UNLIKE previous sporting tournaments in which the country’s flag was flown, the just concluded TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship, which was hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, was remarkably incident-free. As if to justify this atmosphere of relative serenity, the Nigerian representatives, the Super Eagles, went all the way to the final of the tournament. We also note that, consistent with the team’s overall showing at the tournament, Nigeria has moved up 14 places to 28th in the world in the latest FIFA rankings. This is an indictment of the Nigerian football league, hobbled by corruption, inadequate investment and bureaucratic lethargy. If he decides to leave, the NFF needs to move fast and ensure that a new coaching team is in place before the FIFA 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Source: Nigerian Tribune February 21, 2024 07:24 UTC