CAF has undermined Nigeria –Galadima

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Alhaji Aminu Maigari

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As reactions continue to trail the failure of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Alhaji Aminu Maigari to be elected into the Executive Committee of Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) in the recently held elections in Morocco, former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima yesterday said the continental football governing body has again undermined the contributions of Nigeria and South Africa to its existence.

While Maigari lost by 19 votes to 35 to Republic of Benin’s Moucharafou Anjorin, South Africa’s Danny Jordan lost to Ahmad of Madagascar who polled 27 votes against his opponent’s 21.

Speaking to Daily Trust yesterday, Galadima said the time has come for the two countries which have made enormous contributions to the existence of CAF to seek due recognition for their contributions.

He said Maigari’s failure to clinch the seat is not a personal loss, as he maintained that it is the whole country that has been undermined by CAF.

Galadima said on a number of occasions, CAF has been rescued by Nigeria and South Africa but when it comes to given the duo their due recognition, the football governing body always show ingratitude.

He said “Nigeria and South Africa have made so much contribution to CAF and its survival but see how the two countries have been treated by the same body. We are not being given any recognition by CAF which I think it is a pity.

“Danny Jordan who got praises for organising the World Cup in South Africa was humiliated by somebody from Madagascar. Nigeria has hosted four editions of the African women championship. We are always coming to the rescue of CAF at the last hour.

“Nigeria and South Africa have made these invaluable contribution so what I think is important is for them to learn a lesson from what has happened. We must sit up and do what is necessary for us to be recognised and respected.

The former vice-president of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, NOC, also blamed Nigeria for presenting divergent interests as far as the CAF Executive committee seat in concerned.

He said even as he was nominated by the Presidency to replace Dr. Amos Adamu in CAF, nobody has bothered to ask what has become of his nomination.

“I was nominated by government of Nigeria to replace Dr. Amos Adamu in CAF. The letter was submitted by the then minister of sports Prof. Taoeef Adedoja but Isa Hayatou said we should wait for the outcome of Adamu’s appeal.

“When the appeal failed, I expected us to continue from there. Nigeria should have been the one to meet CAF that the coast was clear but nobody even remembered that there was somebody who was nominated and given presidential backing to complete the tenure on behalf of Nigeria.

“Nobody cared to find out the position of the nomination we sent. All of a sudden, we woke up to hear that Nigeria has lost election in March 2013. This is why I said we have played into the hands of CAF”, he stated.