Drama as FC Ebedei Walks Off During NLO Playoff Match

A Nationwide League One playoff match between Yewa Football Academy and FC Ebedei turned controversial on Saturday. FC Ebedei players walked off the pitch after Yewa goalkeeper Olalere Ridwan suffered a serious injury.

The match took place at Akure Township Stadium and was still goalless when play stopped due to a collision involving the Yewa goalkeeper. Reports say he lost consciousness and needed urgent medical help.

The official match commissioner’s report stated that this incident happened late in the first half. It noted that the goalkeeper's condition was serious and needed immediate medical attention.

According to the match commissioner, FC Ebedei players left the field around the 45th minute and did not return. Match officials tried to get them back on the pitch, but after waiting as required by the rules, the referee called off the match with the score at 0-0.

But Yewa Football Academy officials are challenging the claim that the game was abandoned because of the goalkeeper's injury. Chairman Mojeed Ibrahim said the situation was “a troubling moment for Nigerian football.” He insisted the match ended because FC Ebedei chose to leave the pitch.

“A football match cannot end because one side decides it is over,” Mr Mojeed told PREMIUM TIMES. He said while the injured goalkeeper was being treated, FC Ebedei owner Barrister Churchill Oliseh allegedly told his players to leave the field without any order from the referee.

“I was in the stands and found it deeply disturbing, especially as the match was being live streamed. Viewers saw a breakdown of order, which does no good to the image of the league,” he said.

Mr Mojeed pointed out that collisions happen in football and should not mean a match must end. “It is important to correct the record, the match was not abandoned because of the injury, but because one team chose to walk away,” he said.

In another statement, Yewa Football Academy mentioned that its reserve goalkeeper was cleared by the reserve referee to replace the injured player, and the match could continue.

“Contrary to reports, the game was not abandoned due to a collision between our goalkeeper and an FC Ebedei player,” the club stated. “Our second-choice goalkeeper had already been cleared by the Reserve Referee to replace the injured keeper and the game was ready to continue.”

The club also claimed that FC Ebedei players “walked off the pitch without any justifiable reason.”

As of now, FC Ebedei has not replied publicly to the claims made by Yewa Football Academy and its chairman. The situation is set to be reviewed by the NLO, which will decide the outcome of the match and any possible penalties based on the competition’s rules.