The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has disclosed that any Nigerian aspiring for the FIFA presidential position must first obtain clearance from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) before it can get its backing.
Former Nigerian Captain, Segun ‘Mathematical’ Odegbami, and former Abia State Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu, have already declared their bid intention to contest the February 26, 2016 epic poll for the successor of the outgoing FIFA boss, Sepp Blatter.
In a communiqué issued after an emergency executive committee in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the NFF stated that Odegbami and Uzor-Kalu must obtain a letter of endorsement from CAF as well as their respective state Football Associations to be able to receive its support.
The NFF terms and conditions read further: “The aspirants should also present a letter of support from the National Sports Commission. They also have to prove they can fulfill all the FIFA presidential elections eligibility provisions.
The FIFA eligibility provisions states that such candidate aspiring for the office of the president must have been actively involved in the world football governing body related activities for at least two years, a condition the duo are unlikely to scale through. The stringent conditions may have offered NFF the leeway out of backing the wrong horse in the race.
By Olisemeka Obeche
[divider]