Says it has no money to prosecute S/Africa tie
From Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has cried out over her inability to raise funds to prosecute the crucial Africa Nations Cup qualifier against South Africa barely three days to the all-important encounter.
A reliable source at the Glass House who spoke in confidence revealed that despite presenting its financial requirement through President Muhammadu Buhari’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari to the Acting President, Prof Yomi Osinbajo, who wasted no time to approve the request, the football federation is yet to understand why the fund has not been released few days to the crucial game.
The source equally revealed that the situation has crippled all activities and logistics for the match as the federation cannot facilitate anything at the moment for the game, adding that it was now in a fix on what to do for the clash scheduled for the Nest of Champions in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
While emphasizing that the leadership of the NFF has continued to bank on hope of getting the approved funds, the source said: “I know that the federation has for over the past two months forwarded the requirements to prosecute this match.
“I am also aware that the Acting President being a keen supporter of the national team has approved the money; but unfortunately no dime has been released to the football federation and we have barely three days away to the very crucial game.
“When the Super Eagles returned from France, we took Alex Iwobi and one other player to pay a visit to the Chief of Staff who presented our financial request to the Acting President and he wasted no time to approve it. But we are surprised that till this moment, the approved funds are yet to get to the federation and this is seriously affecting our preparations for the match,” the top NFF official lamented.
The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for the two previous editions of the championship even as defending champions, losing the ticket after they managed a disappointing 2-2 draw with the South Africans in the last group qualifying match at the same Nest of Champions stadium.