FIFA ranking: We got what we deserved – Onigbinde

Festus Adegboye Onigbinde

African Cup of Nations’ 1984 silver medal-winning coach, Chief Festus Adegboye Onigbinde, has described the current ranking of Nigeria’s Super Eagles on the just-released FIFA log as a case of “getting what we deserve.”

Onigbinde, a member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s technical committee, said that the refusal of the nation’s football administrator to factor in the developmental aspect of the game led to the current ranking and could see the nation crash to more embarrassing depths and out of global reckoning in the game in no time.

Just four weeks after climbing one place into 60th in the last FIFA ranking, Nigeria’s Super Eagles crashed nine spots to 70th place in the latest FIFA world ranking released yesterday.

The Eagles were 61st in the month of June and 12th in the continent.

“In a class, how can you come 70th out of 211? I have talking for over 51 years and I have made enough enemies as it is. When the people who should listen are not listening, then no one else will ever listen.”

Upon the insinuation that he was brought in by the NFF into its technical committee, Onigbinde wondered why the football administrator should have a committee and a department doing the same thing.

“What is the difference between the technical committee and the technical department? I believe I have made enough enemies over the year. Whether you like it or not, football is a technical game and these techniques need to be the focus of anyone who wants to progress in the game.
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“Presently, though, the technical department is just there in name and, because of the way people look at things, there is confusion as to the functions regarding roles of the committee and the department. The technical committee is usurping the roles of the technical department and that is why they do not want it to grow.

“Late Ahmodu Shuaibu, God bless his soul, was appointed to head the department two years ago and, until he died, according to him, he was staying in a hotel and paying his own bills. One thing I know well was that he had no office; he was sharing with some people. Is that how to run a department? No way. That is the root of all our problems.

“The centre-point should be development and the technical department should be responsible for that. Unfortunately, the technical department has become moribund.”

Onigbinde refused to point the way forward or suggest the best solution.

“I do not want anyone to read meanings into what I am saying, but I cannot advise them, I am not their technical adviser.”

The Eagles now languish in the 70th spot and are, presently, 17th on the continent – behind Uganda, Benin Republic and Congo – while Algeria maintained her place as Africa’s highest ranked team.