Written by Mohammed S. Shehu
01 July, 2010
Nigeria's midfielder Sani Kaita (R) hides his face after being handed a
red card for kicking Greece's defender Vasilis Torosidis (unseen) during
the Group B first round 2010 World Cup football match Greece vs. Nigeria
on June 17, 2010 at Free State Stadium in Mangaung/Bloemfontein.
AFP PHOTO / VINCENZO PINTO
A week after they returned from the World Cup tournament in South Africa following their first round exit, the national football team, the Super Eagles, were summarily disbanded by President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday. The president also directed that Nigeria withdraws from all international football competitions for the next two years to enable the country reorganise its football administration following the dismal performance of the Super Eagles at the ongoing World Cup in South Africa.
The Super Eagles ended this country’s dream for football glory in South Africa by bagging just one point in Group B, where they were grouped alongside Argentina, Greece and Korea Republic.
President Jonathan also directed that an audit be undertaken of the finances of the World Cup project and that any perceived misapplication of funds should be investigated in order to bring the culprits to book.
Addressing State House reporters soon after a meeting between Jonathan and members of the Presidential Task Force on the 2010 World Cup, the president’s spokesman Ima Niboro said Jonathan also approved the auditing of all monies spent by the country during the ongoing World Cup in South Africa. “President Goodluck Jonathan has directed that Nigeria withdraws from international competitions for two years to enable the country put its house in order,” Niboro said.
Yesterday’s presidential decisions however risk attracting a FIFA ban of this country from all international football events. Football’s world governing body frowns at government interference in football matters. “At the time of writing, we have no official information on this matter,’’ FIFA said in a statement last night. “However, in general, FIFA’s position regarding political interference in football is well known.’’
Read the full text
