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World Cup 2010: Nigeria 'Drops Team Ban Threat'
The Nigerian government has rescinded its decision to ban the national football team from all competitions,
according to reports.
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EFCC summons Lulu, others over N1.3b fund
By George Aluo and Joe APU
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, (EFCC) yesterday invited top football administrators to appear before the anti-graft agency on Thursday to give account of how N1.3 billion was expended on 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
Those invited include the NFF's impeached former president, Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi; his first vice chairman, Amanze Uchegbulam; chairman, Techni-cal Committee, Taiwo Ogunjobi and the Secretary General, Bolaji Ojo-Oba.
According to the EFCC spokesman, Femi Babafemi, who confirmed the story to Daily Sunsports, the former leadership of the NFF have been formerly invited for interrogation. "Yes, it's true that the former leadership of NFF has been formerly invited to answer some questions at the EFCC office on Thursday on fund running into millions of dollars."
He said that from the list before the EFCC, they are to answer questions over several millions of naira and dollars as well as answer questions on why there was over 300 people taken on a jamboree to South Africa for the FIFA 2010 World Cup in which Nigeria had just 23 players in her team.
A breakdown of some of the funds on which they are to answer questions include the missing $236, 000 meant to prosecute Nigeria's World Cup opening qualifying match; $1.2m, $5m, $100, 000 and $125, 000. Some of the naira version include N185m, N96m and N34m to mention a few.
It would be recalled that Nigeria's President, Goodluck Jonathan, on June 30, suspended the nation's football teams from international competitions for two years after a poor showing at the World Cup.
Special Presidential Adviser on Media, Ima Niboro, told reporters the decision by President Goodluck Jonathan will "enable Nigeria to reorganise its football". However, on Monday afternoon, the special assistant on media matters, Niboro announced that the Nigerian government had reversed its decision to withdraw the Super Eagles from international competitions until 2012.
The absence would have seen the nation miss qualifying for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations.
The comment provoked a strong reaction from FIFA as it threatened to withdraw financial help, stop Nigerian referees from officiating in international matches and its clubs from partaking in African club competitions.
A letter had been sent to the Nigerian football hierarchy with a deadline of 6pm on Monday, which had laid out the consequences. FIFA strongly resists any political interference in the running of national sides and uses a host of sanctions to forbid the action.
A statement on the Nigeria Football Federation read: "The President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (GCFR) on Monday graciously rescinded last Wednesday's decision to withdraw Nigerian national football teams from FIFA/CAF football competitions.
"The decision was made known at the Presidential Villa on Monday evening as President Jonathan hearkened to the passionate appeals of top officials of the National Sports Commission, the Nigeria Football Federation, other concerned organs of government and well –meaning Nigerians on the matter.
"This means that the nation has beaten the ultimatum of 18:00 hours of Monday, 5th July handed down by world football –governing body FIFA for the country to have a re –think on withdrawal of her teams from international football.
...I have received no invitation - Ogunjobi
Impeached board member of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, said yesterday that he has not received any invitation from the EFCC. The embattled football administrator said the only invitation he got is that of a congress billed for Friday in Abuja.
"What you are asking me is news to me. I have not been invited by the EFCC or any other security agency. Who gave you that information? The only invitation I have and which I can confirm to you is that of a congress in Abuja on Friday."
Ogunjobi said he would still be part of the congress despite his impeachment from the NFF board since he remains the Osun State FA boss.
It will be noted that the trio of Sanni Lulu, Amanze Uchegbulam and Ogunjobi were impeached by their colleagues on the NFF board early this week, a move which saw government rescind its decision to withdraw the country from international football for two years. Alhaji Aminu Maigari has since stepped in as acting chairman of the football federation, while Chief Obinna Ogba is acting vice chairman. Friday's congress by the 36 state FA chairmen will, among other things, discuss the forthcoming election into the NFF. Lulu and his team had before now perfected strategies on how to stage a comeback.
Source: Sun, 7th July 2010.
EFCC Summons Lulu, Ogunjobi over NFF Funds
•FIFA okays new NFF exco
From Tunde Sulaiman in Jo'burg, Tobi Soniyi and Olawale Ajimotokan in Abuja, 07.07.2010
The anger and frustration that trailed Nigeria's poor performance at the world cup has not only claimed the job of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Sani Lulu but also earned him an invitation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Lulu and three others were invited by the anti-corruption agency over alleged multi-billion fraud in the running of the body.
