Olushola Ogunnowo, Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the Nationwide League One (NLO), has exclusively confirmed to Completesports.com that the Port Harcourt Centre of the Promotion Playoffs, scheduled to kick off on 12th June 2025, has been indefinitely suspended.
Ogunnowo stated on Monday that the suspension of the Slot 4 matches is a direct result of the appeal filed by Cynosure FC following their suspension in the aftermath of their protest against the match between E-World FC and Liberty FC in Calabar.
Cynosure had petitioned the NLO Secretariat, alleging match-fixing between E-World and Liberty FC in the final match of the Calabar group.
Ogunnowo explained that Prince Chidiebere Nweze, Chairman and sole financier of Cynosure FC, failed to prove a case of match manipulation and was consequently sanctioned.
However, Prince Nweze opted to take the matter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Appeals Committee, chaired by Barrister Mustapha.
“No date has been fixed for the Port Harcourt Centre of the Promotion Playoffs,” the NLO COO told Completesports.com.
“Cynosure lodged an appeal against the NLO sanctions because they could not substantiate their claims of match-fixing against E-World and Liberty FC.
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“They alleged that Liberty fielded only seven players in the final group match against E-World. However, Liberty explained that due to a rescheduling—implemented to ensure that both group matches were played simultaneously—some of their players arrived late, prompting them to start the game with seven players. The remaining four players later joined, and the team completed the match with 11 players.
“The match ended 3–1 in favour of E-World FC.
“The Disciplinary Committee even asked the Cynosure boss if he was aware that FIFA rules allow a team to start a match with seven players, and he said yes.
“Official reports confirmed that Liberty began the match with seven players, and after 15 minutes, the remaining players arrived and joined the game.
“For raising an unsubstantiated allegation of match-fixing, which he could not prove, we suspended him, and he chose to file an appeal.
“In fact, it was the Liberty FC chairman who disclosed that he received a phone call from the Cynosure boss, urging him to ensure that Liberty defeated E-World—a result that would have given Cynosure FC an advantage in the race for qualification from the Calabar Centre.”
Ozalla Football Academy, E-World FC, FC One Rocket, and Ahudiyannem were the four teams scheduled to battle for the Slot 4 ticket at the Port Harcourt Centre of the Promotion Playoffs.
By Sab Osuji
