Sports
2014 W/Cup: E’Guinea Faces Sanction Over Ineligible Player
Equatorial Guinea may be stripped of a 4-3 win over Cape Verde in 2014 World Cup qualifying for fielding an ineligible player.
Fifa says it has opened a disciplinary case against the Equatorial Guinea FA after last month’s victory in Malabo.
Football’s world governing body has not specified which player’s eligibility they are investigating.
While none of the Equatorial Guinea starting line-up was born there, there are regulations that allow players to represent a country.
According to Article 17 of football’s world governing body’s statutes, a player wishing to acquire a new nationality must fulfil at least one of the following conditions. He was born on the territory of the relevant Association.
His biological mother or biological father was born on the territory of the relevant Association His grandmother or grandfather was born on the territory of the relevant Association.
He has lived continuously for at least five years after reaching the age of 18 on the territory of the relevant Association.
Fifa insists “member associations are responsible to verify if all requirements are fulfilled.” Burkina Faso , Gabon and Sudan have all been docked points during the 2014 World Cup qualifiers for using players deemed to be ineligible for various reasons.
Equatorial Guinea are currently third in Group B of 2014 qualifying five points behind group leader Tunisia, who have won all three of their matches so far.
In a similar case in 2011, Fifa disqualified the Equatorial Guinea women’s team from the London Olympics qualifying phase and suspended forward Jade Boho Sayo for two months over her disputed nationality.
In a statement released by the league, the competition is scheduled to take place from Friday, June 5 to Sunday, June 14, 2026, with six clubs set to battle for the league title at the end of the 2025/26 season.
NWFL Chief Operating Officer, Modupe Shabi, said the choice of Port Harcourt reflects the Rivers State Government’s continued support for women’s football and its successful hosting of the league’s Annual General Assembly last year.
The Super Six tournament will feature the top three teams from Group A and Group B of the regular season competing in a round-robin format, with each club playing five matches over nine days.
Qualified teams for the competition include defending champions Bayelsa Queens, Edo Queens, Rivers Angels, Robo Queens, Nasarawa Amazons, and debutants Abia Angels.
The NWFL Premiership has produced four different winners in the last five editions, with Rivers Angels winning in 2021, Bayelsa Queens claiming the title in 2022 and 2025, Delta Queens triumphing in 2023, and Edo Queens emerging champions in 2024.
The league also urged participating clubs to comply with all competition regulations and directives ahead of the championship. The Super Six will determine Nigeria’s representative for the WAFU-B qualifiers for a place at the 2026 CAF Women’s Champions League and ultimately the 2027 FIFA Women’s Champions Cup.
Teams are expected to arrive on Friday, June 5, when the draw ceremony and pre-match meeting will also take place. Matchdays are scheduled for June 6, 8, 10, 12, and 14, with rest days in between before the tournament concludes with the trophy presentation ceremony.
