Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) Ilorin Football Club has reiterated its demand for justice following a protest arising from its Nigeria National League (NNL) Matchday Six encounter with Kada Warriors, in which the Ilorin-based club alleges that an ineligible player was fielded in clear violation of league regulations.
At the centre of the dispute is Aliyu Ferinyaro, a former captain of ABS Ilorin FC, who the club insists remains under a valid and subsisting contract.
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According to ABS, Ferinyaro absconded from the club and was subsequently registered by Kada Warriors without securing the mandatory clearance, an action the club describes as a breach of established transfer and player registration rules.
ABS Ilorin FC disclosed that it formally notified match officials and relevant authorities of the player’s contractual status before kickoff. Despite the alert, Kada Warriors went ahead to field Ferinyaro, a decision ABS considers a blatant disregard for due process and the integrity of competition.
The Ilorin club has framed the incident as a defining moment for the Nigeria National League and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), stressing that the credibility of domestic football governance is at stake. The club pointed to global precedents where teams have been sanctioned for fielding ineligible players, including the recent case in which South Africa was penalised in a FIFA World Cup qualifying match.
In a strong challenge to Kada Warriors, ABS Ilorin FC called on the club to publicly present verifiable documentation proving that Ferinyaro was lawfully transferred and properly cleared before registration.
“ABS Ilorin Football Club believes in the rule of law and the sanctity of contracts,” the club stated. “Aliyu Ferinyaro captained this club and remains under contract. Until due process is followed, he remains an ABS Ilorin FC player.”
While reaffirming its confidence in the NNL and the NFF to resolve the matter fairly and transparently, ABS Ilorin FC emphasised that the case goes beyond the outcome of a single match. According to the club, the decision will send a strong signal about professionalism, fairness and respect for contractual obligations in Nigerian football.
For ABS Ilorin FC, the protest, the club insists, is not merely about points on the table but about safeguarding the integrity of the game.
