Ex-international criticises FIFA writer over NFF remark

Former Super Eagles defender Sam Sodje has expressed his displeasure with a comment made by Fatma Samoura, Secretary-General of the FIFA, insulting the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Samoura informed the Super Falcons in their dressing room that FIFA had decided to distribute their prize money straight to them rather than through the NFF.

This is stated in a statement signed by Sodje in Warri on Wednesday.

Sodje, a former Tottenham Hotspur FC of England player and former Special Adviser on Sports to Delta’s previous governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, claimed the remark was inappropriate.

“I read with shock the alleged statement made by Samoura in the Super Falcons’ dressing room during the ongoing Women’s World Cup.”

“A FIFA official does not need to make this openly disparaging statement because those in charge of football administration in Nigeria should have been sanctioned when it was discovered,” he said.

He said it was disrespectful for her to criticise and blame Nigeria, a country that has provided so much to football, without looking at the source of the problem.

“The Federation Secretary should recognise that Nigeria has very serious and honest sports administrators who can hold their positions anywhere in the world.”

“What Nigeria, and indeed Africa, needs right now is encouragement, not condemnation.”

“FIFA must respect Nigeria and Africa because we have contributed so much to world football and the growth of FIFA as an organisation,” he stated. (NAN)