Appeals -- or answers -- must cover unsuccessful contestants (4-4)
I believe the answer is:
also-rans
'unsuccessful contestants' is the definition.
'also-rans' can be an answer for 'contestants' (also-ran is a kind of contestant). I'm not sure about the 'unsuccessful' bit.
'appeals or answers must cover' is the wordplay.
'cover' indicates a hidden word (I've seen 'covering' mean this).
'ALSO-RANS' is hidden in the letters of 'appeals or answers must'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for also-rans that I've seen before include "They're not placed among the first three" , "They do not finish in the first three" , "They don't win the race" , "Non-placed entrants" .)