Former Gombe United Football Club Chairman, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe has said immediate past President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnic recently concurred with his view that the current NFF boss, Ibrahim Gusau, should not be blamed for the failure of the Super Eagles’ to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Gombe, Founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Athletics and Other Sports Commission, an NGO that advocates for transparency and accountability in Nigerian sports, stated this in a statement made available to VDCInsighst in Abuja.
According to Gombe ” When I wrote in my previous piece that Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is not to be blamed for the Super Eagles World Cup exit, some people did not understand me. When I said there were enemies within who would not want Gusau to achieve what they could not achieve, some people were ignorantly hurling stones at me.”
The former Gombe FA Chairman stated “Truth is bitter, but we must say it. The reason our beloved country is facing all manner of challenges and literally from all fronts including sports is because we have failed to look at ourselves straight in the face and speak the truth.”
He noted that Nigeria has missed out of two world cups. “Those blaming Gusau should continue playing politics. If we fail again to tell ourselves the truth and continue running around this endless circle, we should pray that we don’t make it a third World Cup miss back to back come 2030. “
“It is not a matter of God forbid, but the reality that we must avoid. I maintain that there are landmines laid along the way even before the Gusau-led NFF assumed duties. But Gusau chose to be a gentleman by trying to navigate his way, avoid them, and assiduously work to secure result. But when the foundation is faulty, like they say, what can the righteous do?”
Gombe stated “Indeed, the real masquerades behind Super Eagles World Cup failures are shamefully crawling out of their abodes, shrines, shells, closets. The enemies within Nigerian football are tired of hiding,” stressing, “ The anger and curses from Nigerians over Super Eagles World Cup miss, among other issues, are smoking them out of their hideouts. It is time for confessions”.
He pointed out “Recently, I watched former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Melvin Amaju Pinnick in his usual arrogant, boisterous, and grandstanding style on Arsie TV telling the world without civility and insulting our collective sensibilities, how he sees himself as the Life President of the NFF.
“I dare ask, which past federation president in Europe, North America, South America, Asia, or Africa has ever described himself in such a manner that suggests he is all-knowing, all-powerful, and indispensable, Gombe asked rhetorically?
According to him, “Perhaps Amaju, in a subtle way revealed to us that he still has a firm control of and over our football, despite his massive failure for eight years as NFF President”
He said “Amaju went further to disclose in that television programme how he has been calling, discussing, and advising Super Eagles players”, arguing that this implies he has access to the players and a sort of control over them. This is coming from someone who has left office for over four years now”.
Gombe argued “When you call yourself a life president and you boast of regularly speaking with the players, you are indirectly saying to Nigerians that their football and national team are in your hands and you can choose whatever you wish to do with them, of course, Nigerians have seen the results.”
He warned “Should Amaju repeat this fallacy, I will reveal the details of what allegedly happened during NIGERIA/ZAMBIA Match and he will end up in jail and will settle the debate of who is a life President of our Football.”
The former Gombe United Football Chairman alleged that Amaju is only good at failure. “Interestingly, Nigerians know better now why no wonder, under his watch, Super Eagles and Golden Eaglets could not qualify for 2022 and 2021 World Cups, respectively.
“When a man boasts that he speaks with Super Eagles players regularly, it means he has the listening ears of the players and could manipulate them, especially when you consider that bulk of the players, who failed to qualify Nigeria for 2022 and 2026 World Cups came into the team during his tenure as NFF President”, he argued.
He also noted “Recall that Amaju once told Nigerians how he instructed the former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr to include a player he (Amaju) considered “My player, my quota” in the 2018 World Cup squad.
“Apparently, he influences the invitation and selection of players and likely the team list for games during his tenure.”
Against this background, he wondered why Amaju did not speak out when the same Super Eagles players were threatening to boycott the World Cup playoffs in Morocco.
Gombe noted “While the protest was on, no word came from Amaju as “life president” of the NFF, at least, to calm tension and convince the players to jettison the idea of boycotting the playoffs as it would be counter-productive and capable of painting them and the country in a bad light.”
He alleged “Amaju’s silence was an approval of the players’ decision, which eventually contributed to their World Cup exit.”
He concluded “That is the handiwork of someone, who says he regularly talks with the players, while alleging, “Who knows, perhaps, Amaju may truly have spoken with the players secretly over the demand for their bonuses and allowances, which no doubt was their entitlement, but turned around to be a protest and later a threat to boycott the playoffs.”
