Nigerian fans face continued misery over watching league action

They say they will not play until the lingering crisis between the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and the Nigeria Football League (NFL) is resolved.

Chairman of the Club Owners Association, Davidson Owumi, declared after a meeting of the clubs that the clubs have agreed to suspend their participation in both the Premier and Professional Leagues until the NFA and NFL work together and in harmony.

"As a result of the confusion our members have been subjected to in the last two weeks since the league began, we have resolved to suspend our participation in the league until the differences between the NFA and NFL is amicably settled," said Owumi.

"We have experienced serious financial burden as a result of this crisis and the standard of officiating since the NFA took charge of appointing referees for league matches has been most disappointing."

The face-off between the NFA and the NFL has seen the long-term ban for several top NFL officials including its chairman, Oyuki Obaseki.

An appeal against these bans was considered earlier this week with some of the officials getting reduced sanctions.

However, in a swift reaction, NFA boss Sani Lulu said league matches will be played this weekend while dismissing the pronouncement of the club owners.

"The league must continue," said Lulu.

"We are not aware of any disgruntled body called the club owners association or their negative comments about the competition."