They would have an opportunity to explain themselves tomorrow.Others invited for interrogation are the former Vice-President of the organisation Amanze Uchegbulam, former Head Technical Committee Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, and the incumbent Secretary-General Mr. Bolaji Ojo-Oba.
EFCC Spokesman Mr. Femi Babafemi confirmed their invitation. Sources at EFCC told THISDAY that the former football administrators were being investigated for alleged fraud and mismanagement of NFF funds.
They were accused of mismanaging billions of naira which included $125,000, $250,000 dollars, N34 million, $400,000 including the stolen $236,000, all money related to football administration.
They were equally alleged to have mismanaged funds received from the Federation of International Football Associa-tions (FIFA), Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) and other sponsors, in the course of preparation for the on-going 2010 World Cup in South-Africa.
It was alleged that some of the funds received from these organisations include $1 million and $200,000.
The officials are also being investigated on allegations that they gave N185 million to the 37 state football associations at N5 million each to support them in questionable circumstances.
The affected officials were alleged to have squandered another $5 million said to be proceeds of marketing from FIFA. Documents obtained by THISDAY revealed that a total of 300 people were on the delegate list to the World Cup.While 158 were on the original list, an additional list had 142 people, with many of them labeled stakeholders and ex-players.
President Goodluck Jonathan had ordered a probe of the NFF following the disastrous outing of the Super Eagles at the World Cup. The team had managed a draw and two losses before crashing out at the preliminary stage.
Jonathan had earlier withdrawn the country from all international football competitions for two years but reversed the decision following a threat by FIFA to sanction Nigeria.
Lulu, Uchegbulam and Ogunjobi were later impeached by the NFF board to appease the President and the body pledged to restore sanity in the nation's football. The President also vowed to get whoever was found culpable in the alleged scam punished.
NFF's spending in the last four years has come under scrutiny with sports ministry sources disclosing yesterday that the body got the sum of N6.8 billion as allocation from government over the period.
NFF is an autonomous body with an elected board which ensures its runnning in line with the statutes. It auguments its sources of finance from sponsorship funds and international grants with what it receives as annual government subventions.
THISDAY learnt that the total grants that was due to it as a government agency was given to cushion the huge cost of its activities.
Focus on the NFF came to a head over the weekend when the board impeached the leadership. Messrs Aminu Maigari and Obinna Ogba have since been appointed on interim capacity as the president and vice-president respectively.
But their appointment will be subject to confirmation at the extraordinary general assembly, which is the congress of the expanded stakeholders in Abuja on Friday.
The congress is expected to grill the board over the World Cup and other related spending.
NFF got N900 million from governemnt to prosecute the World Cup campaign.But a shape of the direction the congress would take was given last night by Sports Minister Mr. Ibrahim Isa Bio during the inaguration of the 11-man Presidential Committee for football development.
The minister who is also the Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC) allleged that a staggering sum of $264,000 (about N39.6 million) was spent by NFF to purchase tickets during the World Cup. The money, according to Bio, was drawn from the $1million FIFA grants to all the teams participating at the World Cup.
Bio said NFF used the FIFA allocation to pay off the salary arrears of former National Coach Berti Vogts, to the tune of $213,217 (about N32million). Vogts had reported the federation to FIFA for breach of contract.
In the heat of the moment, the NFF board had an emergency meeting yesterday, the second in seven days, to review the state of its affiars.
At the end of the meeting presided over by Maigari, the board resolved that all issues surroundng the proposed elections billed for August 21, will now be discussed by the congress made up of the state FA chairmen and their secretaries.
The congress will also decide whether to extend the tenure of the current board by five months to ensure a smooth election.
The board also instituted a national U-16 tournament for male and female among the 774 local councils in the country to be called the President Goodluck Jonathan Cup.
It resolved that it would pay particular attention to age grade football development, ensuring that age cheats are rooted out from representing the national teams.
Meanwhile, FIFA has formally stayed action on enforcing a ban on Nigeria and has even gone on to acknowledge the change of guards at NFF.
FIFA had threatened to suspend Nigeria after President Jonathan decided to withdraw the country's national teams from international competitions and disband the NFF board.
But following a last-minute reprieve from the Presidency before Monday's 5pm FIFA deadline, the football body later released a statement in the night saying it would no longer be carrying out its suspension threat after it had received a letter from Aso Rock informing it of government's decision.
The press statement issued from FIFA's media department in Johannesburg also indicated that the football body had endorsed the changes made at the Glass House, which saw NFF's principal officers notably president, Lulu, first vice-president, Uchegbulam, and head of technical committee, Ogunjobi, removed.
