The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has listed seven candidates who met the deadline for its presidential election billed for February 26, 2016.
The names of Nigeria’s aspiring candidates were missing.
Since Segun Odegbami and Orji Uzor Kalu failed to meet the deadline of Monday, October 26, accusing fingers have been pointed at some Nigerians as reasons for the botched bid.
Flexing of muscles in Nigeria’s top sports fraternity affected the chances of the country having a candidate.
Those close to Odegbami were against Kalu, those in Kalu’s group vowed to do everything possible to ensure that Odegbami did not get it.
It was learnt that a close associate of Odegbami said Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, was in Cairo to secure five endorsements for Odegbami but Kalu’s loyalist, Amos Adamu, was also in Cairo allegedly dissuading everybody from endorsing Odegbami.
It was also discovered that the nomination from the NFF for Odegbami was not officially communicated.
Patrick Omorodion said Adamu had voiced support for Kalu but the NFF delayed until FIFA announced it would probe Adamu.
He added: “The NFF quickly said they were endorsing Odegbami verbally. Adamu may have consulted Isa Hayatou who spoke to Sepp Blatter, hence Blatter came out with the statement on a Swiss radio that he supports Kalu.
“But because the NFF had told the world that it was behind Odegbami’s candidature, it could not recant.
“The only way out to satisfy their masters in Nigeria and CAF was to frustrate Odegbami and make him unable to get the CAF endorsement until the deadline by FIFA expired last Monday night.
“The cabal still controls football in Nigeria and CAF.
FIFA presidency is not only about playing football at the high level. It is the great political game in sports ever.
Was Odegbami ready to play the game? Has he got the free money to play? Sports is 80 per cent politics and 20 per cent field play today.
Did any CAF or FIFA official know Odegbami in football politics? When last did our government get involved in sports politics?
Is our government sports oriented at all?
The answer to all these questions is no, according to veteran sports journalist, Tunde Orebiyi.
Said he: “Nigeria shot itself in the foot period. I asked questions days back yet no government official bothered to answer. They were simply busy for their personal pockets.
“No one can be an island and lead the world, never. Liberia’s Bility got his required five associations outside Africa, his government also supported him.
“Whom did Odegbami get? South Africa’s Sexwale got German and some Africans support. Whom did Odegbami get. Bility and Sexwale had campaign teams. Who were the campaigners for Odegbami?
“Nigeria has lost a great opportunity. If not for the EFCC case hanging on Orji Uzor Kalu which the FIFA integrity test may use to knock him out, he would have been a better Nigerian candidate.
“Nigeria threw away once in life time chance.”
But then, this is not ultimately about Odegbami. It is about Nigeria. This was bungled by us.
A fantastic opportunity to have a cerebral, knowledgeable, and professionally qualified Nigerian in the effective race for the FIFA big job has been wasted because of a ridiculous reason – failure to beat deadline for submission of requirements for the election.
The suspicion of foul play and the complicity of the NFF is not remote. Odegbami and Kalu made their ambition known almost two months ago, yet the NFF foot-dragged on their nominations and made up its mind two days before deadline.
NFF’s last minute efforts failed, if it was ever genuine. This is disastrous for our football because it has clearly shown that the selfishness of some individuals is stifling the system.
FIFA’s member associations have proposed seven candidates for the presidential election at the extraordinary FIFA congress in Zurich on February 26, 2016.
The candidates are Ali Bin Al Hussein, Musa Bility, Jereme Champagne, Gianni Infantino, Michel Platini, Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, and Tokyo Sexwale.
The candidature of Michel Platini, who is currently banned from football-related activities, will not be processed by the electoral committee for as long as the ban is in force.
If the ban is lifted or expires before the election, the electoral committee would decide how to proceed with him.
The electoral committee will assess the other candidates in line with the electoral regulations for the FIFA presidency.
The electoral committee has passed their dossiers to the ethics committee to carry out integrity checks, as stipulated in the regulations.
It will deliver a comprehensive documentation on each candidate, but will not give any recommendation as to whether or not a candidate may run for the presidency.
Upon receipt of the results of the investigation, the electoral committee will reconvene to review the submissions and validate compliance with FIFA regulations.
The electoral committee will formally admit and declare the candidates who are eligible to stand for the office.