NLO Wields Big Stick, Expels Campos FC, A&A Kiviasennus; Steps Down Referees Over ‘Match-Fixing’

The Nationwide League One (NLO) Secretariat has wielded the big stick, expelling Campos FC and A&A Kiviasennus from the ongoing 2025 NLO playoffs at the Awka City Stadium over alleged match-fixing, Completesports.com reports.

Additionally, the third-tier league organisers have suspended all players of the two teams due to the alleged match compromise.

Following an exhaustive meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night, the NLO also stepped down all the referees who officiated the controversial fixture, citing their alleged involvement in the ‘show of shame’ that brought the game into disrepute.

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In the matchday six fixture, Campos FC scored a deluge of goals against the hapless A&A Kiviasennus side, with the match ending in an embarrassing 15-2 scoreline — a performance that raised eyebrows among NLO officials who watched the game live on the league’s social media platforms.

“The players and officials of the two clubs, Campos FC and A&A, have therefore been suspended indefinitely pending final ratification by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),” read a memo from the NLO Secretariat dated 13th May and signed by NLO Chief Operating Officer (COO), Olushola Ogunnowo.

This was not the only controversy to overshadow the current NLO playoffs. On the eve of their group’s matchday six fixture against Ikukuoma FC on Sunday, OISA submitted a strongly worded petition to the NLO Secretariat, rejecting the appointment of Anambra State referees to handle the match. They stated they had no confidence in referees from Anambra.

Consequently, the NLO Secretariat appointed referees from Delta State to officiate the game, which Ikukuoma won 2-1.

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The NLO’s sanctions on the referees appear to tacitly reinforce OISA’s lack of confidence in the Anambra referees, an issue raised prior to their match against Ikukuoma FC.

On Wednesday morning, the Anambra State Football Association met with the state referees’ leadership, expressing displeasure over the conduct that led to their being stepped down. The FA stated that such behaviour undermines its efforts to ensure that competitions of this calibre are successfully hosted in the state.

The suspension of Campos FC and A&A Kiviasennus paved the way for Ozalla FA to top the group. They will now face OISA on Friday to determine the group’s eventual winner.

By Sab Osuji