The leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari, has
achieved so much within the past 16 months to deserve resounding applause from Nigerians, so says Chief Emeka Inyama, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee.
Inyama, a foremost football journalist and publisher of note, took a critical look at the statistics of all National Teams since January 2012 and said: “The Maigari administration deserves not only
commendation, but rousing ovation for what it has achieved for Nigeria on the field. The great thing is, the achievements were not only on the field, there were plenty off the field as well.”
For the records, no Nigerian national football team has failed to qualify for continental or global competition since the beginning of 2012.
The Super Eagles were successful in the qualifying race for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations and eventually travelled to South Africa to
triumph at the finals.
The Flying Eagles qualified for the 2013 African Youth Championship and finished third in Algeria to qualify
for the FIFA U-20 World Cup that takes place in Turkey from June 21 to July 13.
The Golden Eaglets qualified for the 2013 CAF U-17
Championship and only lost the final match to Cote d’Ivoire after a penalty shootout in Marrakech, Morocco, on Saturday.
The Super Falcons qualified for the 8th African Women Championship and finished third in Equatorial Guinea.
The Falconets qualified for the
FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and won plaudits from world football governors as they reached the semi finals and the Flamingoes reached
the quarter finals of the FIFA U-17 Women’s World in Azerbaijan and equalled a tournament record.
Even the Beach Soccer team, also known as Supersand Eagles, did Nigeria proud by winning the COPA Lagos invitational tournament for the second successive edition and putting up a credible showing at the Samsung Intercontinental tournament in Dubai.
Inyama said: “It has been fabulous showing here and there for Nigeria football in the past 16 months and critics must give that to this administration.
“The records are there for all to see. In fact, Nigeria is the only African country to qualify to represent the continent at all major championships since the beginning of 2012.
“Just look at the records: Nigeria represented Africa at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in Japan; represented Africa at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan; will represent Africa at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup; will represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey and will also represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in United Arab Emirates.
“The Golden Eaglets, who were unlucky to lose the African U-17 Championship trophy to Cote d’Ivoire in Morocco, were playing at the
tournament for the first time since 2007. This team has already been tipped for greatness by several seasoned and respected commentators across the world.”
The Super Eagles have played a total of 21 matches in the
past 16 months, in the process winning the Africa Cup of Nations for the country for the first time in 19 years and only the third time in the competition’s 56-year history.
The Flying Eagles played 17 matches, winning seven and losing six, three of which came at the Cape Town International Tournament before the team came into its mettle. The team is to be overhauled for the challenge of the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in the summer.
The Golden Eaglets, runners-up at the African U-17 Championship in
Morocco, will represent Africa at the FIFA U-17 World Cup, UAE 2013, alongside Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia and Morocco.
Inyama added: “Off the field, the Maigari administration can boast of having restructured the Secretariat in line with FIFA and CAF organogram;
organized several quality coaching and refereeing courses; kept level head to work harmoniously with the supervising National Sports
Commission; established great rapport with all Nigerian Embassies abroad; arranged more friendly matches for the National Team than any
administration before it; embarked on aggressive marketing drive; paid greater attention to the welfare of coaches, players and staff and; taken matches of the National Teams round the country for more Nigerians to see and feel the teams at close quarters.”
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