Jalla Blasts Nigerian Representatives At CAF Over Edo Queens’ Dispute

Prince Harrison Jalla, chairman of the Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative, has criticised Nigerians occupying positions in the Confederation of African Football (CAF), accusing them of failing to defend Edo Queens amid their dispute with the continental governing body over the WAFU Zone B qualifying final.

Jalla described the Nigerian side as “orphaned in the wilderness of CAF”, questioning the contribution of Nigerians within the organisation as Edo Queens challenge the circumstances surrounding the continuation of their Women’s Champions League qualifying final against Ghana’s Ampem Darkoa Ladies.

In a statement, Jalla recalled that Edo Queens initially won the WAFU Zone B final in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, before Ampem Darkoa protested the outcome, arguing that the match had proceeded to a penalty shoot-out without the required extra time.

According to him, CAF upheld the protest and ordered the match to resume for the outstanding 30 minutes, comprising two 15-minute periods, under specified sporting conditions.

However, Jalla alleged that CAF subsequently departed from its original ruling by moving the continuation to Cairo, Egypt, and failing to accommodate some Edo Queens players who were participating in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

He questioned why Nigerian representatives within CAF had not publicly intervened in the dispute.

“Where are the Nigerians in CAF? Who appointed them in the first place? Are their appointments based on merit?” Jalla asked.

He lamented what he described as a decline in Nigeria’s influence in African and global football administration, recalling the contributions of former football administrators Orok Oyo, Adegboye Onigbinde, Patrick Okpomo and Jonathan Ogunfere, as well as Amos Adamu, Sani Toro and Amanze Uchegbulam.

Jalla argued that Nigeria previously had influential voices in the West African Football Union (WAFU), CAF and FIFA, but alleged that commercial interests had increasingly overshadowed national representation in football administration over the past 12 years.

He claimed that appointments to CAF and FIFA had become commercialised, with some individuals allegedly treating positions in football governing bodies as opportunities for personal gain rather than platforms to advance Nigeria’s interests.

The reform advocate also alleged that a former candidate for a seat on the CAF Executive Committee had solicited financial support from state governors and the Federal Government to finance an election campaign.

He provided no supporting evidence for the allegation in the statement.

Jalla said the absence of visible intervention by Nigerian officials had left Edo Queens to pursue their case largely on their own, but commended the club’s chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, for challenging CAF’s handling of the dispute.

He described Tenebe as a determined leader who had taken the first step by submitting a fresh petition to CAF dated October 29, 2026.

Edo Queens are seeking the annulment of their 3-2 defeat in the continuation of the final and a complete replay under properly regulated conditions. The club has also asked to be declared winners if a replay cannot be completed before the CAF Women’s Champions League begins in Egypt on November 1.

Jalla concluded by questioning CAF’s administration of the dispute, accusing the continental body of making repeated errors and demonstrating a lack of consistency in its decisions.

CAF and the Nigerian representatives criticised by Jalla had not responded to his allegations in the statement.