Enyimba in limbo as Rivers takes NPFL battle to CAS

Enyimba’s 2020/21 CAF Champions League fate hangs in the balance following Rivers United’s insistence on seeking for justice at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, following the controversial placement of the eight-time Nigerian champions over the Port Harcourt-based club in the final standings of the Nigeria Professional Football League, The Punch reports.

Enyimba finished in second place ahead of Rivers United in third, after the League Management Company adopted the Points-Per-Game rule to end the season in July in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 in March.

Rivers, hitherto second before the contentious PPG application, will now play in the second-tier CAF Confederation Cup next season, rather than the showpiece CAF Champions League, with Enyimba taking their place.

However, Rivers kicked against the head-to-head application (which favoured Enyimba) in the PPG rule, without applying the goals difference first.

Rivers State Commissioner for Sports, Boma Iyaye, said, “Our position has always been that, rather than use an inconclusive head-to-head to separate two teams tied on points, the rules guiding the operations of the NPFL states that goals difference shall be the first option to be used in separating teams that are tied on the same points, followed by higher goals scored and lastly, head-to-head. We are only against the selective application of the rules.”

Our correspondent learnt that the Rivers State Government had already approached two lawyers, one in Port Harcourt, and another in Switzerland, where CAS has its office, on the issue.

“We are working on the final details of our case, which will be sent to Governor (Nyesom) Wike for approval soon,” a top Rivers State Government official told The Punch.

Enyimba had reportedly registered for the 2020/21 CAF Champions League alongside Plateau United, the winners of the NPFL.

But Rivers United’s appeal at the CAS on the legitimacy of the final NPFL standings may see the Aba Elephants lose their second spot.

“All Rivers United are trying to do is to set the record straight because both Plateau United and Enyimba have been registered for the competition since June and that was what started the agitation,” a source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said.

“It’s a waiting game because for Rivers United their aim is to let NFF and LMC know that their decision is wrong and if possible get a compensation.

“The kind of compensation they want is simple, if CAS decides that they are correct before the start of the CAF Champions League, they will get their spot back, unless the NFF and Enyimba appeal as well.”

Meanwhile, Akwa United chairman, Paul Bassey, said the adoption of the PPG was for the convenience of the LMC.

“The PPG is not entrenched in FIFA, CAF or NFF statutes,” Bassey said in an interview on Brila FM monitored by The Punch.

“The LMC must have brought the PPG rule for convenience. I was not very happy that teams that played lesser matches would now get an advantage over teams that played more games.

“Before Rivers United’s readiness to appeal, we were a lone voice in the wilderness, we were vilified and crucified. For some of my colleagues (club chairmen) who did not understand the workings and logic of the PPG, it was easy for them to vote for one reason or the other that the PPG should be used.”