...Exonerate self from Eagles failure to qualify
After overseeing the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, which led to the dissolution of the entire technical crew led by Austin Eguavoen, the Nigeria Football Federation has began the process of getting a new coach.
According to the communique released after the Executive Committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, they mandated the technical committee to, within the next five days make recommendation to the Executive committee on the coaching crew of the Super Eagles.
The committee are also expected to recommended coaching crew for the other National teams like the coaching crews for the CHAN Eagles, the U20 Boys (Flying Eagles) and the U17 Boys (Golden Eaglets) ahead of upcoming assignments.
They maintained that the purpose is to ensure early preparations for the next qualifying tournaments and championships commence in earnest.
The Executive Committee also tendered unreserved apology to the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria for the inability of the Super Eagles to win a ticket to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
However, the Executive Committee seem to be shifting the blame for the Super Eagles failure to qualify, arguing that unique motivational strategy was put in place to spur the coaches and the players, such as offering the technical crew a two-and-half year contract. "The standard agreement NFF had in place with the players that they will share 35% of the qualifying bonus Nigeria will earn by participating at the Qatar 2022 World Cup was also emphasized,"
The communique said, "The Executive Committee regretted the death of Dr Joseph Kabungo, appointed as the FIFA Doping Officer for the Nigeria/Ghana FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Playoff match in Abuja on 29th March 2022. It reiterated that Dr Kabungo died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest, as attested to by the autopsy report, and disclosed that his body had been flown to Zambia for final rites accompanied by his family members who were flown to Nigeria two days after the unfortunate incident. It prayed that God grants the soul of Dr Kabungo eternal rest and for fortitude for his family and the Zambia Football Family to bear the big loss. The Committee equally commended the General Secretary for diligence and proficiency in handling issues surrounding the tragic development and also with regards to the match organization.
It read further, "After exhaustive deliberations, introspection and admission that the outpouring of emotions by fans and stakeholders over the FIFA World Cup miss was legitimate, the Executive Committee urged caution and patience, and assured that in tandem with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, decisive steps will be taken in the next few days to reposition Nigeria Football in several areas, including the National Teams. It also disclosed that in line with the statutes, roadmap for new elections into the NFF Board will be designed at the Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the NFF once the ex parte injunction suspending the Congress from meeting is vacated. It can be recalled that the AGA to set the roadmap for the next NFF election cycle was statutorily scheduled to hold on 17th December, 2021 in Lagos but an ex parte court order was served on the NFF from a Federal High Court in Bayelsa State to stop the meeting. The NFF had since January 2022 approached the court to vacate the order and the next sitting is scheduled for 26thApril 2022. The committee has now proposed June 2022 for the AGA to statutorily set the roadmap for the NFF elective congress provided the order is vacated accordingly," NFF said.