By Victor Kanayo
Football activities in Nigeria have continued to nosedive, following several issues plaguing the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
Investigation by Heritage Times HT revealed that pile of debts surrounding the country’s football, have compounded the past and present problems for virtually all National teams.
“The current NFF leadership is in debt which it inherited from previous administration last year. The debt ranges from non-payment of several match bonuses owed players and officials of all the National team, from Super Eagles to U15 team.
“The Federation is also heavily indebted to hotels where these teams camp, they are piled up of debt owed airline agents who make flight arrangements and other logistics despite all the FIFA largesse, sponsorships and other interventions… one major challenge is that the present leadership doesn’t open up on these issues, then tackle it,” an NFF source told Heritage Times at the weekend.
Besides, NFF had publicly admitted they were grappling with serious cash problems through an official statement, explaining that the major reason Super Eagles assistant coaches are rotated are as part of cost-cutting measures.
National teams’ struggles
In recent times, the country’s Senior Men and Women teams – Super Eagles and Falcons have struggled to win matches, let alone make any meaningful impact.
The situation is not different for the age-grade sides including, U20 and U23 national teams.
At the just concluded U20 Africa Cup of Nations, Nigerian team also known as Flying Eagles struggled to book a place at the upcoming World championship.
Nigeria’s U23 team, are on the verge of being knocked out of U23 Africa Cup of Nations, after succumbing to a goalless draw against their Guinean counterpart in the first qualifier few days ago. The return leg version is expected to happen later this week in Morocco.
Also, the Super Falcons that had ruled Africa, have struggled to win any match in the past one year. Out of about eight past matches, the Nigerian women team only recorded one win. During the 2022 Women Africa Cup of Nations, the Super Falcons managed to pick the World Cup ticket, then lost most of the matches including, against Zambia and South Africa at the continental showpiece.
Super Falcons Coach, Randy Waldrum, just as his Super Eagles counterpart Jose Peseiro, are being owed months of salaries.
Peseiro dilemma
Meanwhile, information has emerged that Peseiro may face sack, should Super Eagles fail to beat the Wild Dogs of Guinea in the return leg of 2023 Africa Cup of Nations later on Monday.
Though, NFF hierarchy is yet to react to the supposed arrangement.
Peseiro, a Portuguese, has not been convincing since taking over Super Eagles’ reign in the past nine months, with many stakeholders calling for his sack.
The Guineans damed all challenges to hand star-studded Nigerian side a 1-0 defeat in Abuja on Friday. The victory was their first ever against the Super Eagles.
While they are ranked 118 by FIFA globally, Super Eagles are in 31st position
