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.
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are not withdrawn from civil courts.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.
--Vanguard
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