The full release titled: "'FIFA statement regarding Nigerian Football Federation' reads thus: "The Nigerian Government has today confirmed in a letter to FIFA that it revokes its decision to withdraw Nigeria's participation in all FIFA and CAF organised competitions of the next two years. In addition, the Nigerian Government also recognises the currently elected executives of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
"The letter was received by FIFA before the deadline set last Friday 2 July, and follows mediation talks between FIFA Executive Committee member Dr Amos Adamu and the Nigerian Government. Therefore, the NFF remains vested with all its statutory rights."
The amicable resolution to the face-off means that Nigeria's Falconets will still be able to take part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup, which kicks off in Germany two days after the final match of South Africa 2010 on Sunday.
Source: This Day, 7th July 2010.
NFF: Lulu, Uchegbulam, Ogunjobi Sacked
By Sunleye-Solawumi Olaleye
Three top officials of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) – the president of the body, Sani Lulu, his vice
-president, Amanze Uchegbulam, and head of the technical committee, Taiwo Ogunjobi – have been sacked.
The trio were sacked yesterday in a move suspected to have been made to appease the Federal Government, which had barred the country from international football after the Super Eagles' woeful performance at the World Cup Finals in South Africa.
With the sack, if ratified by the NFF congress, a solution seems underway to appease FIFA, which had threatened to sanction Nigeria following the Federal Government's decision.
Meanwhile, FIFA Exe-cutive Committee Member and former Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr Amos Adamu, is expected in the country today "for a last mediation attempt".
Nine of the 13 members of NFF executive committee met in Abuja and voted to impeach the leadership. They also resolved to make a 'passionate plea' to President Goodluck Jonathan to reconsider his earlier decision to withdraw Nigeria from all CAF and FIFA organized competitions for two years in the interest of the nation. Following the committee's decision, Aminu Maigari will now take over as interim President with Obinna Ogba as the new interim First Vice-president. The decisions still have to be ratified by the full NFF Congress.
Lulu, Uchegbulam, Ogunjobi and NFF General-Secretary Bolaji Ojo-Oba were absent from the meeting. FIFA have threatened to expel Nigeria from world football unless President Jonathan lifts the two-year ban. The world body's rules prohibit government intervention in its members' affairs, which was what the Nigerian government had done.
The NFF had promised "to take urgent steps to address the maladministration of football in the country". FIFA have imposed a deadline of 5pm on Monday for Nigeria to reverse its decision.
The country's House of Representatives has also passed a resolution asking the President to reverse his order, fearing sanctions.
"FIFA sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation indicating that Nigeria has until Monday at (5pm Nigeria) to cancel its direction to withdraw Nigeria's participation from all FIFA and CAF competitions for the next two years," said FIFA Communications Director Nicolas Maingot last Friday. "Also the management committee set up by Nigeria will not be recognised by FIFA. A suspension goes beyond the suspension of the national teams," added Maingot. "It also freezes financial help and no referees can participate in international competition."
The governing body's president Sepp Blatter had also warned French President Nicolas Sarkozy of possible sanctions after he pledged to personally lead an investigation into France's acrimonious World Cup campaign.
Source: This Day, 5th July 2010.
FG suspends Nigeria from FIFA competition
HORATIUS EGUA
The Federal Government yesterday directed the immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from all Federation of International Football (FIFA) related events to enable the country reorganise its football administration.
It was also gathered that the government also ordered the immediate disbandment of the national teams. Addressing State House correspondent after a meeting between President Jonathan and members of the Presidential Task Force on the 2010 World Cup, Niboro special adviser to the president on media and publicity said the president also approved the auditing of all monies spent by the country during the ongoing World Cup in South Africa.
"President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdrawal from international competition for two years to enable the country put its house in order." Niboro stated further that the president also approved that an audit of the 2010 world cup finances be looked into and bring whoever is culpable to book.
Rotimi Amaechi, Governor of Rivers state who is the chairman of the Presidential Task Force said "our recommendation is based on what is on the ground. We went to the World Cup and found all sorts of problems and we felt we should sit back and look inward. The governor who was joined by other members of the PTF said "we will formally write FIFA to say that Nigeria won't engage on international football competition."
He stated that what the government has done has nothing to do with the NFA. Amaechi however lamented that as a nation we have not done well in continental and intercontinental football competitions stressing that "you cannot have tumour and continue to massage it with all the blood."
