Players’ Union hails NPFL for upholding justice in Adewale Adeyinka suspension case

By Dayo Awoniyi

The National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers (NANPF) has commended the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) for lifting the provisional suspension of Plateau United goalkeeper, Adewale Adeyinka, describing the move as a victory for fairness and due process.

Adeyinka had been suspended in July over alleged betting violations, but after a hearing, the NPFL cleared him to continue his career.

In a statement, NANPF President Sunday Abe expressed gratitude to the league body for allowing Adeyinka to defend himself and ensuring that unproven allegations did not derail his career.

“We are pleased that the NPFL granted our member, Adewale Adeyinka, the opportunity for a fair hearing and did not allow unproven allegations to truncate his professional career,” Abe said.

“This is a progressive step and demonstrates the league’s willingness to engage constructively with the players’ union.”

The NPFL, in a circular signed by its Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owumi, confirmed Adeyinka’s cooperation during the investigation, noting that while he is now free to register with any club ahead of the 2025/26 NPFL season, related inquiries are still ongoing.

Abe further lauded the NPFL’s handling of the matter, reiterating NANPF’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerian footballers.

“As a union, we will continue to ensure that no player suffers unjustly and that all disciplinary measures are handled with fairness,” he stressed.

“We appreciate the NPFL for listening to our position and for upholding principles of justice and transparency.”

The union also urged players to maintain discipline and cooperate fully with football authorities whenever investigations arise, assuring that NANPF will always provide legal and moral support to its members.

In its closing remarks, the NPFL reaffirmed its dedication to safeguarding the integrity of Nigerian football while ensuring that all disciplinary processes remain just, transparent, and consistent with its statutes.

Samuel Ahmadu

Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.

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