FIFA announced yesterday that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been suspended with immediate effect, on account of government interference. The ban means no Nigerian national teams, nor club teams, can participate in international tournaments until FIFA is satisfied that the NFF is in charge of its own affairs.
The move comes after the Nigerian government sacked – and indeed arrested – the President of the NFF and its Executive Council following the Super Eagles’ Last 16 exit from the World Cup, appointing a civil servant – Lawrence Katken – in their place. The act is a breach of articles 13 and 17 of the FIFA statues, which state that national federations must be allowed to act independently of third parties.
FIFA issued an ultimatum on July 4th, giving the Nigerian government until the 8th to reinstate the removed NFF members and allow elections to take place in-line with the NFF’s FIFA-approved constitution. Instead, an extraordinary general assembly of the NFF was called by Katken to vote out the current leadership.
Tammy Danagogo, Nigeria’s Sports Minister, claims the removal of the NFF executives was part of his government’s “constitutional duty to maintain law and order,” insisting that they were in fact acting to ensure the NFF’s independence:
“When factions in [the] football family begin to dispute, we have a duty to see that we don’t allow them [to] kill themselves, we don’t allow them [to] destroy the buildings where they are operating…. The Maigari (former NFF President) exco had tried to set up electoral machinery to ensure they were re-elected and the majority have come together to say no.”
The Nigerian government has form here. After the 2010 World Cup, President Goodluck Jonathan tried to dissolve the NFF and ban the Super Eagles from international competition following a less-than-super showing in South Africa. Dr Jonathan “graciously rescinded” the decision following pressure from FIFA.
While few would condone such blatant governmental involvement in sporting affairs, there are undoubtedly problems within the Nigeria Football Federation. The national team is perpetually involved in player rows over unpaid bonuses, most recently ahead of their Last 16 clash with France and in last year’s Confederations Cup. Similarly, the day after their victory in the 2013 African Cup of Nations, Head Coach Stephen Keshi tendered his resignation following reports that the NFF had pre-booked the team on flights home for after their quarter final clash with Ivory Coast, a match they went on to win. Keshi, who was later convinced to stay on as coach, says he himself is still owed hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid wages by the NFF.
The Nigerian Football Federation is in serious danger after FIFA bans them from competition. (Photo: @TheWorldGame | Twitter)
Whoever is ultimately at fault, and regardless of whether one considers the government’s intentions malicious or benevolent, the only known fact is that Nigeria won’t be defending their African Cup of Nations title – qualifying rounds for which start in early September – until they set their house in order.