A senior official in the NFF told BusinessDay that there are plans to give a five years contract to Lars Largaback to enable him raise a new team for the country. "We are considering giving the coach a five year contract so that he can have enough time to build a new team for the country. As it is now, we do not have a team and the crop of players in the Super Eagles can never play for Nigeria again," the official who spoke on condition of anonymity said.
The source confirmed that the Super Eagles team would be dissolved so that the country can begin to build the team of its dream.
Source: Business Day, 1st July 2010.
Nigeria to stay off international soccer for two years
By Vincent Ikuomola
Nigeria is to withdraw from all international football competitions for the next two years.
The presidential decision followed the Super Eagles' woeful performance in the ongoing World Cup, the first to be staged in Africa. Nigeria was at the contest with an army of stars, but came last with a point in the group stage.
Presidential spokesman Ima Niboro said the directive is to enable the country re-organise its football, train coaches and come out fine in any competition to the delight of the nation.
The country will officially communicate the decision to the world football governing body, the Federation of International Footbal Association (FIFA).
President Goodluck Jonathan also directed that the finances of the World Cup project be audited. Any perceived misapplication of fund should be investigated, he said.
Whoever has done wrong is to be brought to book.
Meanwhile, the President has directed the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Bala Mohammed, to find a suitable piece of land for the building of the Nigeria Football House.
The decisions followed the recommendations of the Presidential Task Force on the 2010 World Cup.
The committee, headed by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, according to Niboro, briefed the President on its activities.
Niboro said: "The most important is that the President has directed that Nigeria withdraw from all international competitions for the next two years. This will enable us put our house in order and enable us work out a more meaningful way to engage the global stage in terms of football so that this kind of rather embarrassing outcome we had from South Africa will not repeat itself.
"The President has also directed that audit be undertaken of the finances of the World Cup project, that any perceived misapplication of fund should be investigated and relevant agencies of government be involved in tracking down whoever has done wrong and bring whoever is found culpable to book.
"The President also approved that the FCT Minister should find a suitable piece of land for the building of the Nigeria Football House. This will also serve as secretariat to the Nigeria Football Federation."
Amaechi said: "Our recommendations were based on what we saw and what we met on ground. You will observe that the history of our qualification was not as smooth as it used to be before. We struggled to qualify. We got to the World Cup, we got a new coach. PTF was paying the coach. We agreed to pay the coach N1.3 million, which we paid. We got to the World Cup and we had all sort of mal-administration. We also had all sorts of problems and we found out that the problem of Nigerian football now is structural and there is the need for us to look inward, sit back and re-organise the structure to ensure that we don't continue to have what we currently have now.
"We recommended to Mr. President, which he has approved, that we formally write FIFA to say that Nigeria will not engage in any international competition for the next two years so that when we re-organise Nigerian football and train higher coaches and all that and come out to any competition, it will be to the delight of the nation.
"The nation has been punished enough; people have had heart attack because of Nigerian football. We want to reorganize and get back to what it used to be when it was the pride of the nation and we are glad that Mr. President has approved all our recommendations and given directive to that effect.
"The Football House will be built by the Presidential Task Force from part of the fund that remaining from the launching that we organised."
The governor went on: "What we are doing is not contrary to FIFA rules. We are not dissolving NFA. Their tenure is over; you should not forget that. They have served their tenure, but there is a problem which we have to nationally address; Nigeria must endure the pain that comes with this.
"We are not sure that we will go to the next World Cup, if we continue like this. During the CAF competition, you listened to the players when Odewingwe said they did not win the last match because their luck in the lucky bag got exhausted.
"Other countries won because they prepared, but we will continue to depend on God. Must God continue to be a Nigerian?"
Source: The Nation, 1st July 2010.
Jonathan slams two-year ban on foreign outings
• Orders probe, writes FIFA
From JULIANA TAIWO, Abuja
Apparently angered by the Super Eagles' dismal performance, which led to their early exit from the 2010 Football FIFA World Cup in South Africa, President Goodluck Jonathan has ordered Nigeria's withdrawal from all international football competitions for the next two years.
Wielding the big stick, which also affects the Under 17 and Under 23 soccer competitions, the President said it was to enable the country to re-organise its football administration. Nigeria will officially inform the world football governing body of its decision to stay away for the next two years.
President Jonathan has also ordered a probe of the money spent on the world soccer fiesta by Nigeria.
Addressing State House correspondents after the meeting between President Jonathan and members of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the 2010 World Cup, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ima Niboro, said Jonathan also approved the auditing of all the money spent during the ongoing World Cup. "President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competition for two years to enable the country put its house in order."
