By Paul Agada
Organisers of the ongoing Naija Super 8 tournament, Flykite Productions, have outlined qualification tie-breakers to separate teams on equal standings in the group stage of the tournament. The tournament, which began on 7 July and ends on Sunday, is taking place at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Flykite Productions explained that the criteria for determining clubs eligible for the semi-finals are contained in the tournament’s rule book, copies of which were given to participating clubs before the tournament.
According to the statement, the provisions of Article 47 of the Naija Super 8 Rules and Regulations will be strictly applied if the need arises after the final group stage game between Katsina United and Sporting Lagos on Thursday.
“The final group stage game between Sporting Lagos and Katsina United will be played on Thursday. It is pertinent that we reiterate that the criteria for separating teams tied on common qualification criteria are contained in the tournament’s rule book.
“To determine teams eligible for the semi-finals, the four clubs in each group will be judged based on the number of points amassed, their goal difference, number of goals scored and the quality of their fair play.
“If two or more teams are tied on the above stated criteria, they will be ranked in the following order: greatest number of points obtained among the concerned teams, the best goal difference among the teams and the greatest number of goal scored among them.
“If teams still tie after the above stated criteria have been applied in the right order, the concerned teams will be judged based on their goal difference in all group matches, greatest number of goals scored in all groups matches and the better fair play status among the them.
“If all of these have been applied and teams still tie, a coin toss method will be used to determine the final ranking of the teams concerned,” Flykite Productions concluded in the statement.
The organisers assured all participating clubs and stakeholders of an unbiased process and reiterated their commitment to ensuring level playing ground for all the teams competing in the tournament. Group B games will be concluded on Wednesday when Lobi Stars take on Akwa United at 2pm, after which Yobe Desert Stars take on Rivers United at 4.30pm.
Group A games will be concluded with a clash between Katsina United and Sporting Lagos at 4.30pm.
Naija Super 8 is organised by Flykite Productions in partnership with MultiChoice Nigeria and sponsors, MTN, Hero Lager, DStv, GOtv, SuperSport, Moniepoint, Pepsi and Custodian Assurance.
