Cynosure FC of Abakaliki have raised a strong worded protest to the organisers of the Nationwide League One playoffs and the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, pleading for investigation into the embarrassing circumstances that blighted the final matches of the Calabar Center of the playoffs with a view to protecting the integrity of the game and ensuring fairness to all parties concerned, Exclusivenews.com.ng reports.

Cynosure FC raised baffling concerns that the development that took place in the last match of the group between Liberty Lions and E-World United, both of Calabar, has the potential to put the game into ridicule and asked the two football bodies to launch an immediate investigation into what exactly transpired that led to the 'show of shame'.

Exclusivenews.com.ng reports that Liberty Lions honoured the game with only seven players, knowing fully well that E-World United, May & Frank and Cynosure are chasing the sole ticket in the group.

May &Frank led the group with 14 points going into the final group matches with 14 points. E-World were second with 13 points and Cynosure also 13 points.

Third placed Cynosure were billed to tackle first placed May & Frank while Liberty Lions were to play E-World United.

This meant that only the results of the last match would determine the eventual winners of the group and to ensure level playing ground, forcing the NLO Secretariat to hold the two crucial games simultaneously.

Shamefully, Liberty Lions played the game with only seven (7) players and we're already 3-0 down within the first 10 minutes.

And a highly disappointed and frustrated Prince Chidiebere Nweze, Chairman of Cynosure FC raised a strong-worded petition to NLO and NFF on the issue.

"We're writing to express our deep concern and disappointment regarding the ongoing match between Liberty Lions FC and E-World United FC at the Calabar Center of the Nationwide League One playoffs", the petition read in part.

"The situation unfolding before our eyes is nothing short of alarming and raises serious questions about the integrity of the game.

"In a shocking display, Liberty Lions FC have taken to the field with only seven (7) players, sparking widespread concerns and outrage. Given the the significance of this match, where the outcome will determine which team secures the sole playoff ticket from the Calabar Center, such an action appears to be a deliberate attempt to compromise the game's integrity", the protest added.

When contacted on phone by Exclusivenews.com.ng, Prince Chidiebere Nweze admitted that the law of the game allows a team to start a match with seven (7) players but wondered why Liberty Lions who are based in Cross River State would decide to honour the last match with only seven (7) players.

"The rules of football clearly permit a team to start a match with seven players. We have no worries about that. But why in the last match of the group which potentially is a crucial decider of the group winners?

"There was no force majeur prior to the kick off as to whether if there was an incident on the road involving the team while on their way to the match venue. Nothing of such happened and nobody heard anything towards that, including the Center coordinator.

"And again, there was no report of sickness or any health issue that broke out in the team prior to the match.

"So, how, all of a sudden, a team that is based here in the state (Cross River) is playing their last match with seven players having played all their previous six games with the required 11 players?

"It smacks suspicion and that's what we want the organisers to unravel before it throws the competition into disrepute", Prince Nweze said.

Apparently on the strenght of the weighty issue, the official results of the final group matches and final group table is yet to be determined by the Playoff organisers.