CAF Confederation Cup: Club Sportif Sfaxian Replaces Enugu Rangers in Group A of Orange Confederation Cup 2013

Rangers appeal decision; NFF, LMC back appeal

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has disqualified Nigeria’s
flag-bearers Enugu Rangers from this year’s CAF Confederation Cup, for
featuring junior international goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel in the
competition.

In a letter addressed to the NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa
Amadu, and dated 2nd July, CAF said it was basing its decision on
“documents and letters sent by the club Shooting Stars and its
Chairman”, which confirmed that “by the time the player was registered
on December 24th, 2012, no agreement was found between Shooting Stars
and Enugu Rangers for the player Daniel Emmanuel.”

However, the League Management Company, in charge of Nigeria’s elite
division, on Tuesday confirmed that player Emmanuel Daniel plays in
the Glo Premier League with a valid license that recognises him as a
player of Enugu Rangers.

Also on Tuesday, Enugu Rangers, which prevailed 1-0 on aggregate over
CS Sfaxien to reach the prestigeous mini-league phase, and is the only
Nigeria club left in contention for continental honours this year,
immediately set in motion the process to appeal the decision.

NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu, said that the Nigeria
Football Federation will give Rangers the full support in the appeal
process.

“We are absolutely shocked that an internal transfer matter between
two clubs could snowball into a situation that will see a Nigerian
club disqualified from continental competition.

“We have seen the player’s contract. He signed a contract to play for
Shooting Stars FC between January and December 2012, and at the
expiration of his contract, duly signed for Enugu Rangers. The player
did not start playing for Enugu Rangers until he secured his license
from the LMC in April this year.

“It is also on record that the player had featured for Enugu Rangers
against clubs like Heartland FC and Sunshine Stars, and even against
Shooting Stars in Enugu a couple of weeks ago, without any of the
clubs protesting his eligibility.”

Amadu added: “The NFF and LMC will afford Enugu Rangers total support
in this case and we are confident that the club will be re-instated in
the competition