Nigeria: Presidency Rules Out Hosting AFCON

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football

Sources at the Presidency say Nigeria is currently not interested in hosting next year’s Africa Cup of Nations because it coincides with next year’s general elections, reports SL10.ng.

Nigeria Football Federation’s First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, on Monday hinted that the country could host the biennial championship, saying authorities at the Aso Rock Villa were interested in bringing the competition to the country if the Confederation of African Football (CAF) requested for Nigeria’s help.

Morocco has the hosting right for the 2015 competition, but the North African country is demanding that CAF shifts it from the usual January/February calendar citing the need to protect its citizens from the Ebola scourge currently ravaging some parts of West Africa.

CAF in the interim have turned down their request and according to reports, South Africa and Ghana, have been approached by the soccer body.

“There is no chance of it happening for now as we are going to have the general elections around same time as the tournament,” a source at the Presidency said.

“Yes! we are Ebola free but security wise it’s not ideal to host the Cup of Nations in same months as our general elections,” he said.

Meanwhile, a cold war is brewing between Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo and the NFF leadership over the issue of a foreign coach for the Super Eagles.

 A  source at the sports commission said the country’s policy frowns at the hiring of foreign expatriates.

“The president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has outlawed the hiring of foreign expatriates in any sector of Nigeria interest, so I wonder why the NFF wants one,” said the source.

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“It’s simply for that reason that the minister wanted Keshi to remain as coach, but he was sacked without the minister’s consent or knowledge.”

Despite claims made by the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, that the football house has gotten a sponsor to pick up the wage of the yet to be appointed foreign boss, the NSC top brass insists that all appointments has to be rubberstamped by the country’s apex sport body.

“If the NFF have sourced for a sponsor to pay the expatriate they sought for, it’s a welcome idea but still it has to be approved by the NSC,” added the source.

He, however, said if the NFF are able to defend their preference of a foreign coach to an indigenous coach in front of the president then they might have their way.

“The way out for them is for the president to grant them approval, otherwise there is no way the National Sports Commission (NSC) or the minister can approve such,” concluded the source.

 

Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201410220864.html?viewall=1