27th December, 2011
Stakeholders in Nigerian football have continued to lament the woes that befell the game in the country in the outgoing year.
President General of Nigerian Football and other Sports Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo is so sad that the national teams have brought misfortunes to the country in the year 2011.
To Dr. Ladipo, whose Supporters Club has been adjudged by FIFA and CAF as the most friendly and entertaining football fans group on a number of occasions, Nigerian football has scored a low mark in the outgoing year than in the previous years.
“This is a bad year for Nigerian football,” said Dr. Ladipo. “Nigerian football has scored a low mark following the failure of our teams to qualify for major international championships next year.”
The Super Eagles failed to make it to the Africa Cup of Nations, which will takes place in the next three weeks in Gabon and Equatoria Guinea, while the U-23 Eagles and the Super Falcons also failed in their bids to secure tickets to play in the male and female football events of next year’s London Olympics.
But Ladipo is hopeful, 2012 will be a better year for the nation if only all hands are on deck to put things in proper shape and officials as well as the players learn from the mistakes of the past.
“I think hope is not lost. The New Year will be better for us, but we must be serious in what we are doing,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Media Officer of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Ademola Olajire has said that the Football House will work with Nigeria Premier League, NPL board for a better local league next year.
“We are going to support the NPL to promote the local league next season,” he said.
By Sunday Akintoye