Nigeria football looks to be, unfortunately, heading into a long,
dark night as world football –governing body is set to wield
the big stick today against the most populous black nation on
earth.
Even as the Super Eagles still have a chance of qualifying for
the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to defend their crown, despite
a poor start in the race; even with the Golden Eaglets, the
reigning champions of the world, ready to compete at the
African Championship to be eligible to travel to Chile to defend
their world title next year, and with the Super Falcons
reclaiming their continental title in Namibia on Saturday, non
–conformity to simple football rules and regulations has put
Nigeria at the danger of a big slam.
On Saturday in Windhoek, Namibia, CAF President Issa
Hayatou told Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo in
clear terms that the world was fed up with Nigeria’s
incorrigibility in the area of football administration.
Issa Hayatou
Hayatou’s words: “I had to plead passionately with FIFA
President, Mr. Sepp Blatter not to take action on Nigeria on
Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of the African Women
Championship and a ban on your country would have been
bad for the competition and our sponsors. We all heard the
news of the court ruling on Thursday, and the football world is
angry with Nigeria. That is the truth.
“The FIFA letter that came to your Federation before the
elections of September 30 was very clear about an automatic
suspension should there be any interference with the political
process, and after the elections went ahead, we all thought
you had settled your issues.”
The CAF supremo, at a meeting that had Nigeria’s Sports
Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Nigeria’s High Commissioner
to Namibia, Ambassador Biodun Olorunfemi, Nigeria’s Deputy
President of the CAF Appeal Board, Mazi Amanze
Uchegbulam, CAF General Coordinator, Mr. Paul Bassey and
CAF Media Committee Member, Aisha Falode in attendance,
said there was no going back on suspension of Nigeria this
week if football matters are not withdrawn from civil courts.
“I appealed to FIFA to give until Monday for Nigeria to put its
act together. After that, there is absolutely nothing I can do. It
is all very disappointing because we have over 50 National
Associations in Africa, but a big country like Nigeria is the one
always giving us the biggest headache.
“Nigeria signed to be part of the football world by joining
FIFA, and opted to abide by the FIFA –approved Statutes that
you have. How many times do we have to tell your country
that football matters are not taken to civil courts? If Nigeria
no longer wants to be part of the football world, then so be
it,” an obviously exasperated Hayatou said. His French words
were translated to the rest of the Nigeria delegation by the
multi-lingual Paul Bassey.
It would be recalled that FIFA President Blatter and CAF
President Hayatou, as well as several National Associations
and NFF’s partners and political leaders around the world,
congratulated Amaju Pinnick following his victory at the
September 30 elections.
NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who was,
inexplicably, stopped by security operatives at the Murtala
Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on his way to
Namibia on Friday night with the Sports Minister, monitored
the meeting on phone.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court, Jos gave a ruling
setting aside the FIFA –ordered elections of 30th September,
2014 into the NFF Executive Committee, stoking the fire of
anger at the world body’s Zurich headquarters.
The NFF Executive Committee, led by Amaju Pinnick, has filed
for a Stay-of-Execution of the order at the same court, which
the court said it will be hear on Wednesday.
Falode, who spoke from Windhoek on Sunday, said it was
obvious the Government of Nigeria has to now intervene to
avoid the hammer falling on Nigeria football.
“The future of millions of Nigerian youth is being put at risk by
some persons who feel they have nothing to lose in the case
of a FIFA ban. It is now for the Government to wade in. If we
get suspended from international football now, FIFA will not
revisit the matter until their 65th Congress on May 29, 2015.
That would be too bad for our country’s football,” Falode
said...