Kun Khalifat FC have announced their immediate withdrawal from the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) following disciplinary action taken against the club for failing to honour their Matchday 24 fixture against El Kanemi Warriors.
The controversy arose on Monday when the newly promoted side, who currently sit at the foot of the league table, failed to appear for the scheduled match. In response, the NPFL Board charged Kun Khalifat with violating the league’s Framework and Rules.
As part of the sanctions, the league deducted three points and three goals from Kun Khalifat, awarding them to El Kanemi Warriors. The club was also handed a suspended fine of ₦10 million, which would be enforced should a similar offence occur before the end of the 2025–26 season. Kun Khalifat were given 48 hours to appeal the ruling.
However, instead of lodging an appeal, the club issued a statement on Wednesday night confirming its decision to withdraw from the league.
In a strongly worded statement signed by the club’s Chief Executive Officer, Michael Amaefula, Kun Khalifat maintained that their absence from the fixture was due to circumstances beyond their control and that the NPFL had been informed in advance.
According to the statement “We write to express our utmost shock, disappointment, and outrage following the sanctions imposed upon our club,” .
“Our previous letter dated 1st February 2026 detailed the circumstances that led to our inability to participate in the match. We had informed the NPFL Board of our challenges, including the breakdown of our team’s vehicles, and sought their understanding.”
The club accused the league of disregarding its communication and acting unfairly in rescheduling the fixture and imposing sanctions.
The statement added “Instead of acknowledging our communication, the Board chose to unilaterally reschedule the match and subsequently imposed harsh sanctions upon our club. The decision to forfeit three points and three goals, coupled with a fine of ₦10 million, is not only disproportionate but a clear indication of the NPFL’s bias against our club,” .
Kun Khalifat concluded the announcement by confirming their withdrawal from the competition, citing what they described as a lack of fairness in league administration.
“As a result of these unfair sanctions, we, Kun Khalifat FC, hereby announce our immediate withdrawal from the Nigerian Premier Football League. We can no longer continue to be part of a league that disregards the challenges faced by its member clubs and prioritises punishment over fairness and justice.”
The club also called on the NPFL to review its policies and urged fellow teams to demand greater accountability from league management. Despite the decision to withdraw, Kun Khalifat reaffirmed their commitment to Nigerian football, stating that they would “continue to explore other avenues to showcase our talents and represent Nigerian football with pride.”
As of the time of filing this report, the NPFL has not issued an official response to the club’s withdrawal.
