The association responsible for the upkeep and welfare of professional footballers in Nigeria the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON), have issued a 14-day ultimatum for their grievances to be addressed or their members will boycott the Nigeria Premier League.



Players and coaches marched on the country's parliament in Abuja on Tuesday in protest of poor working conditions.


Thereafter, they called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to among other things halt the slavery of Nigerian players and the abolishment of administrative fees for the issuance of International Transfer Certificate (ITC) for Nigerian players.

The NFF should stop the slavery of footballers by clubs by imposing sanctions on clubs who failed to comply with the decisions of the Players Status and arbitration committee over their non-payment of debts to players and coaches in line with Article 71 of the FIFA disciplinary code without further delay, according to a statement signed by APFON executive secretary, Austin Popo.

Clubs owe players and coaches over $2 million, according to the players union.

A top official of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUCN), Aliyu Musa, who accompanied the protesting players on their march, assured the union they will support their agitation.

The player is not just a sportsman. He is a workman with rights, said the top trade unionist.

APFON also called on the NFF to decide on the lingering leadership tussle at the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) because justice delayed is justice denied.

The players again called on the NFF to stand by the ruling of the arbitration panel that declared Davidson Owumi ineligible to contest the chairmanship of the NPL.