Sports
Mixed Reactions Trail Siasia’s Sack
Mixed reactions have started to trail the sack of Nigeria Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia, last Friday, by the board of Nigeria Football Federation.
The action of NFF was occasioned by the inability of Siasia to qualify the national team, for the forthcoming Orange Africa Cup of Nations scheduled to be co-hosted by Gabon and Equitorial Gunea, January, next year.
In his reactions, the Chief Coach of Sharks FC, Port Harcourt, Imama Amapakabo, said the contracted agreement should be respected, adding that the sack of Siasia was based on the terms of agreement.
According to him, Siasia is not the problem, but the structures of Nigeria football, adding that NFF has failed to address the fundamental problems.
“The issue is not the coach we are failing to address the real problem, what is our league like? Amapakabo asked?
Amapakabo stated that the major problem facing the country is lack of developmental programmes for football in the country.
“How many Nigerian players that plays in first team in their various clubs abroad? You can imagine in our local league there are no credible personal to take our football to the next level in terms of administration and technically.
In his view, the Chief Coach of Rivers state football Association, Tony Chuku, said that the sack is justified as Siasia signed in agreement with NFF to qualify the Eagles for Nations Cup pointing out that his failure was no body’s fault.
“I believed in agreement and as he signed the agreement with NFF to qualify us, since he has failed, he will be sacked because agreement is agreement” he said.
Meanwhile former Enugu Rangers skipper and national team invitee Ndubisi Ajomiwe, said that the NFA had no moral right to sack the beleaguered coach.
“Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the nation’s cup was caused mainly by the ineptitude of the NFA so it should also give way for the nation’s football to be repositioned.
“It will be difficult for a new coach to succeed under the defective structure put in place by the NFA, so the changes should be holistic.’’
Chief Adol Awam, foremost sports promoter in the state, supported Siasia’s sack, noting that the Eagles needed a coach who could effectively manage the players considering their complex orientation.
“The deplorable situation of our football warrants the appointment of a coach who would command the respect of the players and make them understand the significance of playing for the national team.
“Siasia failed in his assignment because he saw the players as rivals, on whom he must enforce discipline without recourse to diplomacy or other friendly means.”
Nicodemus Omenka, a former Ebonyi Commissioner for Youths and Sports, however, condemned Siasia’s sack, saying that he could have been allowed to correct his mistakes.
“Siasia started a rebuilding process of the team which ought to have been given some time to materialise.
“His antecedents with the various national teams show that he could have identified his shortcomings and fashioned out modalities that would bring back the glorious days of our football,’’ he said.
Ifeyinwa Ezeakum, a member of Ebonyi female football team, called on the NFA to appoint a foreign coach for the Falcons to return the team’s dominance on the African continent.
“Female football globally has gone above the knowledge of local coaches, so a reputable foreign manager is needed to infuse the desired technical input into the team,” she said.
Technical Director, Awka United FC of Uyo, Charles Bassey, has welcomed the sack of Super Eagles Coach, Samson Siasia, by the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) saying “the decision was justified.”
Siasia was relieved of his appointment over the weekend by the Executive Committee of the NFA over his inability to qualify the team for the Africa Nations Cup.
Bassey, a former coach of defunct Mobil Pegasus FC of Eket, told the Tidesports over the weekend in Uyo that Siasia did not live up to the terms of his contract.
“He was doing well initially but later lost grip. He had a problem of quarrelling with the players.
“Players are your tools. If you scold them, you later draw them close to yourself again.
“Siasia is, however, growing, this is a big lesson to him. In future he will be able to handle situations properly,” Bassey said.
He said that the problem of Nigerian football was not that of coaching alone.
“NFA also needs to search itself. We need a good league system to enable us select good players,” Bassey said.
Also reacting to the sack of Siasia, the Akwa Ibom Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Mr Uwem Ekoh, said the decision of the NFA was a welcome development.
“The decision is a way of moving forward. Siasia was too concerned about discipline in the team to the detriment of other considerations, so let him rest,” Ekoh said.
