It
could be recalled that Nigeria's Sports Minister, Tamuno Danagogo
effected an order of a court that sat in Jos, Plateau State restraining
the board of the Nigeria Football Federation, led by Aminu Maigari from
running the affairs of Nigerian football on allegations of mismanagement
of funds.
Also recently, the president of the NFF was arrested by men of the Department of State Security, DSS, upon arriving the country from Brazil, venue of the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Reports stated that Maigari was quizzed on the funding of Nigeria’s World Cup campaign and what the federation earned as donation or sponsorship.
Consequenly, the world football governing body warned the country, through a letter it sent to the NFF, that it would recognise political interference in the affairs of the Nigerian football body.
According to the letter signed by FIFA's Secretary -General, Jerome Valcke, FIFA warned on the dire consequence a suspension would have on Nigerian football.
‘"It would for instance mean that no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) could have any international sporting contact(article 14 par 3 of the FIFA Statutes).
* Shofoluwe
"It also means that neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials could benefit from any development programme, course or training from FIFA or CAF any longer,” the statement read in part.
FIFA added that punitive actions would be taken on Nigeria if the board of Aminu Maigari was not reinstated before July 8, 2014 (today).
Despite these threats and warnings by FIFA, the Sports Ministry remained resolute with its decision to stick with the court verdict that nullified Maigari's led NFF board.
As a result, an emergency congress of the NFF was held in Abuja few days ago where the NFF board, the national league and other agencies set up by the Maigari-led board were dissolved.
Hence, Nigeria's possible ban from any FIFA-related competition for years.
Commenting on his fears for Nigerian football if the FIFA ban is eventually effected, former Green Eagles defender, Yisa Shofoluwe said that Nigerian football lovers should expect the worst.
The former Eagles' defender stated that, "it has happened before when the President banned all football teams, anyone who was born then could recall vividly what followed afterwards.
"Nigeria is not special to FIFA in anyway so, if such a statement has been made, it simplies that it will be effected, especially if it is coming from FIFA".
On how much the country's round leather game would suffer if the ban is placed on Nigeria, Shofoluwe said, "I cannot say how terrible it will be but one definite thing is that we shall lose a lot in the process."
Also speaking on the possibility of the FIFA ban, former midfield sensation, Henry Nwosu, stated that there have been conflicting reports on the ban which makes it quite difficult to know what to believe.
* Henry Nwosu
Nwosu noted, however, that if the reports are truly from FIFA, then there could be trouble for Nigerian football in the coming years.
"With conflicting reports here and there, it could be quite difficult for one to state succinctly what awaits the country's football.
"But I know for sure that if anything contrary to FIFA's guidelines has happened, our football will have a sharp decline because we had just started gathering momentum before this ugly case presented itself," the Member of Order of Niger, MON, said.
It could be recalled that this is not the first time that FIFA is threatening to suspend Nigeria from all football related activities due to government interference.
In 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan had threatened to ban the country from all football activities for two years but after intervention of some Nigerian football stakeholders, the president rescinded his decision which forced FIFA not to ban Nigeria.
In a related development, latest report indicates that Nigeria's sports minister, Danagogo has reportedly sent former member of FIFA's executive committee, Amos Adamu, to Brazil to meet with the committee as a way of avoiding the FIFA ban.
As at the time of compiling this report, a lot of Nigerians are still keen to know the verdict of the World's governing body in the coming hours!
Also recently, the president of the NFF was arrested by men of the Department of State Security, DSS, upon arriving the country from Brazil, venue of the ongoing 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Reports stated that Maigari was quizzed on the funding of Nigeria’s World Cup campaign and what the federation earned as donation or sponsorship.
Consequenly, the world football governing body warned the country, through a letter it sent to the NFF, that it would recognise political interference in the affairs of the Nigerian football body.
According to the letter signed by FIFA's Secretary -General, Jerome Valcke, FIFA warned on the dire consequence a suspension would have on Nigerian football.
‘"It would for instance mean that no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) could have any international sporting contact(article 14 par 3 of the FIFA Statutes).
* Shofoluwe
"It also means that neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials could benefit from any development programme, course or training from FIFA or CAF any longer,” the statement read in part.
FIFA added that punitive actions would be taken on Nigeria if the board of Aminu Maigari was not reinstated before July 8, 2014 (today).
Despite these threats and warnings by FIFA, the Sports Ministry remained resolute with its decision to stick with the court verdict that nullified Maigari's led NFF board.
As a result, an emergency congress of the NFF was held in Abuja few days ago where the NFF board, the national league and other agencies set up by the Maigari-led board were dissolved.
Hence, Nigeria's possible ban from any FIFA-related competition for years.
Commenting on his fears for Nigerian football if the FIFA ban is eventually effected, former Green Eagles defender, Yisa Shofoluwe said that Nigerian football lovers should expect the worst.
The former Eagles' defender stated that, "it has happened before when the President banned all football teams, anyone who was born then could recall vividly what followed afterwards.
"Nigeria is not special to FIFA in anyway so, if such a statement has been made, it simplies that it will be effected, especially if it is coming from FIFA".
On how much the country's round leather game would suffer if the ban is placed on Nigeria, Shofoluwe said, "I cannot say how terrible it will be but one definite thing is that we shall lose a lot in the process."
Also speaking on the possibility of the FIFA ban, former midfield sensation, Henry Nwosu, stated that there have been conflicting reports on the ban which makes it quite difficult to know what to believe.
* Henry Nwosu
Nwosu noted, however, that if the reports are truly from FIFA, then there could be trouble for Nigerian football in the coming years.
"With conflicting reports here and there, it could be quite difficult for one to state succinctly what awaits the country's football.
"But I know for sure that if anything contrary to FIFA's guidelines has happened, our football will have a sharp decline because we had just started gathering momentum before this ugly case presented itself," the Member of Order of Niger, MON, said.
It could be recalled that this is not the first time that FIFA is threatening to suspend Nigeria from all football related activities due to government interference.
In 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan had threatened to ban the country from all football activities for two years but after intervention of some Nigerian football stakeholders, the president rescinded his decision which forced FIFA not to ban Nigeria.
In a related development, latest report indicates that Nigeria's sports minister, Danagogo has reportedly sent former member of FIFA's executive committee, Amos Adamu, to Brazil to meet with the committee as a way of avoiding the FIFA ban.
As at the time of compiling this report, a lot of Nigerians are still keen to know the verdict of the World's governing body in the coming hours!
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