Media Monster

Nigeria’s President Suspends Soccer Team From International Competition For 2 Years

What’s in a name?

For Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan, very, very little, as Nigeria–which lost each of its first two games by one goal and which was, in its third game, an Ayegbeni Yakubu open-net miss away from moving through to the Round of 16–was eliminated in the group stage of this year’s World Cup, having finished in last place in Group B with only 1 point.

According to the president, however, luck had nothing to do with this result.  Poor play did.

And for this poor play, the president has chosen to suspend the national team from international competition for two years.

(Note: His name isn’t Goodwill Jonathan.)

Nigeria has not won a World Cup match since 1998–having failed to do so in 2002 and having failed to qualify for the tournament in 2006–and the move comes, according to Ima Niboro, a spokesman for the president, as an attempt to reorganize the Nigerian Football Federation.

Yet, according to the Associated Press, “Nigeria risks being banned by FIFA, soccer’s governing body, from all international soccer because of the political interference,” as FIFA requires that all national federations conduct their affairs independently from national governments.

We understand Nigeria’s disappointment.  But is risking banishment from international play the best way to revamp its soccer program?

Probably not.  Especially in light of the fact that all Nigeria needed to advance was a little bit of good luck.