FIFA Ban Looms Over Nigeria, Again

Nigerian football risks
another international ban only two months after FIFA suspended the country following direct interference by government in the game.
This latest ban would mean Nigeria forfeiting their 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa early next month.
The world football governing body has approved for a Nigeria Football Federation NFF general assembly for Warri tomorrow.
But in yet another flagrant interference by government, the  sports minister, Tammy Danagogo, has allegedly ordered for elections into the executive committee of the football federation same day in Abuja.
Tidesports gathered that FIFA is likely to further clarify their position on the latest crisis that has engulfed Nigerian football today ahead of the congress in Warri.
In a bid for a peaceful resolution to the latest conflict, the secretary to the federal government (SGF), Pius Anyim, had “suggested” that the polls be conducted tomorrow, but he could not readily come up with an acceptable venue for this.
However, further consultations have now made Anyim, himself a qualified lawyer, to know his suggestion would be in clear breach of NFF statutes as well as an open defiance to FIFA order.
Former NFF vice-president Amanze Uchegbulam, who is also vice-chairman of the CAF appeals committee, told the SGF he will not be a party to the sham insisted on by the sports minister.
“Even if I’m finally given nomination form for the elections, I will not be part of any exercise in Abuja as it is an exercise in futility. It cannot stand the test of the time,” he argued.
Chairman committee on sports of the House of Representatives, Godfrey Gaiya, said yesterday in Kaduna that elections cannot take place in Abuja tomorrow because it did not follow laid down rules and procedures.
In a strongly-worded open letter to the sports minister, former Kano Pillars chairman Abba Yola warned litigations will follow any elections in Abuja tomorrow.
But on Saturday, controversial electoral committee chairman Amoni Biambo raised the ante when he invited congress delegates via email to the Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja for the elections tomorrow.
Biambo clearly overstepped his bounds as only the president of the NFF, Aminu Maigari, is empowered to do so.
The elections must also be observed by representatives of FIFA, CAF and WAFU, and FIFA has already announced their observer will only attend the polls as ordered by the congress in Warri tomorrow.
Tidesports sources further gathered that the confusion that has now enveloped Nigerian football is being fueled by the “crazed desperation” of a particular NFF presidential candidate, who has compromised top government officials with cash and promises of appointments in the NFF.
In one of the meetings with Anyim, one of the top-ranked sports ministry officials openly alleged that this particular candidate had compromised some of those charged with organising the polls.