NFF: Our Woes Defy Logic

The dwindling fortunes of the country’s football is giving the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, some serious concern.

The height of the misfortune was the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations, following their 2-2 draw against Syli Nationale of Guinea at the Abuja Stadium. The shock ouster of Enyimba Football Club of Aba from the CAF Champions League by Wydad Casablanca of Morocco in Aba, Sunshine walking a tightrope in their CAF Confederation Cup after they lost a home match to Club Afrcaine of Tunisia in the semi final tie of the tourney in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State and to compound it all, last weekend, Super Falcons lost the ticket to feature in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

The Cameroonian ladies defeated the Falcons 3-4 through penalty shootouts after they played 2-2 draw at regulation time. The Falcons went into the match with a 2-1 victory in the first leg in Abuja, but the Lioness cancelled the two goals to win the encounter.

With the myriad of tragedies befalling the game in the country, Media Officer of the NFF, Demola Olajire, said that the problems are beyond the football authority, as it defies logic.

He said what is happening in Nigerian football needs to be addressed by all the stakeholders of the game in the country.

“Our football is suffering now and I have spoken with my President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, who told me that he will fix a date for a stakeholders’ summit where issues regarding the problems will be discussed and solutions provided to get us out of the woods,” he said.

—Sunday Akintoye