In the same vein, Former Nigeria Football Association (NFA) Technical Director, Kashimawo Laloko, and Super Falcons coach, Paul Hamilton, have backed the sack of the Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia.
The two coaches, however, warned the NFA against employing foreign coaches for the national teams.
The executive committee of the NFA last Friday sacked Siasia after ratifying the decision of the technical committee at their extra-ordinary meeting in Abuja.
Hamilton, who had also handled the Green Eagles, said that it was expected that Siasia would be sacked following his inability to qualify Nigeria for the 2012 Africa Nation‘s Cup.
While maintaining that Siasia‘s sack was not the solution to the problem,they added that hiring a foreign coach would be a mistake.
“NFA employed Siasia and as far as he could not keep to the terms of the contract, then he should not be surprised at the decision.
“The NFA should go back to the drawing board to know where we got it wrong, then proffer solution because foreign coaches cannot give us the solution,’’ Hamilton said.
Reacting to the disengagement of Siasia, Laloko, the proprietor, Pepsi Football Academy, said that it was not a surprise that he was sacked.
He, however , advised against the employment of foreign coaches, stressing that local coaches would perform better if given adequate international training.
“Siasia had many assumptions. In that kind of job, one needs patience, concentration, perseverance and a heart of forgiveness.
“Our coaches need adequate international training and FIFA licence to perform better. Even Siasia is not FIFA licenced,’’ Laloko said.
He advised the NFA to go to the grassroots to scout for viable players for football to take a new shape in the country.
While the zone won overall medals, it however was 13 gold medals behind the Force Headquarters, which won 103 gold while zone 2 won 90 gold medals.
The zone won 79 silver medals while the Force Headquarters won 65 silver medals. On the Bronze table, Zone 2 came first with 77 while the Force Headquarters won 75.
Umuahia came third with 44 gold medals, 26 silver and 23 bronze medals.
Out of the zones, Bauchi came 18th after ending the competition with zero gold, six silver and 15 bronze medals.
Speaking at the Zonal Command Headquarters in Onikan, Lagos, where he officially received the Zone 2 sport contingents, Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in charge of Zone 2, Adegoke Fayoade, expressed optimism that some of the winners would represent Nigeria at the Olympics and do the country proud like Chioma Ajunwa.
“I salute our athletes for being good representatives”
It was as if we were not going to meet up when the competition was announced, however, despite the late preparation, our team excelled and made Lagos and Ogun proud.
“Coming out with the total of 246 medals, being the highest in the competition shows that we are the real champion. Even though the Force Headquarters came first with the highest number of gold medals, we still give kudos for our athletes for their outstanding performance. I have no doubt in my mind that the athletes in the Nigeria Police Force will represent Nigeria.
“I appreciate the immediate past Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun for allowing the game to continue and made sure this was a success. The Commissioner of Police in Lagos and Ogun State provided the logistics and support in other ways, and the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in charge of the Zonal Criminal Investigation Department (ZCID) for Zone 2, Olubode Fakeye for being with the athletes through the event. His presence motivated the athletes to attain the level. We thank God for safety.
“The next event is in two years and I am urging the athletes to start preparing,” he said.
“All of these are fully entrenched in the Niger Delta Games,” he said while declaring the 2nd edition closed in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday night.
Olopade, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the closing ceremony, delivered a passionate address highlighting the broader value of sports to national development, youth empowerment and economic growth.
He described the Niger Delta Games as a living example of how sport can unify communities while stimulating local economies, adding that the Commission would continue to back the initiative.
“This is why I make a bold statement today that the National Sports Commission will continue to support Dunamis Icon and the Games,” he said.
Olopade emphasised that the vision behind the Games aligns strongly with President Tinubu’s commitment to repositioning sports as a strategic tool for youth engagement and national development.
“The father of the nation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has shown in so many ways his determination to use sports as a tool of empowerment and engagement with the most important demographic in our country, the youth,” he said.
“For the first time in this country, sport is being given its rightful position in government. The President did not stop at that. Just last week, in a meeting with the Chairman of the Commission, sweeping reform policies were approved. These reforms will ensure that sporting facilities are upgraded and equitably distributed across the nation, while also opening the door for increased private sector involvement in sports.”
