Kenyan side Lions FC face a FIFA transfer ban after losing an employment dispute against Ugandan coach Mubarak Abu Wamboya.
FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber has ordered Lions to pay Wamboya KES 280,000 following a decision delivered on September 18, 2026.
The Football Tribunal partially accepted Wamboya’s claim and awarded him KES 70,000 in outstanding remuneration and KES 210,000 as compensation for breach of contract.
Wamboya, who was represented in the proceedings by sports lawyer Timothy Kajja, had his claim partially accepted by FIFA’s Players’ Status Chamber.
Both amounts will attract an annual interest of 5% from March 17, 2026 until the date Lions complete payment.
The ruling gives the Kenyan club 45 days from notification to clear the full amount, including accumulated interest.
Failure to comply could result in Lions being banned from registering new players, both nationally and internationally, until the money is paid.
FIFA says the registration ban could remain in place for a maximum of three entire and consecutive registration periods.
Should the club remain in default after those three registration periods, the matter could be referred to the FIFA Disciplinary Committee upon request.
However, the sanctions are not automatic, FIFA states that the consequences will only be enforced at Wamboya’s request in accordance with its regulations.
The ruling represents a significant outcome for the Ugandan coach, although FIFA did not accept his claim in full. The chamber rejected any further claims beyond the KES 280,000 awarded.
The document released by FIFA does not disclose the circumstances that led to Wamboya’s dispute with Lions or the total amount he initially sought.
It also does not provide the chamber’s reasoning for determining that compensation for breach of contract was payable.
FIFA explained that the communication contains only the findings of the decision and not its grounds.
Either party can request the grounds through FIFA’s Legal Portal within 10 days of receiving the notification.
If neither party requests them within that period, the decision will become final and binding, with the parties deemed to have waived their right to appeal.