BY JOSEPH ODOEKWU
The leader of the INRI Evangelical Spiritual Church, Lagos State, Primate Elijah Babatunde Ayodele, has charged the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alh. Ibrahim Gusau to make peace with the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) otherwise the Super Eagles will face World Cup doom.
Primate Ayodele who disclosed this on Monday in Lagos during a surprise and impromptu visit to the National Secretariat of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Secretariat in Surulere, Lagos, made the revelation while addressing members of the club and newsmen during the session.
“If the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) wants the Super Eagles of Nigeria to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, then they must make peace with the Nigeria Football Supporters Club (NFSC) otherwise the Super Eagles will not qualify for the World Cup” Primate Ayodele insisted.
“God has seen the efforts put in place by the leadership and members of the NFSC, but it is so sad that the NFF is not making any effort to appreciate that effort and this may put Nigeria’s World Cup qualification to jeopardy unless NFF President, Gusau, makes a U-turn”.
After failing to qualify for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria’s quest for qualification to the 2026 FIFA World Cup continues, but with a shaky and unbalanced start with no single victory recorded out of the four games played so far, Primate Ayodele is insisting that there has to be reconciliation between the NFSC and NFF if anything positive must come out of this World Cup.
Primate Ayodele further hinted that it was sad that members of the NFSC who made a voluntary effort to find their way to Cote D’Ivoire and support the Super Eagles were not in any way appreciated by the NFF, and this was very sad. Furthermore, the club’s bus broke down on the road and was in a particular spot for almost 5 days and this was not good for the image of Nigeria as a country.
While commenting on the forthcoming World Cup qualifier in Uyo, which is less than two weeks from today, the outspoken and fearless cleric further called on the NFF to use that as a starting point for collaboration with the NFSC and that he will personally begin the process to ensure it’s successful.
“I will personally contact the NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Gusau after this session, and talk to him to ensure that the trip of the NFSC to Uyo and Rwanda is adequately supported by the NFF and this should be a starting ground for the collaboration so that the members of the NFSC can get ample support to enable them ease their trips” he promised.
The famous cleric while also eulogizing the President-General of the NFSC, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo stated that all those who are bent on working against him will meet their water-loo as Ladipo who has put in so much efforts over the years to build Nigeria’s image globally through organized football supporters club should be recognized by the Federal Government for a national award which he rightly deserves.
While commenting on the transfer issue lingering around Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen, Primate Ayodele charged Osimhen to move to Arsenal and forget the Chelsea dream because he will not shine in Chelsea.
“Osimhen should forget about going to Chelsea or even Saudi Arabia because he will not shine there”. “Ronaldo has already taken control of Saudi Arabia and if Osimhen goes there no one will talk about him, and even if he goes to Chelsea he will not shine”. He has to find his way to Arsenal and make a name for himself because that is where he will shine” Ayodele told journalists.
