Averting Another FIFA Ban

For the second time in less than three
months, Nigeria risks another ban from
the world’s football governing body, FIFA. Infact, if by September 8, 2014, the Ambassador Chris-Giwa-led faction of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) executive fails to vacate the Federation’s Glass House in Abuja, Nigeria will again be sanctioned.
This is coming after two factions: one led by Chris Giwa and another by Aminu Maigari last Tuesday held two separate congresses. While the Maigari’s majority group  which met in Warri, fixed elections for yesterday, the Giwa group went ahead to conduct elections, took oath and quickly paid a courtesy visit on the Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo.
With each faction claiming right and victory, it was not clear which body was and should be incharge of the Nigerian football house, as a legitimate crop. But in what appears to be a tie-breaker, FIFA early this week withheld recognition of the Giwa-led executive on grounds that the elections that produced it,  did not follow laid down rules and regulations.
From FIFA’s perspective, the Maigari-led NFF remains the legitimate executive, pending the emergence of his successor after a duly constituted congress where, elections would be held. This is the official position.
But why is succession in NFF such a big problem? For how long will few football managers hold the country hostage and near-frequently expose the nation to avoidable embarrassment, for their self interests and appetites? Enough is enough.
The other day, FIFA suspended Nigeria for alleged government interference in the affairs of the NFF, after virtually accusing the Federal Government of masterminding the removal of Aminu Maigari from office and therefore ordered his re-instatement.
After that, Nigerians expected to find a more mature and better organised NFF board that would prepare for  credible elections, since the Maigari-led executive’s tenure was fast running out. Nigerians expected all factions to bury the hatchet, re-unite and elect a fresh leadership, and not the factional executive produced in Abuja on September 2, this year.
Sadly,the  over meddlesomeness in the affairs of the NFF, which FIFA has repeatedly accused the Nigerian government of doing played out early this week, when, the controversial executive was received with open arms by the Minister of Sports, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, even amidst FIFA caution.
Rather than back any faction, we expect the Sports Minister to be an unbiased mediator that will help return peace to the NFF and by extention prevent any lull in football development in the land. That is the right thing to do.
Nigeria cannot afford another ban by FIFA over an issue as ephemeral as elections into the NFF board, because the consequences are huge. For one thing, the Super Eagles, Nigeria’s senior national team starts its campaign for qualification for the African Nations Cup in Calabar, tomorrow among other Championships lined-up for the other age-grade teams.
Therefore, rather than bicker over positions, the warring factions should unite, jaw-jaw and after all, vote a leadership they can entrust soccer-development with. It should be an executive that will inspire national support and unity and not factional tendencies.
Happily, the House of Representatives’ Committee on Sports has waded into the matter and has since interfaced with all stakeholders, including the Sports Minister and the two factional leaders. The Committee has also promised to make public pronouncements after the wide consultations.
The Tide commends the House Committee for that timely intervention and hopes that it would address all the issues in clearer detail to avoid any repeat. We also expect that all that work be done before the September 8 deadline, given Nigeria by FIFA, so that that the House Committee’s efforts shall not be in vain.
Thereafter, government and NFF should return to the round table and define the reach and limits of each stakeholder to avoid further accusations of government interference. With such groundwork in place, each party would know its rights and responsibilities and naturally avoid actions or inactions that would expose the county to embarrassment, in a near frequent manner, as has been observed.