NFF election: Odegbami expresses worry over role of ethnicity

Segun Odegbami

NFF election: Odegbami expresses worry over role of ethnicity

Former Green Eagles captain, Chief Segun Odegbami, has advised candidates from the southern part of the country seeking to be the next president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to have a rethink. He said that it will be difficult for a southerner to replace the outgoing NFF boss, Pinnick Amaju.

The football legend, who was part of the 1980 Green Eagles’ African Cup of Nations winning squad also told The Guardian yesterday that all the 37 chairmen of the State Football Association (FA) don’t have the legal right to cast a vote in any election organised by the NFF.

“The 37 State FA Chairmen are organising football in their states, not the clubs. It may sound technical, but the truth is that they don’t have the legal right to vote in any election organised by the NFF.”

Odegbami had said in an interview with TVC on Tuesday that ethnic sentiment will play a huge role in the September 30 NFF election scheduled to hold in Benin City, Edo State.

Odegbami has contested for the NFF top job on three occasions without success. Over 11 contestants are in the race to succeed Pinnick. They include first vice president of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi; Chairman of Chairmen, Ibrahim Gusau; former NFF secretary, Musa Amadu; CAF Director, Security, Christian Emeruwa; former Super Eagles goalkeeper and Media Officer, Peterside Idah; former player, Benedict Akwuegbu; former SWAN President and General Manager, Heartland FC, Fan Ndubuoke, former Director, NSC and current Chief of Staff to Sports Minister, Abba Yola, former player, Jonathan Akpoborie and former NFF board member, Amamze Uchegbulam.

However, Odegbami said it would be almost impossible for a Southerner to