Niboro stated that the President also approved that an audit of the World Cup finances be looked into and bring whoever was culpable to book.
Also speaking, the Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), said: "Our recommendation is based on what is on the ground. We went to the World Cup and found all sorts of problems and we felt we should sit back and look inward." The governor who was joined by other members of the PTF, said: "We will formally write FIFA to say that Nigeria won't engage in international football competitions."
Amaechi explained that the government's decision had nothing to do with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
He, however, lamented that Nigeria had not done well in continental and intercontinental football competitions, stressing that "you cannot have tumour and continue to massage it with all the blood."
Amaechi said Nigeria's outing in South Africa was characterised by all sorts of maladministration and that the country had been punished enough as far as football was concerned. After playing three matches in the preliminary rounds of the ongoing soccer tournament, Super Eagles crashed out last week.
The national team's performance in all their Group B matches was disappointing, as the Super Eagles finished at the bottom, with only one point. The result was not wholly unexpected. The Super Eagles' best game was the match against South Korea, which they drew 2-2. They lost the other two games 0-1 to Argentina, and 1-2 to Greece.
President Jonathan was reported to have reacted to the Eagles' early exit by telling a delegation of officials led by Sports Minister, Ibrahim Bio, that despite his personal support for them, the players lacked the commitment to fly Nigeria's flag high in South Africa.
Despite the Super Eagles winning a bronze medal at the last African Nations Cup in Mali, the team's performance was called into question even before the World Cup.
In the tournament, the Eagles were quite unimpressive. The team managed to beat Algeria by a goal, struggled for a draw with Mali and escaped with a goal victory over Liberia in the preliminary round. A slim quarter-final win of one nil over Ghana and a one to two loss to Lions of Senegal in the semi-final saw the team out of the final of the Nations Cup. The team subsequently defeated Mali, the host country, with a goal in the third place match.
Source: Sun, 1st July 2010.
Nigeria's wingless Eagles
(Review of Group B first round)
Physically, mentally, psychologically, spiritually, emotionally and professionally; Nigeria's Super Eagles failed to make a difference throughout their stint in the 2010 FIFA World Cup championship in South Africa. The root-cause of the abysmal failure of the team in South Africa is an incompetent of Coach, Lars Lagerback. The Eagles' appearance in South Africa lacked flight, courage, bravery, motivation, push and were never driven.
And these tail-tail ominous warnings were flashing red everywhere, except that most Nigerians would rather wait and see a person dead before they know that such person is dying or is about to die. Or what does it take for any discerning analytical mind to read the trajectory of the Eagles in South Africa 2010 World Cup as they exuded an ill-prepared and ill-motivated side, just playing for the heck of participation in the first ever World Cup to be held in mother Africa.
After their first match with Lionel Messi' s Argentina, it was glaring that the mission portends a journey to no where; then came the second match with the Greeks and it became a fait accompli that the Eagles were going no where from the preliminary rounds.
A group of men who have no fire in their belly, no hunger in their stomach, no thirst in their throat, no swift in their legs, no speed in their brain, no drive in their system, no passion in their hearts to win or participate honourably in the first African hosted South Africa World Cup 2010.
But special commendation should go to the man of the match, Kalu Uche for the opening goal and for all the effort he made throughout the game, including the kick that struck the goal-post. Also deserving mention is the captain of the team, Kanu Nwankwo, who was never allowed prior to this game, to captain his team in the World Cup. Admitted he was not the silver bullet Nigeria expected, but hey, at least, he for once led his soldiers into battle against the South Koreans. That Yakubu Aiyegbeni missed a golden opportunity inside 2-yards in front of a yawning goal mouth with a displaced goalkeeper waiting to retrieve the ball from inside the net was also beyond pale. Added to all these is the red-carded man of the Nigerian side, Sani Kaita, who is being wrongly blamed for the defeat suffered by Nigerians in the hands of the Greeks.
Of course, Coach Lars Lagerback deserves the front page banner for being the incompetent coach who led Nigerians to their worst international football outing ever. He should be immediately fired since he deserves nothing less. It is also instructive that unlike South Africa, who also crashed out but not after defeating the French, a former World Cup champions; Nigeria did not record any victory throughout their stay in the competition. Lastly, the amateurish performances of African countries in the tournament also debunked the myth of African juju, and questioned the efficacy of voodoo as both Ivory Coast and Cameroon, noted African science practitioners, were both roundly defeated Another myth buster of the tournament is that 10 players are not as good as 11 players in a team, as the French scored their 1-goal with 10 men and the Australians held back charging Argentines with 10 men only; but for defeated Nigeria, Sani Kaita's red card is all to blame for their downfall. Talk about making excuses!
