Though, the race for the presidency of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been halted by the demand for a comprehensive reform by President Bola Tinubu following the free fall of the sport.
But there are a couple of stakeholders warming up to get into the ring once the coast is clear. Perhaps the TAKE BACK YOUR SPORT mantra is sinking deeper into the hearts of ex-players particularly ex-intermationals who sacrificed their youthful era to develop the sport abd bring glory to Nigeria.
The free fall or nosedive of football has resulted to failure of Super Eagles to qualify for two straight World Cups, Golden Eaglets missing three World Cups in a row and Super Falcons failing for the first time since 1991 to qualify for the World Cup.
This is why stakeholders and especially ex-players must commit their all to help revive football which the reform called for by the president is championing.
The reform as demanded by President Tinubu is proposed to start with the appointment of a three-man Normalisation Committee, which Nigerians frowned at following the nomination of former NFF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick.
A delegation from FIFA has visited Nigeria to get all sides of the story leading to the proposed reform and has since returned to Switzerland. Nigerians ask, What’s next?
Ex-intermational Benedict Akwuegbu has thrown his hat into the ring while he awaits the completion of the task of the normalisation committee from the National Sports Commission(NSC) even as the committee is yet to be constituted.
Akwuegbu is an early bed in the race. He has been consistent in his moves to lead the nation’s football house. In 2022, he contested but withdrew before the election over what he called “gang-up” against ex-intermationals who indicated interest to contest.
The “gang-up” was obviously by the state FA Chairmen who whose bulk and block votes decides who becomes the NFF President. The gang-up against the ex-intermationals who include Peterside Idah, Jonathan Akpoborie, David Doherty and Akwuegbu led the latter and Akpoborie to withdraw.
Akwuegbu is back again. He has fully declared his interest to run once the dust settles over Nigeria football reform. His indication to run is taking him around the country. He still consulting relevant bodies and stakeholders and also building bridges. He recently came in from his base in the United Kingdom to meet with high profile personalities on the way forward for the reform.
Does Akwuegbu need any introduction? Perhaps that should be for the GenZees. Akwuegbu was the youngest member of the Nigerian squad that traveled to Scotland for the 1989 FIFA U-16 World Championship.
He was a teammate to stars like Victor Ikpeba and Godwin Okpara under coach Sebastian Broderick-Imasuen. After the championship, he graduated to the Flying Eagles (U-20) and later earned 35 caps for the Super Eagles.
Akwuegbu has seen it all in international football. He featured in AFCON 2000 co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, and two years later, he featured in the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup.
He played club football in Belgium, France, Austria, Greece, and China, to mention a few. He is loaded with experience as someone who has played in various leagues and the national team. His step to seek the office of president of the NFF is a bold one and should serve as encouragement to ex-players and ex-intermationals.
More should step forward. The more the merrier. Ex-players should TAKE BACK THEIR SPORT. He who feels it knows it. He who wears the shoes knows where it pinches. You can not love a sport more than those who participated, developed and grew with.
Thumbs-up Akwuegbu…. Who’s coming next?
© DESMOND EKWUEME
