By Uzor Odigbo
Super Eagles current campaign for appearance at the FIFA 2026 World Cup may be a mirage unless the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) apologises to the families of former coaches, late Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu for unjust treatment.
Also to be appeased include former Super Eagles goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama who it appears was also treated badly by NFF.
In a no holds barred interview, Former Chairman, Gombe United Football Club, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe shade lights on recent poor run of the National Team.
He also also highlighted Sports Minister’s administrative back and forth behaviour in recent times.
Gara Gombe has unsavoury words for the NFF President Ibrahim Gusau which dove tailed to his predecessor Amaju Pinnick whose regime he described as dotted with corruption.
On Why Super Eagles have continued to perform poorly in World Cup Qualifiers so far?
Gombe, I want to share my opinion following the recent happenings in Nigeria Football, Super Eagles in Particular. Let me make it clear, Nigeria Football will never see Peace until we apologise to the families or Souls of former Super Eagles Coaches, Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu.
Nigeria Football is paying the price following the way we handled the Two Patriots even in Death and until we Apologize, Eagles will continue to Fumble and Wobble.”
Amodu served this country and Died without honour by those managing our football. He qualified us to the World Cup almost twice but we dropped him and deprived him from enjoying the fruits of his labour. We instead accused him of corruption right from Mali 2002 Nations Cup.
On Stephen Keshi lack of honour despite his accomplishments?
As for Stephen Keshi, the most successful indigenous coach ever in the history of Nigeria who did everything for this country, as a player, a coach, yet we disgraced him. We despised him, We insulted his Soul, insulted his Family and did everything to Dishonour him. Shamelessly, those who did that to him are still alive, some are around managing our football. Some have found what they wanted using Keshi’s Soul.
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They are somewhere either managing our local teams or in some fora of global football management. That’s not how to treat people who are good to you. Not only them, if people treat you well and you treat them badly you will see the outcome. Karma is real.
The same thing with our goalkeeping department. That area will not see Peace until we apologize to Vincent Enyeama. When I say this, you may say don’t listen to this mad man. But I mean it, Spiritually, if we don’t go and beg the Souls of Keshi and Amodu, Super Eagles will never be straight. So also the goalkeeping department. The way we treated Vincent Enyeama will continue to hunt Nigeria. I don’t care what anybody would say about me expressing this opinion. Again, We should stop blaming Super Eagles coach, Jose Pesiero. We have refused to point fingers where the problem is.
On the alleged corruption in NFF under past administration?
The problem of Nigeria football got escalated with corruption under the leadership of Amaju Pinnick, people don’t want to talk about it, but they are blaming Jose Pesiero. Did Pesiero appoint himself, Is it not someone that appointed him? The present leadership of Nigeria Federation led by Ibrahim Gusau met a total mess. A messy contract, So they found themselves against the devil and deep blue sea. What did they do? They extended his contract to allow Pesiero to flow. People don’t understand this. If they sack him, the amount of money they have to spend to pay him off will be colossal.
Six months between the time his contact elapses and Nations Cup, we have to find a way. He accepted a pay cut, yes, Pesiero did Nigeria a great Favour, He accepted a Pay Cut and a short contract to see it through. If you sack him, you don’t even have money to pay him, so we have to manage it. And all these are happening because of the way we treated Stephen Keshi and Amodu Shaibu. Let me add, Gusau came as president of Nigeria Football Federation, He refused for whatever reason, either he is afraid of Amaju Pinnick or whatever, to tell Nigerians the rot he found on ground. I keep on saying that Gusau should be careful, very soon the honeymoon would be over.
On Coach Peseiro’s poor Performance and why he should be retained by NFF?
Nigerians are blaming Coach Pesiero now, they would soon turn to Gusau, they are just giving him time. I demand that Gusau should uncover the mess, the debts he met when he assumed office. The mismanagement, the corruption, the over invoicing and those untidy things he met on ground.
Since Gusau resumed at NFF, he is yet to tell Nigerians what he intend to do. I have not heard him say it. Unfortunately, he is my friend. but there’s no friendship when National interest is involved. Talking about Nigeria football, we were elected the same time in Nigeria Congress, unfortunately, my tenure was short-lived at the Congress, but that’s a story for another day. What Gusau should do now is to address Nigerians through the Media, first, apologies to them and let them understand the mess you found, regarding the debt, the amount of money you intend to run football in Nigeria. Also unveil your landmark programme for football in five or six years period, draw a check list, when you achieve any of them, you tick.
On NFF planned prudent management of resources?
I have a strong belief that Gusau wants to be prudent, but Nigerians don’t care about your prudence when Super Eagles are lossing matches. They want result. Tell Nigerians where you met Nigeria football and where you want to take it to. Cut and paste policy cannot help you, trial and error policy, I don’t like it. Nigeria football presently is on Auto Pilot.
We are in deep crisis and unfortunately, the current Minister of Sports Sen. John Enoh who just came in and who I expected to listen to all shades of opinion, instead, have been railroaded not to listen to certain people they considered Bad.
The greatest mistake the present Minister made was allowing himself to be taken to Cairo to bid for Nigeria to host Nations Cup. That’s the greatest mistake of this Minister.
You don’t rush into the plane with this people. That was the same thing they did to former Minister Sunday Dare. When he came they rushed him into a plane and took him to FIFA to give guarantees that Nigeria is ready to host U-17 FIFA Women’s World Cup and begged FIFA to give Nigeria some time as the new president has given an assurance but would need sometime to get our football infrastructures ready.
Why the Minister must be sincere in dealing with real stakeholders?
FIFA had to delay the announcement of the host waiting for Nigeria. After two weeks, somebody from FIFA told me that Nigeria would never be announced as Host. With insecurity, corruption and poor economy, they said no, we would Never smell it. This happened in the First three months of Sunday Dare’s tenure.
Sen. John Enoh came, the same thing happened. That’s what they are looking for, put him in a plane, get estacode , it’s never my business whether or not they give him money, why should they repeat the same treatment meted to Sunday Dare, when they know they are in a wild goose chase. There are many bubby traps for this Minister. A project the Minister had not sat down to plan or review? In saner climes, that project should have been cancelled for not being his immediate priority. I understand some people telling the Minister to ostracize some people and don’t listen to the likes of Gara Gombe they are bad. No problem, as for me, I would continue to hit the right buttons at the right time. God bless Nigeria.
