The president of the National Association of Nigeria Professional Footballers, Sunday Abe, has commended the Nigeria Premier Football League for lifting the suspension on goalkeeper Adewale Adeyinka.

Mr Abe expressed appreciation to the NPFL for granting the Plateau United FC goalkeeper a fair hearing after his provisional suspension in July over allegations of involvement in betting.

The NPFL announced on Thursday that Mr Adeyinka is now free to register with any club of his choice for the 2025/2026 season, pending further investigation into the allegations.

Mr Abe, in a statement, described the NPFL’s decision as a “progressive step” and praised the league’s willingness to engage with the players’ union.

“We are pleased that the NPFL granted our member, Adewale Adeyinka, the opportunity for a fair hearing and did not allow unproven allegations to truncate his professional career,” Mr Abe said.

He lauded the NPFL for its professional conduct during the inquest and reiterated NANPF’s commitment to protecting the rights and welfare of Nigerian footballers.

“As a union, we will continue to ensure due process is followed and that no player suffers unjustly. We thank the NPFL for listening to our position on this matter,” he said.

Mr Abe also urged players to remain disciplined and cooperative when engaging with regulatory bodies, while assuring members of NANPF’s readiness to provide legal and moral support when needed.

The NPFL, in a statement signed by its chief operating officer, Davidson Owumi, said Mr Adeyinka honoured its invitation and cooperated fully with investigators.

It added that while the goalkeeper had been cleared to resume his career, investigations into the broader matter are ongoing, and others would be invited in due course.

The NPFL stressed its commitment to upholding integrity in Nigerian football while ensuring that all disciplinary processes are carried out fairly and transparently.

(NAN)