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Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) side Heartland FC has declared their central defender, Peter Afolayan, Absent Without Official Leave (AWOL).

The announcement was made in a statement issued by the club’s management on Tuesday.

According to the club, Afolayan has been unreachable, with his whereabouts unknown since the conclusion of the league’s first stanza on December 28, 2024.

Heartland’s Chief Coach, Charles Uzor, confirmed the situation, expressing concern over the player’s disappearance. The club has urged the public and football stakeholders to avoid engaging in any football-related transactions with Afolayan or his representatives, warning that such actions could lead to issues of double registration.

The club reiterated that Afolayan remains a bona fide member of the Heartland squad with a running contract valid until the end of the 2025-26 season.

Official Club Statement
In part, the club’s statement reads:
“Heartland is using this medium to inform football clubs both outside and within Nigeria that our central defender, Peter Afolayan, who was last seen at the end of the first stanza on December 28, 2024, has been missing.

“Afolayan is a bona fide player of Heartland, with a running contract until the 2025-26 season.

“The club warns members of the public against conducting any football-related business with the player or his representative, as it could lead to double registration, with all its attendant consequences and penalties, since he is still under a valid contract with Heartland.”

Heartland’s management assured fans and stakeholders that they are making efforts to address the situation while urging Afolayan to re-establish contact with the team.