They include the CHAN team, the U20 Boys
also known as Flying Eagles, and the U17 Boys also known as Golden Eaglets.
This comes against the backdrop of the
failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 after
the matches against the Black Stars of Ghana end goalless draw and one-all in
Kumasi and Abuja respectively.
Following its executive committee meeting
held on Tuesday in Abuja, the NFF mandated its Technical and Development
Sub-Committee to within the next five days make recommendations on coaching
crews for these teams.
It explained that the move became necessary
to ensure preparations for the next qualifying tournaments and championships
commence in earnest.
The football body again apologised to
Nigerians for the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the world cup and
reacted to the invasion of the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja by fans who were
aggrieved by the Eagles’ defeat to the Ghanaian side.
It stressed that the incident had nothing
to do with the death of Dr Joseph Kabungo who was appointed as the FIFA Doping
Officer for the Nigeria-Ghana playoff match on Tuesday last week.
According to the football governing, Dr
Kabungo died as a result of sudden cardiac arrest as attested to by the autopsy
report.
It added that the FIFA official’s body has
been flown to Zambia for final rites accompanied by his family members who were
flown to Nigeria two days after the unfortunate incident.
The NFF also hinted at when it would hold
its Annual General Assembly (AGA) which failed to take place on December 17,
2021, as a result of an ex parte injunction that suspend the exercise.
Read the communique of the NFF Executive
Committee meeting below:
The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football
Federation met on Tuesday, 5th April 2022 at the Federal Capital Territory,
Abuja to deliberate on important issues in Nigeria Football and resolved as
follows:
The Executive Committee tendered unreserved
apology to the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria for the inability
of the Super Eagles to win a ticket to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
It praised the President and
Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His
Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR for his personal presence and
apologised that the team faltered in the quest for a ticket to Qatar.
For his steadfastness, exemplary leadership
and warm relationship with the NFF since assuming office and especially for the
FIFA World Cup playoff matches, the Committee commended, appreciated and
applauded the Honourable Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday
Dare.
The Committee further commended the
Honourable Minister for his savvy in convening the meeting held among the
Presidency, Sports Ministry and NFF on Monday, 4th April 2022 to review the
unfortunate outcome of the match with Ghana and agree concrete steps on how to
reinvigorate the Super Eagles and indeed Nigeria Football going forward.
It noted that the meeting was very cordial,
as well as established and appreciated the fact that all that was needed to be
done and/or provided the team and the technical crew to ensure a positive
outcome on the pitch against Ghana was delivered, and in a most professional
manner.
In addition, unique motivational strategy
was put in place to spur the coaches and the players, such as offering the
technical crew a two-and-half year contract. The standard agreement NFF had in
place with the players that they will share 35 per cent of the qualifying bonus
Nigeria will earn by participating at the Qatar 2022 World Cup was also
emphasised.
The Executive Committee regretted the death
of Dr Joseph Kabungo, appointed as the FIFA Doping Officer for the
Nigeria/Ghana FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Playoff match in Abuja on 29th March
2022.
It reiterated that Dr Kabungo died as a
result of sudden cardiac arrest, as attested to by the autopsy report, and
disclosed that his body had been flown to Zambia for final rites accompanied by
his family members who were flown to Nigeria two days after the unfortunate
incident.
It prayed that God grants the soul of Dr
Kabungo eternal rest and for fortitude for his family and the Zambia Football
Family to bear the big loss. The Committee equally commended the General
Secretary for diligence and proficiency in handling issues surrounding the
tragic development and also with regards to the match organisation.
After exhaustive deliberations,
introspection and admission that the outpouring of emotions by fans and
stakeholders over the FIFA World Cup miss was legitimate, the Executive Committee
urged caution and patience, and assured that in tandem with the Ministry of
Youth and Sports Development, decisive steps will be taken in the next few days
to reposition Nigeria Football in several areas, including the National Teams.
It also disclosed that in line with the
statutes, roadmap for new elections into the NFF Board will be designed at the
Annual General Assembly (AGA) of the NFF once the ex parte injunction
suspending the Congress from meeting is vacated.
It can be recalled that the AGA to set the
roadmap for the next NFF election cycle was statutorily scheduled to hold on
17th December, 2021 in Lagos but an ex parte court order was served on the NFF
from a Federal High Court in Bayelsa State to stop the meeting.
The NFF had since January 2022 approached
the court to vacate the order and the next sitting is scheduled for 26th April
2022. The committee has now proposed June 2022 for the AGA to statutorily set
the roadmap for the NFF elective congress provided the order is vacated accordingly.
The Executive Committee mandated its
Technical and Development Sub-Committee to, within the next five days, make
recommendations to the Executive Committee on coaching crews for the Super
Eagles, the CHAN team, the U20 Boys (Flying Eagles) and the U17 Boys (Golden
Eaglets) ahead of upcoming assignments. This is to ensure preparations for the
next qualifying tournaments and championships commence in earnest.
The Committee hailed the Super Falcons for
its qualification for the 12th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations
taking place in Morocco in the month of July, and promised to provide the team
ample support for adequate preparation for the Championship, aware that the
event also serves as qualifying tournament for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup
finals.
The Super Falcons’ contingent departed
Nigeria on Tuesday night for Canada for a two-match tour with that country’s
Women’s National Team, and will camp in Morocco for the African Championship.
The Executive Committee also commended the
U20 Women National Team, Falconets, for its qualification for this year’s FIFA
U20 Women’s World Cup taking place in Costa Rica in the month of August, and
charged the U17 girls, Flamingos to put in the hard work necessary to win a
ticket to this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup taking place in India in the
month of October
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