By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
A former NFF Executive Committee member and legal practitioner, Barrister Christopher Green, has blasted Nigeria’s football leadership for filing a FIFA petition against DR Congo over alleged dual-nationality violations in the Africa playoff qualifiers, calling it a “corner-corner” shortcut driven by greed, not glory.
Nigeria lost its intercontinental World Cup playoff spot to DR Congo in a tense 1-1 draw that went to penalties after 120 minutes.
In an exclusive JerseyNumber12 interview, Green argued the energy spent protesting should have fueled on-pitch qualification. “The strength and energy being used now to win our protest should have been used on the field to qualify fair and square,” he said. “Me thinks the present push to go to the World Cup is not to win it but for pecuniary gains. We now adopt ‘corner-corner’ ways of getting to the World Cup.”
Green warned of backlash if FIFA rules for Nigeria, questioning safety for Nigerians in DR Congo. “Do they also consider the safety and wellbeing of Nigerians living in DR Congo should FIFA decide in our favour?” he asked.
He demanded a full probe of the NFF system to reposition Nigerian football, calling it “shameful” to chase World Cup entry after being outplayed. “Has Nigeria ever used this way to qualify in the past?” Green challenged, questioning who should protest citizenship issues: Nigeria or Congo’s government?
“Before the players were issued Congolese passports, were the authorities not aware they hold passports from other countries? Do they not know their laws ban dual citizenship?” he added. “We are fast becoming a laughing stock in our desperation to go to the World Cup through every means other than qualifying on the field.”
Green dismissed backdoor qualification hopes: “If we are given another opportunity, where is the guarantee we will not blow it? The only reason I would want us to qualify through the ‘back door’ is if we are guaranteed to win the World Cup.”
He accused the NFF and Super Eagles of dashing national hopes. “In reality, both the NFF and Super Eagles have dashed Nigeria’s hope of winning anything. If we win the AFCON, I doubt it will be a soothing balm for our consecutive World Cup losses.”
For reform, Green urged the NFF to prioritize development with “proven technocrats and experts in football education from within and outside Nigeria.” He lambasted current practices: “Right now, we just attend competitions. We lack infrastructure, technical experts, and ideas.”
On the NFF board, he questioned its competence and visibility: “How many good heads are there? Is it an NFF of a negligible few or a proper football house? Let them tell us the composition by names of people manning the various departments and their competence.”
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