By Collins Enenmoh
As the zero hour to the kick off of the World Cup approaches swiftly, football legend Segun Odegbami has called on soccer fans to chase those who made us not to qualify for the World Cup away from administering football in the country.
Speaking at the 10th Stephen Keshi memorial lecture yesterday at the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, Kofo Abayomi, Odegbami regretted that Nigeria’s flag will not be hoisted in “the easiest World Cup with 10 qualification slots for Africa.
And the people who did not take us there are scheming and planning that they are going to come back again to lead us through this same hell we’re going through. That will be the ultimate slap on the face if Nigerians allows them to come back.
People have failed and we’re bamboozled into accepting that they come and continue and disregard all people who are the victims of their failure. It is a shame. The ignorance level of our so-called leaders is atrocious”.
Looking at the empty hall of the NIIA where the memorial lecture held, Odegbami said that he would have been shocked if NFF officials honored the invitation. ”Look at the hall. It’s near empty. We’re talking of Stephen Keshi who gave everything to this country. ”Time has come for us to stand up and chase away these impostors from our football.”.
Speaking on the state of the game, Odegbami did not mince words, describing the situation as unacceptable for a country with Nigeria’s football pedigree.
“You’ll be shocked to know that as great as this country is, we do not have one standard stadium in Nigeria. I mean one, not two. Go to the Godswill Akpabio Stadium and see what we have turned it to. It’s pitiable. We can no longer watch them destroy our beautiful game that gives Nigerians joy”.
“There’s no accountability, no resignations after failure. No remorse. We cannot continue with this impunity”, Odegbami said.
