The Nigeria Football Federation’s Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee (PSAC) has ordered NPFL club Lobi Stars to pay former technical adviser Daniel Amokachi a sum of ₦52 million following a contractual dispute, as the NFF releases more than 80 rulings on outstanding football arbitration cases.
The wave of decisions from the federation’s arbitration arm addresses a backlog of disputes involving players, coaches and clubs across Nigerian football. Compliance with these rulings is now expected as part of contractual and legal obligations.
The PSAC ruling compelling Lobi Stars to honour the ₦52 million judgement in favour of Amokachi a former Super Eagles star and ex-coach of the club forms part of a wider push by the NFF to enforce contractual justice in the domestic game.
Amokachi’s case is one of several involving unpaid salaries, wrongful contract terminations and other disputes brought before the arbitration committee in recent seasons. The decisions, now released by the federation, are being communicated to affected parties for implementation.
Clubs that fail to comply with PSAC rulings risk sanctions, including difficulties with player registration and potential bans from competitions until all outstanding obligations are met. Compliance has been a longstanding challenge in Nigerian football, with unions previously calling for faster resolution of contractual disputes.
Editorial
This latest PSAC directive reinforces the role of legal governance structures within Nigerian football, particularly in ensuring that contractual rights are respected and enforced. For far too long, disputes over salaries and contractual terms have lingered, undermining trust between players, coaches and their clubs. The federation’s move to publish more than 80 arbitration decisions signals a renewed effort to address these systemic issues and uphold accountability.
Lobi Stars’ obligation to pay Amokachi also highlights the need for professional administration at club level. High-profile cases involving ex-players and coaches often reflect deeper financial and organisational challenges within clubs. Enforcing these rulings sends a message that breaches of contract will have real consequences a necessary step in nurturing a sustainable, professional league structure.
For Nigerian football stakeholders, these published decisions could mark a turning point. Strong arbitration and compliance mechanisms protect the rights of individuals and improve the overall integrity of the game. Fans and players alike have long called for consistency and fairness in football governance, and action by the PSAC contributes meaningfully toward that goal.
Did You Know?
- The NFF Players’ Status and Arbitration Committee has ordered Lobi Stars to pay Daniel Amokachi ₦52 million following a contractual dispute.
- Amokachi is a former Super Eagles international and served as technical adviser of Lobi Stars in the past.
- The NFF has released over 80 arbitration decisions covering players’, coaches’ and clubs’ contractual disputes.
- Non-compliance with arbitration rulings can result in sanctions such as withheld player registration or bans from competitions.
- Lobi Stars have previously faced scrutiny over financial management and outstanding payables in relation to former players and officials.
