By Harrison Jala
Abuja, March 23, 2024 – Unarguably, Nigeria has the best of African football legends from 1994 to the present generation.
Kanu Nwankwo, Victor Ikpeba, Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, Tijani Babangida, Emeka Ezeugo, Daniel Amokachi, Michael Emenalo, Emmanuel Amunike, Uche Okechukwu, Peter Rufai. Alloy Agu, Finidi George, Chidi Nwanu, Celestine Babyaro, Samson Siasia, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Austin Eguavoen, Taribo West, Ifeanyi Udeze John Mikel Obi, Odion Ighalo, amongst others.
Why would these legends with the exception of Emeka Ezeugo continue to maintain Stoic Silence in the face of the free fall of Nigeria Football since 2014?
Nigeria did not qualify for 2015 and 2017 AFCON. Nigeria was also not in Qatar for the 2022 world cup.
Authenticated grants from FIFA and CAF allegedly looted runs into several millions of US Dollars and Billions of Naira in sponsorship money within the period under review.
Grassroot football in Nigeria is a total mess. Owners of football Academies and grassroot clubs sell Nigerian Youth players to foreign clubs indiscriminately and don’t plough the funds back into football.
The internal workings of the professional clubs in Nigeria is nothing to write home about. The capital flight from the Nigerian football industry annually is unbelievable.The level of bribery, corruption and sentiment in the selection of players to the various national teams ,including the super Eagles, is alarming.
Why did Nigerian football Legends choose to be silent in the face of these atrocities in Nigeria Football? What are they gaining from seeing the platform that transformed them into legends and global icons destroyed before their very eyes.
Is it that our legends are naive? No I don’t think so not with all the international exposure they had playing for some of the biggest clubs in Europe, Chelsea, Arsenal, AC Milan, Inter-Milan, PSG, Manchester United, Barcelona, Juventus, Borussia Dortmond, Monaco ,etc.
Our legends are Just not aware of the power, enormous influence and good will they have at their disposal. Three of these legends Kanu Nwankwo, Daniel Amokachi and Austin Okocha can as a team, knock on the door of President Bola Tinubu anytime any day and the president would give them audience. Even presidents of other Countries would accord them same honor and respect as pride of the African Continent.
So why do these legends choose to be laid-back and allow charlatans to take over the administration of Nigerian football?
Our legends must come together and join their colleagues Tijani Babangida and Emmanuel Babyaro the current PFAN president and general Secretary to rescue Nigerian football, they all have Constitutional rights to participate in Nigeria Football administration .
Our legends must wake up from their slumber now , to rescue an industry that could become the biggest labour employer in Nigeria.
