Nigeria Must Play This Football Politics Better – Amos Adamu

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The intersection of politics and sports is a debate that never seems to lose relevance, especially in football.

Should governments and political bodies wield influence over sports? This question took center stage following a dramatic incident between Nigeria and Libya.

Recently the Nigerian contingent found themselves stranded at a Libyan airport for over 18 hours as orders were handed down—Nigeria was forbidden from landing at Benghazi Airport and was instead diverted to the abandoned Al Abraq Airport.

Brila.net spoke with Amos Adamu, former Director General of the Nigerian National Sports Commission and a FIFA Executive Committee member.

Amos Adamu who served from 2006-2010  shared his insights on the matter.

His perspective? Nigeria needs to sharpen its political game within football’s global arena.

“We need to play more politics into it, we need to be involved. Because when you’re in the committee and they’re doing things, you will be able to defend your country and make sure that nobody is cheating your country, and I believe that we need to do more to put more people into the committees.”

“It is by election, somebody must be interested and somebody must play the politics. It is election, not by selection. If you want to be put there, you will raise people that will work before time, maybe 2/3 years they’ll be planning, not overnight.

“It’s not just about being at the table; it’s about knowing what you want from that position. He stressed the importance of coordination between Nigerian football authorities and their representatives, such as former NFF president Amaju Pinnick who is also a member of the Organizing Committee for FIFA competitions.

Throwback: FIFA President Infantino alongside NFF President, Amaju Pinnick [Image: FIFA.com]

“It won’t happen overnight. What is very important is that the football administration itself must know what they want, they must be in close contact with him (Amaju Pinnick). If you leave him there and not tell him what you want, you will not get it.”

Well, Adamu’s insights into the Libya incident were equally frank. “Will you wait until they kill you before you leave? When you see danger, you leave. They will not sanction Nigeria for leaving. In the next 1 or 2 days they will resolve it.”

This incident reveals a truth often overlooked, maybe the political undercurrents in football are not just unavoidable; they’re crucial.

Nations that know how to navigate these waters, engage in football diplomacy, and position themselves strategically are the ones that come out on top.

For Nigeria, mastering the politics behind the sport is just as important as mastering the game itself.