Unless there is a rapprochement between CAF
President Ahmad and his former Second Vice President and Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick, Nigeria may have lost the chance of
hosting the widely speculated 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.
The seemingly
‘made in heaven marriage’ between Ahmad and Pinnick under
the ‘change mantra’ that led to the ouster of former FIFA Acting President Issa
Hayatou as CAF supremo in charge of the continental body for 29 years, has
since broken down irreconcilably with the spill-over effects on Nigerian
football interest.
Though a five-team FIFA Inspection
committee was in Nigeria in August for a detailed inspection of the
four designated venues in Lagos, Asaba, Benin City and
Uyo, the world soccer ruling body has yet to make a categorical
statement on the suitability or otherwise of Nigeria to be the first
country in Africa to host a global women’s championship.
“There are no two ways about it, FIFA
recalcitrant attitude towards Nigeria over the hosting rights for the 2020 FIFA
U20 Women’s World Cup is as a result of the squabble between Pinnick and
Ahmad,” a usual reliable source with deep knowledge of the workings of both
FIFA and CAF told NationSport on condition of anonymity.
In July, Pinnick was relieved of his duties as
the first Vice-President of CAF – a position he occupied for just a
year as a replacement for Ghana’s Kwesi Nyantakyi who resigned due
to allegations of corrupt practices.
“It’s
unfortunate that Nigerian football is in this mess ; how will anybody tell us
that Nigeria can’t host the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World
Cup when the same championships had in the past held in neighbourhood parks?”
our source lamented.
“Of course, FIFA would have long confirm
Nigeria as host for the 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup if not for the problem
between Pinnick and Ahmad. It’s no secret that Ahmad doesn’t want to
come to Nigeria especially with Pinnick still in charge of the NFF. That is the
unfortunate situation we have found ourselves?” noted the experienced football
administrator who is miffed with the running of the game at the domestic front.
Nigerian football has indeed been
in a state of comatose with free fall of all the national teams save
for the Super Eagles following the poor performances of Golden
Eaglets, Olympic Eagles, CHAN Eagles, Supersand Eagles at major international
tournaments.
The source also said the NFF is becoming
rudderless under the current administration, adding “Pinnick and his
lieutenants must wake up from their slumber. Our football has never sunk to
this level.
“The NFF can’t even conduct its own
affairs without going cap in hand to state governments. Imagine they can’t even
promptly organise the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which should naturally have been
captured in the federation’s annual budget?
“The AGM has twice been postponed now. It was
to be held in Uyo when Nigeria played Benin but it was moved to Benin and I
understand, it has been moved to December again,” he bemoaned.
