Nigerian ‘Fighting’ Federation (NFF)

8th September, 2014.

By: Amir Abdulazeez

S

ome few years ago, the Nigerian Football Association (NFA) renamed itself to Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), but recent developments have shown that the ‘F’ in the middle of those acronyms shouldn’t have maintained the meaning: ‘football’. The word ‘fighting’ would be more suitable. Alternatively NFF can have a new name as NFFF meaning, Nigerian Football and Fighting Federation. It is largely obvious that the NFF has done as much fighting as it has football in its contemporary history before and after it was renamed. Meanwhile, a former President of the NFA was alleged to have illegally changed its name, ignoring Act 101 of 1992 that set up the NFA. Due to this some people view the NFF as a completely illegal body, because according to them, the law only recognizes NFA.

The NFF and its stakeholders have turned Nigerian football into a crisis and with each election, that crisis is re-enacted there-by making it unending. It is needless to attempt a run down on the history of football governing crisis in Nigeria, but one thing is clear, it has become perennial and part of our football culture. If not for such crises, Nigeria’s football development would not have been stunted and stagnated by the 4-yearly crisis that precedes and follows every election into the board since 1992.

What is causing crisis in the NFF? Probably, there are a thousand answers to this question, depending on who you ask, but one major answer might suffice, that is the African attitude of power greediness. However this answer may not be sufficient considering the fact that the current FIFA President, Sepp Blatter himself have been at the helm for a very long time. Blatter, 78, was elected on 8 June 1998, succeeding João Havelange. He was re-elected as President in 2002, 2007 and 2011 and he has recently confirmed that he will stand for a fifth term, which he is much likely to win, probably unopposed. Also Lennart Johansson, the former UEFA president served for a very long time of 17 years before he was ousted in 2007 by current President, Michel Platini. The question is why are these people hanging desperately to power without major incidents being heard of, unlike our case here? Then we need to identify other reasons aside the African power sit-tight syndrome which has also obviously kept Issa Hayatou at the helm of CAF since 1988.

One of our major problems is that we always attempt to turn everything into a money making business. It is true that globally football is seen as one of the most lucrative businesses, but the case is not true here in Nigeria and Africa. In Nigeria, government sponsors even football clubs, therefore the game is being followed for passion.

Government is the direct sponsor of football in Nigeria and unfortunately football is run just like politics. The whole issue starts with the appointment of a minister for sports. Most presidents will not appoint a person with the right credentials and the passion for sports, but they will appoint a party man as pay back for his support during the elections and he will eventually mess the whole ministry up. A lot of money is involved in sports and particularly football, therefore, many if not all people coming into the game’s administration are doing so for the financial gains and shady deals involved. This is the root of the crisis.

Nigerian football received some big boosts on the pitch from 2013 to date especially in major senior and junior continental and FIFA tournaments. But, from the administrative side, things are not the way they should be. The NFF leadership succession crisis; Stephen Keshi’s contract renewal saga; the Nation’s Cup qualifiers are round the corner and Nigeria does not look to be organized and prepared; the various junior and female national teams are playing international competitions that most Nigerians are following only peripherally; the domestic Nigerian leagues are going on predictably with the usual shenanigans of teams never losing home matches and referees almost always influencing who wins or loses, are all testimony to this.

The FIFA Emergency Committee decided on 9 July 2014, to suspend the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) with immediate effect, on account of government interference. Article 13, par. 1 and article 17, par. 1 of the FIFA Statutes oblige member associations to manage their affairs independently and with no influence from third parties. The decision follows a letter sent by FIFA to the NFF on 4 July 2014, in which it expressed its great concern after the NFF was served with court proceedings and consequently an order preventing the president of the NFF, the NFF Executive Committee members and the NFF Congress from running the affairs of Nigerian football was granted by a High Court of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. FIFA declared that the suspension will be lifted once the court actions have been withdrawn and the properly elected NFF Executive Committee, the NFF general assembly and the NFF administration are able to work without any interference in their affairs. FIFA later gave Nigeria a fresh September 8 deadline to resolve all issues around electing new executives for the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. FIFA, on its official website, stated that a fresh letter was on Wednesday sent to NFF intimating the Federation that Nigeria will be suspended with immediate effect should there still be persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on 26 August 2014 and occupying their offices on Monday, 8 September 2014 at 08.00 (Central European Time).

FIFA explained the decision not to recognize the purported polls held on August 26 in Abuja. It said that though the general assembly was duly convened by the NFF Executive Committee to adopt a new roadmap leading to the NFF elections, some members proceeded to hold elections in the absence of the NFF President, who was being held by security forces for questioning. Meanwhile, ahead of the deadline, the Federal Government has according to media reports asked Chris Giwa, the man who was announced as the winner of the August 26 NFF elections, to step aside and stop parading himself as the president and subsequently asked embattled President, Aminu Maigari to arrange for a fresh and proper election. Chris Giwa it was reported has threatened to the defy deadline and sue FIFA.

A football expert, analyst and administrator while expressing his opinion in Complete Sports website noted that, one thing that FIFA must be made to understand is that African football cannot survive without government, as time and experience have clearly taught us through the years. Africa is neither Europe nor America, so, irrespective of what FIFA may say to the contrary, the absolute reality (and FIFA know it too) is that the ‘independence’ of any African football federation can only be limited to the extent of government’s agenda and strategy to drive the football association without offending the rules of FIFA.

Former Nigerian Minister of Sports, Mr. Damishi Sango also recently called on the world’s Football government body to appreciate the peculiarities of African football and allow African governments have a say in how the sport is administered in their countries. He said FIFA should know that unlike what obtains in Europe, African football is funded by government and so such peculiarity must be appreciated by the international body.

Sango told Daily Trust that a situation where by government’s attempt to know how the money it has released to football is spent is seen as interference is not correct and so FIFA should amend its laws to accommodate governments of its affiliates.

©2014: abdulazeezamir@hotmail.com