Group B of the 2010 FIFA World Cup saw the giants of South America Argentina, the former European Champions Greece, South
Korea, and Nigeria drawn in the same group.
While the winner of the group seemed to be fairly predictable, who would qualify along with them was less so.
The first round of group games saw Argentina take on Nigeria, and Greece the South Koreans. Argentina set their stall out in this group with an opening game win against the Africans. In the end, a Heinze header was enough to down the Nigerians, but in truth, Argentina could have won the game by more. Argentina star, Messi was impressive in this game, but could not do enough to get on the score-sheet. In the other group game it was the Koreans, who held all the aces as they ran out 2–0 winners against Greece in what was a significant victory.
Still, despite the defeat to the Koreans, the Greece were far from out of the 2010 World Cup and against the Nigerians, they had a chance to get right back in the group. However, the Super Eagles started more brightly, and even took the lead through Uche. The sending off of Kaita changed the game, as Greece went on to equalize and then took the lead in the second half. The game ended 2–1 to Greece, and was their first ever World Cup win.
In the other group B game, Argentina turned on the style against the Koreans. In the first half, they went two goals up, only for the Koreans to pull one back. However, while the Koreans briefly got back into the game, a third Argentina goal sealed the win. Then, a fourth goal for Argentina, and hat-trick for Higuain, put the gloss on the scoreline as Argentina went clear at the top of the group.
As such, the final round of the group left the table with Argentina on six points, the Koreans and Greeks on 3 points, and the Nigerians on 0 points. Mathematically, all the teams could potentially still qualify for the 2nd round. Undoubtedly, Greece had the hardest game against Argentina and in the event did precious little to win the game. The Greeks sat back and defended for most of the game, while Argentina had most of the possession. In the end, a breakthrough came in the last 15 minutes of the game as Argentina scored twice to seal a 2–0 victory. With nine points from the group, they were clearly the best team.
Who would finish behind them was less clear as the Koreans took on the Nigerians. The Nigerians gave themselves a chance when they went one goal up, only for the Koreans to equalize. In the second half, they would go 2–1 in front to put themselves in position to qualify for the 2nd round. However, a Nigerian equalizer kept the game close until the end but it was not enough for the Africans to qualify.
Therefore, the group ended with Argentina top with nine points overall. Behind them were the Koreans who gained 4 points, Greece on 3 points, and Nigeria in 4th spot with one point. Overall, there can be little doubt that Argentina were the best team of the group, and will play Mexico in the second round. While the rest of the group remained open the Koreans took advantage to book their place in the 2nd round also.
Source: Sun, 29th June 2010.
South Africa 2010:
As African Representatives Wobble Out Of First Round
BY EJIRO ODOV
That Africa has abundance of talented football players is indisputable. But the continent is barren of successes at the highest level – the World Cup. Since the first World Cup in 1930, the highest any African team has ever reached is the quarter-finals. Despite the 'home advantage' of staging the world's biggest sport tournament in Africa for the first time, the continent's representatives have been unable to wave Africa's flag high in South Africa.
Cameroon, the highest ranked African side in the tournament, was the first to be eliminated after losing two matches to Japan and Denmark. Algeria, Nigeria, South Africa and Ivory Coast have also bid the World Cup goodbye, leaving only Ghana in the race for honours. But what could be responsible? Some Nigerians bare out their minds on this.
It's A Complete Disgrace…
GABRIEL EJIM (Civil Servant)
This Nigerian team is a complete disgrace to the grand history of African soccer, at least the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon showed true heart and fighting spirit on their way out of the tourney as well as the South African side while beating a disgraced French team. These so called 'Super' Eagles again got an early 1-0 lead against South Korea and through lack of confidence and concentration fell behind and then after blew away numerous chances to win the game, including a miss from two feet in front of goal with the goal tender on the ground. I am sure many grandmothers could have scored from there! I will find it hard to forget this team's horrible flop at the first African World Cup, with the entire world watching. I pity Nigerian football.
Chicken Eagles Have Come Home To Roost…
KINGSLEY AWA (Sport Journalist)
Now that the 'Chicken' Eagles have come home to roost, my comment will pretty much confirm my doubts after our loss to Greece. And I am not even angry that they didn't win against South Korea. What right did we have to expect to advance to the second round? At the expense of teams who have been working hard for years to prepare for this same tournament?
