Nasarawa United forward, Mr. Anas Yusuf, shall not be in attendance at the 2025 Eunisell Golden Boot Award ceremony, scheduled for Friday in Lagos, following a formal objection raised by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) against the organisers of the said event.
According to reports, the NPFL has alleged unauthorised and unlawful use of its intellectual property and brand assets in connection with the promotion and execution of the Eunisell Award ceremony, thereby prompting a dispute over the legitimacy of the event in its current form.
Although it remains uncertain whether the ceremony will proceed as initially scheduled, a source within Nasarawa United FC has confirmed that Mr. Yusuf’s absence is a direct consequence of the aforementioned dispute and the resulting conflict of interest.
The Eunisell Golden Boot Award, now in its seventh edition, is traditionally conferred upon the highest goalscorer of the NPFL season. Mr. Yusuf, having scored eighteen (18) goals during the 2024/2025 season, emerged as the league’s top scorer. However, in light of the ongoing controversy, the disbursement of the attendant monetary prize—valued at Three Million, Six Hundred Thousand Naira (₦3,600,000), calculated at a rate of Two Hundred Thousand Naira (₦200,000) per goal—may be delayed or potentially withheld pending resolution of the dispute.
In correspondence formally issued by the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and addressed to the organisers of the Eunisell Golden Boot Award—of which a copy was obtained by our correspondent—the Chairman of the NPFL, Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye, categorically denounced the said award as unauthorised and unlawful.
The letter reads in part:
“It has come to our attention that your company has been utilising the name and associated insignia of the Nigeria Premier Football League in connection with the promotion and execution of an award ceremony styled as the ‘Eunisell Highest Goal Scorer Award’.
This constitutes an illegal and unauthorised use of the League’s intellectual property. Your organisation is neither in partnership with the NPFL nor has it sought or obtained formal approval from the NPFL Board to associate our name, brand, or competition with your commercial enterprise.”
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), through a formal communication addressed to the organisers of the Eunisell Golden Boot Award, has issued a cease-and-desist notice concerning the use of the NPFL name and associated brand assets.
The correspondence, signed by NPFL Chairman, Mr. Gbenga Elegbeleye, includes a warning of possible escalation, stating:
“This notice serves as a formal warning to immediately desist from the continued use of the NPFL name and insignia. Failure to comply will leave the League Management with no alternative but to refer the matter to the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), an action which may have reputational consequences for your organisation.”
“You are hereby invited to take advantage of this opportunity to initiate dialogue aimed at resolving the irregularity referenced in your publicly disseminated notice regarding the award ceremony.”
In response to the directive issued by the league body, representatives of award recipient Mr. Anas Yusuf have indicated that the player will abstain from the event in compliance with the NPFL’s instructions.
The organisers of the Eunisell Boot, however, have publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the league’s position, lamenting what they describe as an unnecessary disruption to a long-standing initiative. Mr. Ojeikere Aikhoje—who also administers the League Bloggers Award—stated:
“As the organiser of the prestigious Eunisell Boot, I remain proud of the measurable impact Eunisell Ltd., an ISO-certified company, has had on the NPFL. At a time when many brands have disengaged from the league, Eunisell has remained committed and supportive for a decade without interruption.”
Criticism has also been directed at the NPFL’s approach. Football analyst Ralph George remarked:
“This course of action is counterproductive. The Eunisell Boot Award should be celebrated, not condemned. The NPFL stands to benefit from private initiatives that incentivise player performance and market the sport positively.”
Mr. Aikhoje added:
“The Eunisell Boot has existed since 2018. It is confounding that, in 2025, this initiative is now being declared ‘illegal.’ It raises concerns regarding the message being sent to other serious sponsors or brands considering involvement with the NPFL.”
Sports journalist Rasaq Oboirien also weighed in critically, stating:
“The NPFL management appears to lack the necessary engagement strategy to advance the league’s interests. Referring to a reputable, ISO-certified entity as ‘unscrupulous’ undermines confidence in the league’s capacity to build meaningful corporate relationships.”#newsafro_
