Football fans in Abakaliki have chided Nigerian soccer authorities over the ouster of its clubs in all categories of the African Football Confederation (CAF) competitions.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Enugu Rangers International beat Zamalek of Egypt 2-1 in Enugu on Sunday in the CAF Champions League round of 32 clash but lost 3-5 on aggregate after a 1-4 first leg loss.
Rivers United also lost 0-4 on Saturday to El-Merriekh of Sudan and lost 3-4 on aggregate after winning 3-0 in the first leg in Port Harcourt.
The fans who spoke to NAN on Monday in Abakaliki described the situation as appalling, noting that both teams’ subsequent qualification to vie in the Confederation Cup was not enough consolation.
Dickson Ojeh, Team Manager of National Amateur League Side, Alter Nite FC of Abakaliki, said that the soccer authorities and clubs did not understand the politics involved in such competitions.
“El Merriekh frustrated Rivers United with their fans pelting our players with stones, while Rangers were not allowed to record the proceedings of their first leg game in Cairo.
“In a sharp contrast, Rivers United gave El-Merriekh a queens treatment in Port Harcourt, while Zamalek officials were flaunting their television relay rights in Enugu and moving freely as if they were in Cairo,’’ he said.
Supporting this assertion, Chika Nwangele, Ebonyi United FC skipper, said that El-Merriekh and Zamalek had the full support of their nation’s soccer officials when prosecuting their matches.
“How many Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials were involved in prosecuting both matches in Nigeria or accompanying the teams to Ombdurman and Cairo?
“Zamalek and El-Merriekh players were visibly more motivated than their Nigerian counterparts who grapple with allowances and bonuses whenever they want to travel,’’ he said.
Chief Okechukwu Nshii, former Head of Sports Department in Abakaliki Local Government Council, blamed the development on fatigue occasioned by a congested domestic schedule.
“It is sheer madness for the Nigerian Professional League Board to organise matches during mid-week as top football nations in the world don’t practice such.
“Clubs play as much as two matches in a congested week and this also affected Ifeanyi Ubah and Wikki Tourists FC who were eliminated in the first round of the CAF Confederation Cup,’’ he said.
Mrs Peace Okenwa, a don and soccer buff, called on soccer authorities to consult former Abia Governor, Chief Orji Uzor-Kalu, for tips on his magic wand for Enyimba in 2003 and 2004.
“Uzor-Kalu as a soccer strategist has the key of repeating Enyimba’s back to back winning success as Nigerian clubs have been groping in the dark since then.
“CAF should also look-into the complaints lodged by Rangers and Rivers United against their opponents and treat them on merit because football no matter how keenly contested, should not be war,’’ she said.
