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nairaland.net • View topic - ‘FIFA Is Running Out Of Patience With Nigeria’

‘FIFA Is Running Out Of Patience With Nigeria’

‘FIFA Is Running Out Of Patience With Nigeria’

Postby Richard Akindele » Mon Apr 10, 2006 5:33 pm

Former Super Eagles Coach Adegboyega Onigbinde, says Nigeria may yet be banned by world soccer governing body, FIFA over the festering face-off between the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) and the Ministry of Sports.

He said if FIFA eventually bans Nigeria, it will not be for the fact that people like him who should know did not speak up but because ego and self pride have taken over the better idea of patriotism.


Also making a contribution, Abia State Sports Commissioner, Emeka Inyama, said all the 36 state commissioners of sports had tried to intervene but were told by Sports Minister, Samaila Sambawa, that there was no need since he knows how best to handle the situation.


Onigbinde, who is in Abeokuta for the ongoing National Sports Festival tagged Gateway Games 2006 noted that the present NFA logjam was needless and asked Sambawa to come down from his high horse in the interest of Nigerian football.


“Each time some of us travel out of the country on international assignment, we are asked very embarrassing questions about the situation in the country and we seem not to be able to provide answers, and if Nigerians who are close to FIFA can’t provide solutions to a mere election disagreement, then the country should be prepared for a ban. I warn again, if Nigeria is suspended for just 24 hours, the cost will be great and the embarrassment to the country cannot be quantified. Let those who are in authority know now so that when it happens they won’t say we did not warn them,� he said.


Inyama on his part, noted that Sambawa holds the ace in the settlement of the logjam, especially after President Olusegun Obasanjo’s comments on the sorry state of sports in Abeokuta at the weekend. He said sports commissioners across the country have thought the logjam will end in a hurry but when it did not they decided to end it through a meeting with the Sports Minister.


“Our decision was that the Minister should allow us to deal with the NFA and can come in after we have taken a firm stand, because an election has been held and some people are disputing it. Unfortunately, we were not allowed and events in the last week show that those who are benefiting from the logjam may not allow it to end, so we may have to restart our consultations again.�

By Ben Alaiya,

Daily Independent (Lagos)
Richard Akindele
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