NANF turns beautiful bride as FIFA’s hammer dangles
The National Association of Nigerian Footballers craved for recognition which was hard to find as the NFF had pitched its tent with the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria, APFON. Between the National Association of Nigeria Footballers and the Dahiru Sadi led Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers, APFON, there is still no love lost as […]
The National Association of Nigerian Footballers craved for recognition which was hard to find as the NFF had pitched its tent with the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria, APFON.
Between the National Association of Nigeria Footballers and the Dahiru Sadi led Association of Nigerian Professional Footballers, APFON, there is still no love lost as the latter enjoys unflinching support from the Nigeria Football Federation.
It was therefore not a surprise that when it was time to elect new executive members of the NFF, NANF effectively mobilized some former international footballers to frustrate attempts by the leadership of the former NFF executive committee to continue in office.
In what many consider to be an attempt by the association to have its own pound of the flesh, NANF dragged the NFF before the Lagos High Court asking it to stop the federation from holding elections into its executive committee on the grounds that the tenures of the chairmen of the state F.As who were to constitute the voting congress had since expired.
In its response, the Federal High Court sitting in Lagos under Justice Okon Abang on August 20 ordered that the elections should not hold. The same order was restated by the same court on August 24 following the prayer by NANF for an interim injunction restraining the respondent( NFF and others) from holding elections pending the determination of the substantive originating summon.
Despite the position of the appellate court, the elections went ahead on August 26 in defiance of the court injunction. Although when dragged before the court for contempt, the accused persons said they were not served the court paper, the presiding Judge who expressed anger and disappointment insisted that it was not true because on the very day the court order was given, the counsel to the NFA was in court.
Without much ado, the Judge then nullified the August 26 election which saw former Interim President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari emerging as the substantive president of the NFF. The court therefore ordered the Inspector General of Police to immediately remove any person found occupying the executive position of the NFA. It further ordered that the day to day running of the NFA secretariat should be handed over to the most senior administrative staff and that brought in Barrister Musa Amadu as the acting General Secretary.
As the court continued with its contempt proceeding against members of the newly elected NFF executive committee, the electoral committee, including FIFA and CAF Executive member Dr. Amos Adamu, the National Sports commission decided that the acting General Secretary Barrister Musa Amadu who played a key role in the conduct of the controversial election should step down from his position.
Meanwhile, FIFA had said it was closely watching event in Nigeria. Consequently, when it was convinced beyond all reasonable doubt that government had remote controlled some of the most recent events in Nigerian football, its hammer fell heavily on Nigeria on October 6.
FIFA said Nigeria will remained banned from international football until the Maigari board is allowed to function without further interference, the Nigeria Premier League is returned to its original 20 club format, and the removed acting General Secretary is returned to office.
Nigeria found itself in serious dilemma as the ban came a few days away from the country’s 2012 Africa Nations Cup qualifying match against Guinea in Conakry. The country was thrown into confusion by the ban as a section urged government to call the bluff of FIFA even as others pleaded that the directives from world football governing body should be obeyed.
To ensure that Nigeria does not lose out of the 2012 Africa Nations Cup and other international engagements, there was quick response as witnessed in the return to office of the acting General Secretary, acceptance of the new NFA executive committee members, and the return of the Nigeria Premier League to 20 clubs format. Interestingly, the acting General Secretary also announced that the National Association of Nigerian Footballers which is currently hold Nigerian football by the jugular too had informally agreed to withdraw its court case.
FIFA, obviously impressed with the changes, tempered justice with mercy by giving provisional approval for Nigeria to play the 2012 Africa Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea. Super Eagles have since lost the match 0-1.
Despite the progress so far made in resolving all contentious issues, tension is mounting because the next hearing in the case between NANF and NFF is scheduled for October 25, making that the earliest the case can be dismissed in order to fulfill FIFA’s requirements. There are no clear signs of what will happen on October 25 in Lagos but FIFA has since given Nigeria until October 26 to put its house in order or be banned indefinitely. The implication is that if NANF reneges on its gentlemanly agreement with the NFF, Nigeria will be back to square one as FIFA would certainly not hesitate to wield the big stick again.
The only way out is to ensure that NANF under Jalla, once despised by the NFA is appeased and made to drop its court case against the Maigari led executive committee. Considering the capacity of most Nigerians to renege on gentlemanly agreements, it is hard to say in sure terms whether or not Jalla and his group will be gentlemanly enough to save Nigerian football from more problems in the hands of FIFA.
Trustsports gathered that high level meetings have been held with the leadership of NANF to prepare a soft landing for Nigerian football come October 25 but there is a cloud of uncertainty hanging dangerously as the association of footballers is not yet convinced that it will be properly integrated into the scheme of things.
Jalla has openly expressed the readiness of his association to withdraw the court case but Trustsports can report authoritatively that it will not be as easy as it appears on the surface because some stakeholders in the sector are not favourably disposed to the position of NANF and are working round the clock to scuttle all the efforts made so far to settle the case out of court.
At the moment, NANF is torn between salvaging the nation’s football sector by voluntarily withdrawing its court case or dancing to the tune of those who believe the right path to restoration of Nigeria’s lost glory in football must be taken.
Meanwhile, the Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria, APFON, has called on NANF to immediately withdraw the court case without conditions. President of APFON, former international Dahiru Sadi told Trustsports in an exclusive interview that NANF has done enough damage to Nigerian football already.
“First and foremost, NANF is an illegal body which is not recognized. It has no reason and basis to take a football matter to conventional court. They have done enough damage to Nigerian football and should honorably withdraw the court case. They will be held responsible for any further damage that will be done to Nigerian football”.
On his part, re-instated acting General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Musa Amadu while speaking with Trustsports expressed hope that before October 25, a compromise would have been reached with the National Association of Nigerian Footballers and the court case would be formally withdrawn without much ado.
“NANF is made up of responsible Nigerians who are stakeholders in Nigerian football. Their views must be listened to and if there is anything that can be done to resolve any existing issues, why not. If they have views that can be accommodated, they would be accommodated.
“I am not directly involved in the discussions with NANF but I know that some powerful personalities in Nigerian football are discussing with body and we hope to reach a compromise”.
As things stand, the once despised and vilified NANF has become a hot bride that is being courted by all who want the lingering crisis in Nigerian football to be resolved in time to avert another ban from FIFA. The incontestable fact remains that even if NANF on October 25 decides to formally withdraw its court case, there are still other legal battles the NFF must face to be totally free. For now, NANF can be compared with a mosquito that is sitting happily on a man’s scrotum. Smash it with a sledge hammer and you will kill the man instantly.