Haba! Let's be fair. We appointed a coach four months to the competition. Jose Mourinho and Alex Ferguson combined would not have done better. This is really a reflection of everything we do in our national life. If we continue like this (as we surely will), this country and everything that comes out of it is doomed.
Lack Of Preparation…
OLA DADA (Analyst)
Most of the African countries did not prepare well, and this did not help their cause at the competition. When you don't prepare very well in this type of competition, you don't get anything from it. That was the real problem of the African teams. Why would Cote d' Ivoire and Nigeria employ coaches three months to the start of the World Cup? You cannot achieve anything. Forget it!
We Lack The Basic Ingredients…
IDRIS FATAI (Business Man)
It is good Africa is hosting this World Cup. It will help us plan very well in future and take football matters seriously. Africans would always lack the basic ingredients in football because they have not taken it as a profitable venture. The unprofessional attitude of the football associations made it difficult for the continent to do well when it comes to the big occasion. No African team has ever gone beyond the quarter-final of the World Cup.
It's Managerial Problem…
JOHN EFFIONG (Banker)
Africa lacks a side with 11 players who have the world-class quality to win a World Cup match, not with managerial problems threatening most football clubs in Africa. It is not possible for the six African teams to get past the European problems where money is seldom an issue for players and the teams are pioneering techniques in the fields like nutrition and training methods.
By the way, we need to stop the practise of using men that are over 40 years who claim to be below 30. This cheating has eventually caught up with us. You can't have old men of 40-something trying to keep up for 90 minutes with the likes of Messi who is only 23 years, and Korea's point man, who is also Manchester United's player, J.S. Park, is just a littler over 20. Let us start doing things right in this country.
Source: The Guardian, 27th June 2010.
Lagerback wants home-grown bosses for African game
Nigeria risk Fifa ban over gov interference
The Real Problems with Nigeria Football - Recycling
The problems with Nigeria football is that Nigeria football is like the Nigerian politics – recycling football players like the Nigerian leaders. Recycling football players is Nigeria's biggest problem. Once a Nigerian football player has crossed over to Europe or overseas, forget selecting the player to represent Nigeria at an international event like World Cup or Olympics. Yes, the football player can remain on the bench as a reserve. Nigeria has new breeds who can play football well, out of 150 million people surely there must be 11 people who can play well, forget about those football players playing in Europe, they have made their marks to come out of Nigeria and no longer worried or interested whether Nigeria wins or not.
New breeds are those eager to make their marks both in Nigeria and abroad, and will try and do their best to see that Nigeria wins, thus would be for their best interest to get them the recognition they deserve and perhaps get them placement into overseas football clubs.
Nigeria must learn from other countries that only select one or two of their overseas football players and the rest from home team to play at international events. It is a great mistake by Nigeria coaches to be selecting Nigeria football players abroad especially Nigerian football players in Europe instead of picking from enthusiastic home grown young Nigerians to play for us.
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The Bane Of Uncompleted Decolonisation
By Alfred Ilenre
More than anytime in its 50 years of independence, Nigeria is today desperately in search of a common character. The ailment of President Umaru YarAdua and all the intrigues surrounding how the Vice President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan took over as acting President has further exposed the illusion of Nigeria being a united and indivisible country. That Nigeria is a multi-ethnic country with multi-dimensional interests and world outlook is not debatable. When Britain arrived in the territory now called Nigeria it met separate tribes, cultural groups and communities who had established their local authorities, spanning over centuries.
In recognition by the British colonialists of the fact that they were bringing enemy tribes together into one union they shrewdly opted for indirect rule in Northern Nigeria while they went for direct colonial governance in Southern Nigeria. The British creation of Nigeria has been a malformation that came about by the force of conquest and domination.
A former colonial Governor-General of Nigeria, Sir Hugh Clifford after the amalgamation of the north and south in 1914, has this to say, "Nigeria is a mere collection of self-contained and mutually independent native states, separated from one another by great distances, by differences of history and traditions and by ethnological, racial, tribal, political, social and religious barriers". In his book, Tropical Africa in World History, T.R Batten had this to say, "The greatest difficulties when independence was on the point of being gained were caused by differences in aim and outlook between African leaders themselves. In Nigeria, these difficulties were so great that they were resolved only by dividing the country into three regions, each with its own separate government and each responsible for most of its own affairs".
