A dramatic turn of events unfolded during the Nationwide League One (NLO)-Nigeria National League (NNL) playoff in Kaduna, as Family Worship Center FC refused to continue their match against City FC Abuja in the 70th minute. Coach Bunmi, the team’s head coach, instructed his players to sit on the pitch and stop playing, citing a “pattern of unjust officiating” throughout the tournament.
“We’ve endured poor officiating since Day 1. It was clear something wasn’t right. I know the consequences of our action today, but silence would have meant complicity,” Bunmi told reporters after the match.
The coach claimed that referees were working off a “predetermined script” favoring certain teams, especially pointing to a previous match where City FC was awarded three penalties in a single game against Camp Pro FC. “I may be punished, but at least people will know that this was not a fair tournament,” Bunmi added.
Family Worship Center Fc players sitting on the pitch from the 70th minute
The protest has sparked widespread debate within the football community, with many questioning the integrity of the tournament.
READ MORE: NLO team ends match halfway, sit on the pitch in protest of poor officiating
NLO’s Chief Operating Officer, Shola Ogunnowo, swiftly condemned Coach Bunmi’s actions, calling them a “disgrace to football.” “Coach Bunmi is a disgrace to football. I’ve never seen such a shameful act, especially from someone who once held a position with our national teams,” Ogunnowo declared.
He dismissed the coach’s claims of injustice, pointing out that other teams in the group played under the same conditions. “He should speak for himself. Was he the only team in the group? What happened to the other matches he played and lost?”
Shola Ogunnwo
Ogunnowo further questioned the coach’s judgment, asking, “What is he trying to prove? So if he’s leading a national team at an international competition and a referee makes a call he disagrees with, he’ll ask the players to sit on the pitch? It’s shameful. He should kiss the national team goodbye.”
Many fans and analysts slammed Coach Bunmi for embarrassing the sport, while others praised his boldness in highlighting what they view as recurring officiating irregularities in lower-tier Nigerian football.
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The incident has sparked a heated debate on social media, with the hashtag #NLOPlayoffProtest trending across Nigerian football circles.
Many are demanding a comprehensive investigation into the officiating and general conduct of the tournament. Football pundit Ayo Ojediran tweeted, “You may not agree with Coach Bunmi’s method, but he exposed a cancer in Nigerian football; manipulated matches and poor governance. The NLO needs to investigate itself.”
Coach Bummi Haruna of Family Worship Center fc. (Source: Wikipedia)
As the situation unfolds, City FC Abuja may be awarded the match and, with that, promotion to the Nigeria National League (NNL), pending any review or disciplinary decision from the league organizers.
The NLO Disciplinary Committee is expected to review the incident in the coming days, and Family Worship Center FC’s future hangs in the balance, with possible sanctions, fines, or even suspension from future NLO competitions
