NFF election: Musa Amadu joins NFF presidential race

Former General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Musa Amadu, has formally declared to contest the federation president in September elective congress slated to hold in Benin, Edo State.

Speaking during the declaration, Amadu urged the football stakeholders to retake the game, promising to bring something entirely new to the office.

He said: “To get it right, my plan is to lead a team that must strive to achieve the “vision to restore Nigeria football glory.

“A Musa Amadu presidency will be accountable to the nation. We will be transparent and judicious in our use of the FIFA Forward Funds that come from Zurich; and work very hard to draw sponsorship to supplement what FIFA does for us.

“We will operate more transparently to earn the trust of our Stakeholders, Sponsors, Government and ultimately the over 200million Nigerians who love the round leather game.

“Again, we just need to get it right!

“Why do we have almost 1,000 footballers playing in the top leagues in Europe all over and yet can only point to three AFCON trophies?

“Our players are doing well in their various clubs, Osimhen is banging in goals, as is Dennis, whose transfer fee is a staggering £20 million.

“Ndidi is commanding the midfield, and Bassey is the young one we are all proud of. There are many more, yet we are not ranked as the top of the game in Africa.

“It is time to bring those glory days back, and I will not relent until we win trophies back in this country. No disrespect to other nations, but Nigeria has to take a pride of place at elite level, making podium appearances at most tournaments at all levels.

“I will set up a National Teams Management Board that will oversee all Team Nigeria matters beyond just the playing side of things, and bring back the glory days. Those days that we got used to while I was General Secretary, must come back!

“Our relationship with the government is also key.

“We always run to them when we need funding for our projects, but we cry foul when they show an interest in what we are doing and we call it interference. That is enough now. We are partners. Government cares for the people.

“NFF cares for the people through football.

“We will maintain partnership and create an NFF/government liaison structure that is workable, as has been working in many countries I have had the opportunity to visit and understudy. It is not rocket science.”

The event marking the declaration was a gathering of all the major stakeholders, ranging from football administrators, to ex-internationals and members of the State Football Associations.

The roll call includes former NFA chairman, Ibrahim Galadima, first and second NFF vice president, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, Mallam Shehu Dikko respectively, and current board members, Ahmed Fresh, among others.

The list also included; Yemi Idowu, Tijjani Yusuf, Fanny Amun, Godfrey Gaiya, Mohammed Akali, Rafiu Ladipo,  Sokoto, Gombe, Kwara, Kogi, and Plateau States FA chairmen.

Other stakeholders like Gara Gombe, ex-internationals, Victor Ikpeba, Emmanuel Babayaro, Maureen Madu, Sunday Mbah, Sunday Ogude, Juwon Oshaniwa, among others.