The Langtang North Amateur Football Association (LAFA) has withdrawn from the 2026 Plateau State Governor’s Cup following a dispute over the rescheduling of its fixture against Langtang South.

In a formal letter addressed to the Plateau State Football Association (PFA), LAFA requested an explanation for the fixture change and the subsequent decision to award Langtang South three points and four goals.

Speaking to Inside Plateau, LAFA chairman Amb. Miri Timman Nyantau said the dispute was part of a series of grievances against the PFA leadership under its chairman, Prince Suleiman Yahaya Kwande.

LAFA CHAIRMAN CITES LONG-STANDING GRIEVANCES

He questioned the manner in which the change was communicated, saying he expected the association to contact him directly.

“We have had these grievances for a long time. In the first year of this administration, our opponents used a banned player, and we protested, but nothing was done,” Nyantau told Inside Plateau.

The LAFA chairman said the association experienced a similar situation in the second year of the administration, claiming that its concerns again failed to receive the desired attention.

“In the second year, under the same leadership, it was still the same thing. Nothing was done,” he added.

Nyantau maintained that the latest dispute over the Governor’s Cup fixture was another incident in a series of disagreements between the association and the state football governing body.

According to him, he contacted a member of the PFA to seek clarification but was allegedly told that the organisers had the authority to change fixtures at any time.

“I called a member of the PFA to ask about the fixture change, and I was told that they were the organisers and could change fixtures at any time,” Nyantau said.

He explained that Langtang North had already made arrangements for its next scheduled fixture against Jos South and was prepared to honour that encounter.

However, he said the association was subsequently instructed to play Langtang South on Thursday instead.“We had already made our plans for the match against Jos South because that was our next fixture. But the PFA told us we had to play Langtang South on Thursday,” he said.

Nyantau maintained that the association declined to honour the rescheduled fixture because its preparations had been based on the original schedule.“We could not play the match because we had already made different plans for the different opponents,” he added.

Nyantau also expressed dissatisfaction with the subsequent decision to award Langtang South three points and four goals after Langtang North failed to play the rescheduled fixture.

PFA EXPLAINS REASON FOR FIXTURE CHANGE

However, Ezra Simon Godit, Head of Competitions for the 2026 Plateau State Governor’s Cup and a PFA member, offered a different account, explaining that the decision was made to accommodate WASE after the team experienced registration and arrival delays.

Godit said the organisers initially encountered difficulties with WASE’s registration before the intervention of the commissioner and PFA chairman, who approved the team’s registration.

He explained that WASE had indicated it might not be able to arrive on Tuesday as initially planned but later confirmed it could come on Wednesday or Friday. The team eventually arrived on Wednesday and played its first match that day.

According to Godit, Langtang North and Langtang South had already played two matches each by the time WASE arrived, creating a scheduling challenge for the organisers.

“If Langtang North played Langtang South next, they would have played three matches while WASE had not played any match,” Godit explained.

“As organisers, we felt it was not wise to allow one team to play three matches while another team had not even started.”

He said the organisers therefore moved the Langtang North versus Langtang South fixture to Thursday to allow WASE to play its scheduled match on Wednesday.

Godit added that the adjustment was also intended to prevent a situation in which WASE would have to play several matches after other teams had completed their fixtures, potentially raising concerns about the integrity of the competition.

DISAGREEMENT OVER NOTIFICATION AND RESCHEDULING

Godit maintained that the revised fixture schedule was posted in the official Governor’s Cup communication forum, where coaches and association chairmen had been instructed to monitor updates.

He noted that Nyantau was also an administrator in the forum.

According to Godit, Nyantau called him later that evening after noticing the change, and he explained that the fixture had been moved to accommodate WASE.

Godit alleged that Nyantau insisted Langtang North would play Langtang South on Wednesday as originally scheduled, despite the explanation.

“He said if we were not going to allow them to play, they would pack their things and go,” Godit claimed.

He said he asked Nyantau whether he was threatening to withdraw from the competition, adding that the LAFA chairman allegedly maintained that the team would not play any other opponent and would leave.

Godit said he responded, “If you are going, safe journey.”

PFA ACCUSES LAFA CHAIRMAN OF PREVENTING PLAYERS FROM PLAYING

Godit also disputed Nyantau’s account of an earlier failure to play Langtang South, alleging that the LAFA chairman had prevented his players from taking part.

According to Godit, Langtang North’s players had arrived at the venue, dressed and prepared to play, but Nyantau allegedly refused to allow them onto the pitch.

He further alleged that on the day of the subsequent fixture, the players gathered and dressed for the match, but Nyantau prevented them from proceeding to the venue before submitting a formal withdrawal letter.

PFA REFERS MATTER TO ETHICS AND DISCIPLINARY COMMITTEES

Godit said PFA chairman Prince Suleiman Yahaya Kwande had referred the matter to the association’s ethics and disciplinary committees for review.

He added that the committees would examine the circumstances surrounding Langtang North’s withdrawal and determine the next course of action.