The pioneer Premier of Northern Nigeria, Ahmadu Bello, said, "As for me, I would have preferred the north leave the other parts of the country but stayed only because of the importance of the southern coastline in international trade and the fact that it might be difficult to control the rail system as I would have liked to". Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe, first indigenous Governor- General, said, "I support the views of Justice Salmon Portland Chase, that most nations grow out of common origin, mutual sympathies, kindred principles, similar interest and geo-political relations. Of these factors only geo-political relations apply to Nigeria".
Chief Obafemi Awolowo stated: "At the conclusion of the constitutional conference in London in 1958, I had an overpowering foreboding. His Majesty's government had refused to create new states in Nigeria or at least break the north into two before the advent of independence on 1st October, 1960 and I felt quite strongly that Nigeria had been sentenced to a long period of doom. I could not shake off the feeling for quite a time; and I thought it wise to confide in my Deputy, Chief Akintola which I did. I confided in a few other colleagues. The foreboding that I had was that something untoward was going to happen to Nigeria. Whether the event or events would involve only the AG or other parties, only myself or other persons, I did not know, that it would happen, I felt sure but when it would happen I had no inkling".
Said Rotimi Williams: "We opposed the idea, when Alhaji Ahmadu Bello proposed a custom union for Nigeria. Perhaps if we had agreed with him, Nigeria would have today been a better place for all its citizens". Chief Anthony Enahoro said: "if we desire to create a viable federal structure and warm relationships among our nationalities, we have to design a formula under which we can live equitably together and the formula must provide for the recognition of the existence and corporate integrity of the nationalities. The only thing keeping Nigeria together at present is force".
The opinion freely expressed all over the world is that Nigeria has ceased to be a workable country. It has slumped from the status of a developing country to the level of an under-developed country with its human development index ranking among the nine poorest countries in the world.
Said Professor Wole Soyinka: "if nothing happens, I can not guarantee what recourse the people will take. The level of anger has peaked. I don't rule out Nigeria breaking up. That is what happens to a failed state". Said Alhaji M.D Yusuf: "the problem if not solved will keep staring our faces. You see, the present constitution may lead us to very serious problem if nothing is done about it. The constitution used at independence was a federal constitution unlike the one we have right now which some soldiers under six months sat down with some people to write. This federalism has been mortgaged". Admiral Nduibuisi Kanu stated: "Nigeria has for far too long been proceeding heedlessly on the wrong road, the road antithetically opposed to nation building. The only road upon which Nigeria at independence could have embarked on the journey of nationhood was as a federation. We have to go back to that road, any other road leads to nowhere".
"We have been lying to ourselves that we are one indivisible nation. Can a Fulani man claim the same brotherhood with the Birom. Can an Ijaw man call an Itsekiri man his brother". Casmir Igbokwe, Punch, March 14, 2010.
"There is no need for a national conference because those who benefit from the rot that exists will not allow it. Each constituent part of what is Nigeria must first and foremost declare its independence from the failed state of Nigeria. Then those who are interested in forming a new modern state around the area around the rivers Niger and Benue can then go ahead and form such a state with due consideration for rules, regulations and proper procedures. Everything else is simply postponement of the inevitable"- Kole Omotosho, The News Magazine, January 14, 2010.
Throughout the 30 years of debate, advocacy and lobby for the adoption of the Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples at the floor of the UN in Geneva and New York, it became apparent that what is common to the whole world is diversity and not unity made possible by conquest or assimilation. Nigeria is trapped in the web of the malady of an uncompleted decolonization process. The absence of a cultural base has created an atmosphere for interlopers and rustics in politics to manipulate the political space to their advantage. The circumstance under which Dr. Jonathan came to power as acting President is a huge turning point in Nigeria's history. It has both physical and spiritual significance, coming in the year Nigeria is celebrating 50 years of the attainment of independence.
It is no longer the question of who rules Nigeria. The fact remains that the basic federal institutions and principles on which independence struggle was fought and won have been distorted, diluted, aborted and abandoned. Everywhere, there is public anger that leaders who lacked knowledge and information have decided to impose on the country, a future without hope. The omen is ominous. The warning signals from all over the world are quite clear that Nigeria should discontinue with the military imposed unitary constitution that breeds corruption, violence, stress and tension and embark on a process of total political reform that will return Nigeria to the era of economic development, freedom, true federalism and genuine democracy. Any option promises nothing except a harvest of unprovoked poverty and upheavals.
Ilenre is Secretary-General, Ethnic Minority and Indigenous Rights Organization of Africa (EMIROAF).
Source: The Guardian, 11th April 2010.
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