“In the last one year, we have taken deliberate steps to collect data from sporting events organised across the country. The numbers show clearly that these Games are putting money in the pockets of our people. They are supporting small businesses, creating direct and induced jobs, boosting corporate sponsorship opportunities and creating visibility for host cities and states,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Dunamis Icon Ltd and lead Consultant to the NDG, Sir Itiako Ikpokpo, has revealed plans to increase the number of sports from 16 to 21 at the next edition.
Speaking to journalists at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, Ikpokpo explained that the expansion would depend largely on the popularity of the sports within the Niger Delta region.
According to him, the vision of the games goes beyond winning medals, stressing that talent discovery remains the primary objective.
He noted that canoeing was removed from this year’s programme due to lack of equipment in participating states, while Taekwondo was introduced instead.
He emphasised that one of the key legacies of the Games is ensuring athletes welfare and proper organisation.
He called for a return to vibrant school sports and urged state governments to adequately fund coaches to drive grassroots talent identification.
Speaking in Abuja while receiving a delegation that formally presented him with a letter of nomination for an award, Shaibu said the current administration has shown uncommon commitment to repositioning sports as a strategic tool for youth empowerment, national unity, and economic diversification.
According to him, President Tinubu’s interest in sports development goes beyond rhetoric, noting that the National Sports Commission and its agencies are now enjoying improved attention and funding.
“I want to thank Mr President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for consistently showing interest in funding and developing Nigerian sports and using it as a vehicle to empower the youth, unite Nigeria, and diversify the economy,” Shaibu said.
He added that the President has issued a clear directive to restore Nigerian sports to global prominence—a mandate the NIS is determined to fulfil.
The immediate past Deputy Governor of Edo State maintained that his passion for sports is longstanding and not politically motivated.
Reflecting on his tenure overseeing sports in Edo State, he recalled the transformation of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and the development of several mini stadia across the state as deliberate efforts to revive grassroots sports and create accessible platforms for young talents.
“We’re happy that the little we have done is being noticed,” he said, emphasising that sports had always been his first love.
He explained that politics only provided an avenue to confront systemic lapses and promote structured development in the sector.
On his appointment as DG of the NIS, Shaibu acknowledged initial scepticism, especially from those who recalled his past criticisms of Nigeria’s sports administration.
“When I was appointed, I was told I was one of those who criticised the system. They said, ‘Now you have the opportunity; let’s see how you will run it.’ I came and met a wilderness. It was tough at the beginning,” he admitted.
However, he said he chose action over excuses, starting with office renovations to create a conducive working environment rather than waiting for federal allocations.
Addressing claims that the role amounted to a demotion from his former position, Shaibu said public service should be measured by impact, not title. “If the President finds you worthy out of over 200 million Nigerians, who am I to say no? Any position you are called to serve your country is recognition,” he remarked.
He disclosed that upon assuming office, he convened stakeholders and management to interrogate the reasons behind the Institute’s past struggles.
The outcome was a comprehensive 10-year strategic development plan aimed at restoring relevance. “Sports is a business, but if we put money first, we will miss it. If we put ideas and structure first, we will get it right. Nigeria must come before material gains,” he said.
Earlier, the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), led by George Aluo, formally presented Shaibu with a letter detailing their decision to honour him.
The groups said the award recognises Shaibu’s resilience, visionary leadership, and bold reforms at the NIS. They cited his stakeholder engagement, strategic direction, and achievements in Edo State—particularly the revitalisation of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium and the construction and upgrade of mini stadia—as catalysts for grassroots sports development. They also described his acceptance of the NIS role despite public criticism as an act of humility, patriotism, and commitment to national service.
In response, Shaibu expressed gratitude for the recognition, describing it as encouragement to remain focused on institutional reforms. He reaffirmed that the NIS under his leadership would continue to align with the President’s vision of rebuilding Nigeria’s sporting glory through structure, innovation, and dedication to national interest.
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