NFF throw out ABS, Baton FC from Federation Cup

The country's football governing body has thrown out both clubs from the oldest club competition for flouting competition rules

ABS of Ilorin and Baton FC of Owerri have been disqualified from the 2014 Federation Cup by the Nigeria Football Federation.

Baton FC defeated Gombe United 2-1 in a round of 64 but the Desert Scorpions protested the eligibility of about 10 players that featured for the Owerri based outfit and NFF investigation showed that the club had tampered with the licences of players submitted to the football house.

Confirming the development to Goal in a chat, Secretary of the Imo State Football Association Godfrey Ndudi disclosed that he got a letter from the NFF on Tuesday confirming Baton's disqualification from the Federation Cup. He also revealed that they would meet on Wednesday morning to deliberate on the development and come out with a resolution. 

"It is true that we got a mail from the football house yesterday (Tuesday) night stating that Baton have been disqualified from the Federation Cup because of certain irregularities in their players' registration.," Ndidi told Goal.

"We are on top of the situation and we will meet Tomorrow(Wednesday) morning to take our own stand on the development."

ABS of Ilorin on their on part failed to continue with the penalty shootout after their Round of 64 tie with Giwa FC had ended 1-1.

The Ilorin sides' General Manager Alloy Chukwuemeka explained that their goalkeeper Abdullahi Boje got injured before the start of the penalty kick and that in line with Fifa law, they are obliged to change the goalkeeper since they were yet to exhaust their substitution. 

With this development, Gombe United have found their way into the Round of 32 and will tackle First Bank in Lokoja while Giwa FC have a date with Enugu Rangers at the Fifa Goal Project, Abuja.