By Victor Enyinnaya on December 26, 2022

Year 2022 curtain is fast drawing for a close and as tradition in the media in old good golden years of journalism in the country, all sports are being X-rayed holistically by reporters that cover each, highlighting the ups and downs of each to pave way for improved administration in the new year.

That was how I grew during my early days/years on the beat in the old great Daily Times. However, such has totally taken the back sit nowadays.

Though, this article is not to discuss that, but just a side comment.  Sports in Nigeria did not do well at all this year especially football which a lot work needs to be done in order to rescue the game.  Recall that earlier in the year, Nigeria was booted out of the AFCON held in Cameroun, at group stage by Ghana. Again, the same Ghana stopped Nigeria in Abuja from qualifying for the recently concluded World Cup held in Qatar.

Nigeria has been living in denial since the advent of the last NFF administration led by Amaju Pinnick, nothing to show rather abysmal failure fully recorded.  And as if such was not enough, he imposed a low graded coach from Portugal to handle the Super Eagles and his performances in friendly matches so far are testimonial of his ability in the highly competitive game where only the best thrives.

We have seen thus far the rate/output of national teams, be them Africa or other continents that took part at the recently concluded World Cup football showpiece in Qatar.  Instructively none of them (team in Qatar) played with lack of direction or pattern like the Super Eagles team is now associated with. You can agree that football has drastically improved in other countries while Nigeria is still busy short changing herself to the disadvantage of the teeming fans of the beautiful crowd pulling sport.

This columnist has done so marvelously in-depth analysis where the ills afflicting the supposedly sport that the country ought to be up there in African continent is suffering in the hands of short sighted and ill prepared administrators.

It is instructive to note that the bane of the game in Nigeria has been vividly traced to the door steps of the dubious way and manner the half-baked administrators have continuously looted/defrauded football in broad day light in Nigeria.  Football managers at all levels especially at the national level in the country in all facets have not been fair to the game at all, to say the very least.

To put it mildly football bigwigs no doubt have taken queue from politicians who on the other hand plugged the country into administrative crisis which has subjected Nigeria a laughing stock before the right-thinking members of countries around the globe.   

As usual, football like every other thing in Nigeria today has turned into nothingness. Note that despite huge funds extended to re-event our football enduringly the story remains same.  Ridiculously, those that acted such scripts are going scout free in our streets while our football remains down the valley presently.

Like the larger polity and sadly too, a puppet administration had just been put there (NFF) as executive members in the name of election. We are all eye witnesses on how more competent candidates were ganged out by the men of the establishment run up to election, as usual ethnic politics came into play as we saw several quasi and demi tribal groups sprung up purposely drummed support for a northern candidate.   

Nigeria is on the march again; we saw the kind of quicksilver like players from different countries that played for their teams during the World Cup in Qatar and comparing them to what is our present Super Eagles team you would thank God that Nigeria was missing in the World Cup show down. The disgrace would have been monumental in that world cup group, the reason being that Nigeria does not have the players and the competent technical hand to cope with the level of technical and tactical discipline and sundry that were thoroughly displayed in Qatar World Cup.

Truth be told, Nigerian football administrators are there to loot like the established politicians’ friends and compatriots. Nigeria is a loosed country, nobody is questioned of any wrong doing (s) after leaving they go perpetually with their loot. It is not normal times for Nigeria football. It will be safe to say that it is defining moment for Nigeria and her football. From the Qatar World Cup, it remains clear that Nigerian football is nowhere to be found presently in all ramifications. It really calls for great concern. For instance, since the employment of the current technical adviser, he has reduced the Super Eagle to mere primary school team that every other national team beats left, right and centre.

The kind that was uncommon to the three-time AFCON Champs. This retrogressive is just an alarm bell that must be nipped on the bud. Football at the Super Eagles level has collapsed. The immediate pass administration at least met some successes on ground but left nothing on ground while leaving office.

As we earnestly look forward to a new beginning for the team, we pray that this lingering issue would be resolved so that our flagship team would rise again and compete decisively against other major teams in Africa and the World as the Atlas Lions of Morocco team just took football world by storm.

As we keep our fingers crossed, keep shooting hard till next week, meanwhile we wait!!  

Source Daily Sports Nigeria

Posted December 26, 2022

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