Sharks, Wolves In Boardroom Battle

The battle over which team gets the last continental slot to represent Nigeria in next year’s CAF Confederation Cup is assuming a boardroom battle between the management of Sharks Football Club and Warri Wolves.
After losing in Sunday’s final of the Federation Cup to Enyimba by a lone goal at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos, Sharks FC believes that it should get the ticket to fly Nigeria’s flag at the CAF Confederation Cup next year.
But Warri Wolves, which finished fourth in the regular season of the Premier League, is hoping that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would rule in favour of the club.
The crux of the matter, Daily Independent understands, is that Warri Wolves believes that any side that should qualify for the CAF Confederation Cup through the FA Cup now known as Federation Cup must win the trophy in event that the other finalist had reached the continent.
Before Sunday’s final, the matter had generated a heated debate at the Glass House in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, according to a source.
As at Saturday when the board members of the NFF met in Lagos, the issue was raised and it was agreed that it should be deferred till after Sunday’s final since Enyimba and Sharks FC were to kick a ball.
“The issue of which team picks the last continental ticket to represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup has continued. But the decision would have to come from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Last Saturday, the NFF members met in Lagos before the FA (Federation) Cup and discussed a lot of issues concerning football in the country. One of the issues raised by a member was that of which club picks the last continental ticket. But the issue was waved aside as a non-issue,” our source said.
In spite of Warri Wolves’ ambition to force its way into getting the CAF Confederation Cup ticket, an official of the country’s football federation told our correspondent that a letter would be dispatched to Sharks FC as the side that won the last continental slot.
Attempts to speak to the NFF president and spokesman, Sani Lulu and Ademola Olajire, did not materialise, as the duo did not pick their telephones.
But indications emerged that the picture over the team that picks CAF Confederation Cup ticket is likely to be made known this week by the country’s football governing body.