Sokoto United have settled outstanding player-related debts totalling ₦3.25 million owed to Okon Otop and Isaac Ali, Sportsbeat.ng can confirm, removing a major obstacle to the club’s registration for the 2026/27 Nigeria National League (NNL) season.
The payment comes amid the NNL’s renewed insistence that clubs must comply with decisions of the Nigeria Football Federation’s Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) before completing their registration for the new campaign.
The league has warned that clubs with unresolved player-related cases risk being denied registration unless they comply with the relevant rulings or provide the required evidence of settlement and clearance.
Sokoto United’s settlement represents a practical response to the directive and reinforces the growing emphasis on enforcing contractual obligations across Nigeria’s domestic football system.
Okon Commends NNL Leadership, PSAC
Reacting to the development, Okon Otop commended the NNL leadership, its chief executive and staff for strengthening the enforcement of decisions against clubs that fail to meet their financial obligations to players.
“I want to thank the NNL leadership for the new steps and its resolve to ensure that clubs owing players will not have their way without settling their debts.
“I also appreciate the COO and every member of staff working to ensure that these decisions are enforced.”
“My appreciation goes to the PSAC as well for standing up for justice and ensuring that players’ rights are protected,” Okon said.
The player’s reaction reflects the importance of moving beyond the issuance of arbitration decisions to ensuring that affected clubs comply with them.
NNL Tightens Enforcement Ahead of New Season
The NNL has made compliance with outstanding financial obligations a key condition for clubs seeking to complete registration for the 2026/27 campaign, which is scheduled to begin on October 31, 2026.
Under the league’s registration requirements, clubs must provide evidence that they have fulfilled their obligations to players and coaches regarding salaries, sign-on fees and allowances.
Teams with unresolved disputes are required to obtain the appropriate clearance through the NFF arbitration process.
The measures are designed to strengthen financial discipline, protect players and coaches from prolonged payment disputes, and improve administrative standards among clubs competing in the second-tier league.
Sokoto United’s reported payment to Otop and Ali offers a timely example of the consequences of enforcing such requirements, with compliance now central to the club’s preparations for the new season.
For players, the development also reinforces the importance of the PSAC as a dispute-resolution mechanism and the responsibility of league organisers to ensure that its decisions are respected.
With the 2026/27 campaign approaching, the message to clubs remains clear: outstanding obligations cannot simply be ignored when registration deadlines arrive.
Sokoto United’s settlement has therefore brought relief to the affected players while underlining the need for consistent enforcement of contractual commitments across Nigerian football.
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