The 2016-17 Premier Division went to a halt on February 7 as the referees needed the salaries for the 17th and the 26th rounds last season and the rounds of this season.,[2] it did not resumed until February 25 as the referees were paid four days earlier by its sponsorship of two telecommunications companies, one of them was Cabo Verde Telecom and the municipalities where the clubs are based.

The regional Judicial Council chose Benfica de Santa Cruz to compete at the nationals.

After putting that to the federal level, In Praia, the Capeverdean Football Federation (FCF) officially revoked the award to Juventus Assomada and its 2-4 result was kept and also declared AJAC regional champions on May 17 and qualifies into the national competition[5] as the suspended player in a 16th round match was not fielded and scored not a single goal that match, Juventus Assomada was relegated as they were officially 11th place for the season.

Benfica Santa Cruz and some clubs knew that a suspended player played in one of AJAC's matches after May 7.

After an official statement on 11 May 2017, both Tarrafal and Santa Cruz share the most titles won in the North Zone.