The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved into the ownership saga of Super Eagles midfielder, Sunday Mba. The tussle over the Nations Cup revelation involves three Nigerian premier league sides, warri Wolves, Rangers International of Enugu and Dolphins FC of Port Harcourt. The speculation over the future of the Eagles’ new discovery at the recently concluded Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has been a major issue in the media in recent times. The Delta State owned club, Warri Wolves insisted that AFCON hero is still their player in spite of the player’s claim that he was contracted to Enugu Rangers.
Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Abuja after declaring open the annual congress of the Nigeria Nationwide League (NNWL), NFF president, Aminu Maigari said a committee has been set up to liaise with the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) to find out the root cause of the problem and seek for a quick resolution of the matter without putting the career of the player in jeopardy. “I have just set up a committee to call for the attention of the NPL which was part of the whole process to help provide us information that will assist us in resolving this issue so that the player can move on with his career. So, the committee is there working to resolve the matter,” Maigari disclosed.
The Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has ruled that the Super Eagles duo of Sunday Mba and goalkeeper Chigozie Agbim belong to Warri Wolves. In a letter circulated to media houses by the management of Warri Wolves and signed by the Executive Secretary of the NPL, Tunji Babalola, it was stated in clear terms that the players belong to Wolves and not Rangers. Both Warri Wolves and Rangers have been at loggerheads over the ownership of the Super Eagles midfielder with Rangers management claiming that Dolphins improperly loaned Mba to Warri Wolves.
Babalola, on behalf of the NPL in a letter dated February 13, 2013,? addressed to Warri Wolves and copied to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary and Rangers International FC, it said: “We are in receipt of your correspondence on the above subject. From our records, it is established that Chigozie Agbim and Sunday Mba are bonafide players of Warri Wolves FC.
“Consequently, the ownership of the players is not subject to controversy and any club that requires their services should contact the management of Warri Wolves for negotiation,” the letter read.
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