Politics, corruption bane of Nigerian football, says Disu

Former Super Eagles defender, Tajudeen Disu, has said that the country’s failure to qualify for the 2017 African Nations Cup, as well as the current imbroglio between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, and Giwa FC owner, Chris Giwa, have their roots in the politicization of the game and the unbridled corruption in the sports sector.

In a chat with The Guardian on Monday, the former captain of the defunct Abiola Babes of Abeokuta said the slide in the country’s football was as a result of poor leadership by those running the game.

“Everything in the country has now been politicised. The administration of football has now been handed over to political jobbers, who know next to nothing about football. It is all about making money, not rendering service to better our football. They are a cabal, who keep recycling themselves, which is why our football will keep on going down.

“These people see football management as a money making venture and unfortunately, some stakeholders have stopped talking because of what they get from these administrators. That is why I will always remain grateful to late MKO Abiola for what he did for some of us during our playing days. The man gave us life, opportunities that will sustain us in our lifetime.

And that is why I will never beg anybody to be part of football administration in the nation except they want to know the truth and nothing but the truth,” he said.

The Director of the National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) and Chairman of the Lagos Players Union, said he saw nothing wrong with Giwa taking his case to a civil court as the Egyptian FA and even FIFA bodies were also taken to the civil courts and nothing happened.