start of the new season, amid the consequences attached to non-compliance.
However, NANPF claims that other clubs in default were still able to register and field new signings during the opening weekend.
The players’ union specifically cited Kano Pillars, Katsina United and Niger Tornadoes, asking the NPFL to take action against clubs that continued to field players whose licences should have been withdrawn.
In a letter dated September 2, 2026, addressed to the Acting Chief Operating Officer of the NPFL, NANPF argued that clubs that failed to comply with PSAC decisions should not be allowed to benefit competitively from newly registered players while their outstanding obligations remain unsettled.
The union had earlier written to the Acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation on August 31, requesting the withdrawal of licences issued to newly registered players of defaulting clubs.
NANPF’s latest proposal is twofold: withdraw the licences of players registered by clubs still in default and impose points deductions on clubs that continue to field such players.
The development has inevitably put the issue of PSAC enforcement under the spotlight, particularly under the current NPFL management led by Dr Ayo Abdulrahman.
The key question now is whether clubs that complied with the sanctions before the season will feel disadvantaged if others allegedly ignored similar restrictions without facing immediate sporting consequences.
Allowing clubs under a PSAC-ordered transfer ban to register and field players, if established, could raise legitimate questions about the consistency, credibility and integrity of the league’s regulatory enforcement.
For NANPF, the issue goes beyond punishment. The union insists that consistent enforcement is necessary to protect players’ contractual rights and ensure that all NPFL clubs operate under the same rules.
With the season already underway, attention will now turn to the NPFL and NFF for clarification on the status of the affected clubs and whether sanctions will be applied retrospectively.
