The Nationwide League One (NLO) has issued a ban on Cynosure FC for the rest of the 2026 campaign. Alongside the suspension, the club faces a fine of ₦500,000 for breaching player eligibility rules by fielding professionals and providing false registration details.
According to a statement from the NLO Disciplinary Committee, the team was found to have violated both amateur status and player eligibility regulations. The committee determined that the club used Nigeria National League players—Orngudwem Raphael of Solution FC and Ogbodo Valentine Chizoba of Osun United FC—in multiple matches this season. Notably, Chizoba had been reported as absent without leave by his parent club, Osun United.
Investigations revealed that Cynosure submitted fraudulent declarations and misleading documents to register these players as amateurs. Furthermore, they ignored the mandatory 30-day waiting period required by FIFA rules before a professional can participate in an amateur league.
Club chairman Nwaeze Chidiebere Prince admitted that the information was accurate but pleaded ignorance regarding the violations. The committee dismissed this defense, labeling the actions as deliberate and a threat to the integrity of the amateur league.
The sanctions include forfeiture of all matches in which the ineligible players appeared, along with a two-year probationary period. The club has 72 hours to appeal the decision, which is effective immediately.