LMC clears newly-invited Super Eagles defender, restores license

The League Management Company has cleared the newly-invited Super Eagles defender to continue playing in the NPFL 

Days after Isa Ali’s registration with the league was called, the LMC has rescinded its decision to cancel the player’s registration.

Ali, currently embroiled in a match-fixing scandal with his Remo Stars teammate, Andy Okpe is one of the eight home-based players invited as part of a 30-man Super Eagles squad to face Mexico and Ecuador in friendlies.

Okpe and Ali were on loan at Ghanaian Premier League side, Inter Allies last year when they were allegedly involved in fixing a match against Ashanti Gold.

The LMC said; “Isah Ali has been cleared with immediate effect & can participate in the NPFL after a careful review of his club Remo Stars' response to the earlier cancellation of the defender's licence.

“However, Isah Ali's teammate, striker Andy Okpe, is not cleared as further documentation & clarification is being expected.

“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 however couldn’t clear Okpe as the details of his move to Inter Allies looked fussy.

“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.”