THE RULE THAT WORKS FOR EVERYBODY ELSE
While FIFA should be consistent with its rules, Nigeria should play to win, argues JOSHUA J. OMOJUWA In Rabat last November, Lionel Mpasi saved two penalties and denied Nigeria the
In November last year, Lionel Mpasi prevented Nigeria from reaching the World Cup by saving two penalties in their playoff final against Congo. The match ended 1-1, and Congo advanced in the shootout. Despite this defeat, Nigeria accepted it as part of their journey. Recently, the New York Times and Le Monde revealed that FIFA had concluded Mpasi was ineligible to play due to not completing the required paperwork.
Nigeria filed a complaint, but FIFA dismissed it for technical reasons, declining to act on the substance of the issue. Nigeria only learned of the decision ten months later. While FIFA maintains its committees operate independently, the inconsistency in applying rules to different cases is evident. Nigeria's recent World Cup elimination highlights a pattern of incompetence within the federation, including financial issues and a revolving door of leadership.
The article argues that FIFA's failure to enforce rules consistently and Nigeria's lack of accountability contributed to their repeated exits, emphasizing the need for both FIFA reform and improved governance within Nigerian football.
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