The World are fed up of Nigeria- Hayatou

Nigeria football looks to be, unfortunately, heading into
a long, dark night as world football –governing body is
set to wield the big stick today against the most
populous black nation on earth.
Even as the Super Eagles still have a chance of
qualifying for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to defend
their crown, despite a poor start in the race; even with
the Golden Eaglets, the reigning champions of the world,
ready to compete at the African Championship to be
eligible to travel to Chile to defend their world title next
year, and with the Super Falcons reclaiming their
continental title in Namibia on Saturday, non –
conformity to simple football rules and regulations has
put Nigeria at the danger of a big slam.
On Saturday in Windhoek, Namibia, CAF President Issa
Hayatou told Nigeria’s Sports Minister, Tammy
Danagogo in clear terms that the world was fed up with
Nigeria’s incorrigibility in the area of football
administration.
Hayatou’s words: “I had to plead passionately with FIFA
President, Mr. Sepp Blatter not to take action on Nigeria
on Friday, because Nigeria was in the final of the African
Women Championship and a ban on your country would
have been bad for the competition and our sponsors. We
all heard the news of the court ruling on Thursday, and
the football world is angry with Nigeria. That is the
truth.
“The FIFA letter that came to your Federation before the
elections of September 30 was very clear about an
automatic suspension should there be any interference
with the political process, and after the elections went
ahead, we all thought you had settled your issues.”
The CAF supremo, at a meeting that had Nigeria’s Sports
Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Nigeria’s High
Commissioner to Namibia, Ambassador Biodun
Olorunfemi, Nigeria’s Deputy President of the CAF
Appeal Board, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, CAF General
Coordinator, Mr. Paul Bassey and CAF Media Committee
Member, Aisha Falode in attendance, said there was no
going back on suspension of Nigeria this week if
football matters are not withdrawn from civil courts.
“I appealed to FIFA to give until Monday for Nigeria to
put its act together. After that, there is absolutely
nothing I can do. It is all very disappointing because we
have over 50 National Associations in Africa, but a big
country like Nigeria is the one always giving us the
biggest headache.
“Nigeria signed to be part of the football world by
joining FIFA, and opted to abide by the FIFA –approved
Statutes that you have. How many times do we have to
tell your country that football matters are not taken to
civil courts? If Nigeria no longer wants to be part of the
football world, then so be it,” an obviously exasperated
Hayatou said. His French words were translated to the
rest of the Nigeria delegation by the multi-lingual Paul
Bassey.
It would be recalled that FIFA President Blatter and CAF
President Hayatou, as well as several National
Associations and NFF’s partners and political leaders
around the world, congratulated Amaju Pinnick following
his victory at the September 30 elections.
NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who was,
inexplicably, stopped by security operatives at the
Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos on his
way to Namibia on Friday night with the Sports Minister,
monitored the meeting on phone.
On Thursday, the Federal High Court, Jos gave a ruling
setting aside the FIFA –ordered elections of 30th
September, 2014 into the NFF Executive Committee,
stoking the fire of anger at the world body’s Zurich
headquarters.
The NFF Executive Committee, led by Amaju Pinnick, has
filed for a Stay-of-Execution of the order at the same
court, which the court said it will be hear on
Wednesday.
Falode, who spoke from Windhoek on Sunday, said it
was obvious the Government of Nigeria has to now
intervene to avoid the hammer falling on Nigeria
football.
“The future of millions of Nigerian youth is being put at
risk by some persons who feel they have nothing to lose
in the case of a FIFA ban. It is now for the Government
to wade in. If we get suspended from international
football now, FIFA will not revisit the matter until their
65th Congress on May 29, 2015. That would be too bad
for our country’s football,” Falode said.