Dr. Tijani Yusuf, former Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), has highlighted the tremendous loss that the country would suffer as a result of the Super Eagles' failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria in the first leg drew 0-0 with the Black Stars of Ghana in Kumasi at the Baba Yara Stadium. In the second which was played at the Moshood Abiola Stadium Nigeria drew 1-1 with Ghana. Thomas Partey’s early goal was cancelled by Troost Ekong’s penalty. Ghana took the ticket for the 2022 World Cup through the away goal rule.
Nigeria did not compete in the World Cup in 2006, with the three-time Afcon champions appearing in the 2010, 2014, and 2018 editions.
“To start with, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) itself has lost billions of naira that would have come to it from FIFA. Secondly, Nigeria’s ranking by FIFA would have gone up,” he told Daily Trust.
“Thirdly, the players themselves are the biggest losers because apart from missing the World Cup showpiece, their individual ranking won’t improve. Then we talk about Nigerians who were warming up to hit Qatar for the World Cup. It is a huge loss.”
He also stated that all the top officials at the NFF should resign and he is shocked they didn’t follow the technical team in leaving.
“Like Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu said, they should all resign,” he added.
“This is the time for the government to step in. In a normal situation, the first person who should have tendered his resignation honourably is the NFF president. If it were in other climes, Pinnick should have resigned immediately.
“But in Nigeria, people don’t resign; they are pushed out by force. I expect him to resign together with his board members; he has done his best, but it is not good enough so let him resign immediately.” he ended.