May 23, (THEWILL) – The League Management Company (LMC) of the Nigerian Professional Football League (NPFL), has reversed its decision to cancel Isa Ali’s football licence in the league just days after it was revoked.
Ali was entangled in a match-fixing scandal with his Remo Stars teammate Andy Okpe. Both of them were among eight home-based Super Eagles players selected for Nigeria’s friendlies against Mexico and Ecuador.
Last year, Okpe and Ali were on loan at Inter Allies in the Ghanaian Premier League when they were accused of rigging a match against Ashanti Gold.
According to the LMC: “It has been established that Remo Stars have full ownership of Isah Ali as he played on loan at Inter Allies in the Ghana Premier League in the 2020/21 season having been signed from Shekarau Babes.
“At the end of his loan spell with Inter Allies in the 2020/21 season, Isah Ali returned to Remo Stars with an ITC issued by the Ghana FA & was registered for the Nigeria National League 2021 season ending playoffs though the window is not captured by the official window.
“It has been established as well that Isah Ali’s licence/registration was transferred from the Ghana FA to the NFF jurisdiction during the course of the transfer window created for the NNL playoffs.
“In the case of Okpe. He played for Inter Allies in the Ghana Premier League for the 2020/21 season & was presented for registration by Remo Stars as a player of & cleared by B. Angels FC, Lagos with a domestic transfer certificate (DTC) issued by the NFF.”
The NFF, on the other hand, was unable to clear Okpe since the terms of his transfer to Inter Allies appeared to be complicated.
“Remo Stars clearly acquired Okpe from B. Angels FC & registered him to play in the NPFL.
“Now it remains unclear if the Ghana FA issued Okpe an ITC to play in Nigeria & in favour of B. Angels FC who will have to provide further details to clarify the status of the striker since they are the source of the player’s move to Remo Stars.”
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Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
