Nigerian club sacks 40 players

Mighty Jets FC who last played in Nigeria’s top division in 2004 are currently in seventh place in the 13-team Northern Conference of the NNL.

The Jos-based side fired 40 players from their 65-man playing squad and have added 10 players in a bid to make their season better.

According to the sporting director of the club Benedict Akwuegbu, the sack was to cut off unproductive players.

"We had a big squad of 65 players, too crowded and unproductive, so we had to release 40 players," the former Nigeria international told BBC Sport.

"We only need 35 players for the season and some players were not even registered but training with the club. It was just too much.

"What we've done is retain the ones who have something to offer and bring in ten new players as well. It's like separating the wheat from the chaff.

"The atmosphere has changed now and we now have a squad capable of fighting in our tough quest for promotion."

Akwuegbu also revealed that Mighty Jets FC will continue to release players at the end of the season.

Mighty Jets won the Nigeria’s top division title in 1972 and won the NNL title in 2003. With that win, they were promoted to the top division where they only played a season before going back to the NNL.