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. -Unless there is change of cognizance, the world soccer ruling body, FIFA may suspend Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) today from international competitions and all football related activities. This is even as the Super Eagles still have hope of qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to defend their crown and 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. With the Super Falcons wining Africa Women Championship AWC) title for seventh time during the weekend in Namibia non –conformity to simple football rules and regulations has put Nigeria at the danger of a big slam.
CAF President, Issa Hayatou during in Windhoek, Namibia before AWC final match between Nigeria and Cameroon, told Sports Minister and Chairman National Sports Commission (NSC), Tammy Danagogo in clear terms that the world was fed up with Nigeria’s incorrigibility in the area of football administration.
“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,” Hayatou stated.
“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Aisha Falode in attendance, said there was no going back on suspension of Nigeria this week if football matters are not withdrawn from civil courts.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.”
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.
From
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