Opinion: WAFCON 2022: How Private Jet Cruising NFF Brings International Embarrasment On Nigeria

Opinion: WAFCON 2022: How Private Jet Cruising NFF Brings International Embarrasment On Nigeria

By Harrison Jalla

 The current Nigeria Football Federation Board has boasted several times that the NFF is 85% self funding. This is apart from the huge annual appropriation from the Federal Government through the National Assembly. How did we arrived at being on a backlog of 20 outstanding match Bonus for the gallant Super Falcons of Nigeria?

In the days of former NFF presidents, Air Commodores Tony Ikhazobo, Emeka Omerhua both of blessed memory, Rtd Colonel Abdul Mumuni Aminu and group Captain Obakpolor also of blessed memory when football was solely being funded by the Federal Government there were no issues of unpaid bonus to National team players.

Those leaders fully understands the beaurocracy in government concerning release of funds. So what they did was to look elsewhere to source for funds for major competitions like AFCON and World Cup qualifiers. Banks do also release funds provided expected funds from the federation account are domiciled with such banks.

The NFA of old was even responsible for funding Nigerian clubs on continental assignments. Meanwhile the current Private Jet cruising NFF board which Boast of 85% self funding cannot pay bonus to national team players. It was a national Eembarrassment on Wednesday the 19th of July 2022 after the gallant Super Falcons of Nigeria fought their way to the semi finals of the WAFCON and booked a qualification ticket for the upcoming female world Cup in Australia protested unpaid back log of Bonus and allowance. Its time to take our football back from visionless administrators.