I am descending gradually from the plateau of my celebration. Nothing has been able to diminish my joy (and relief) that Nigeria will also be going to the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. The thought of the first African World Cup without Nigeria is totally unpalatable. For those of us in the football industry the worst possible scenario would have been to have to sit back home in Nigeria and watch the rest of the World on television slug it out amongst themselves in South Africa. It would have been a monumental disaster. Like Brazil, Nigeria must work its way to make the country’s qualification to every World Cup a birthright. Can anyone envision a World Cup without Brazil? Thankfully, we are South Africa bound and are likely to make a great impact!

I observe as I climb down from my ‘mountain top’ of excitement that, unlike me, most Nigerians have moved beyond celebration to the next stage. Angola is round the corner and a new debate is already on – to sack or not to sack Amodu Shuaibu. The media is full of speculation about his fate and the search for a foreign coach. I watched a television programme on Channels TV Wednesday night where the presenters informed viewers that it is the Presidential Task Force, and not the NFF, that is searching for a foreign coach to replace Amodu. How lazy can some journalists be! Where did they get such (mis)information from? I am a member of the PTF. I have been to every meeting (and there has been only one brief one) held since the Nairobi victory and I know that there has not been a discussion or a decision on Amodu Shuaibu or a foreign coach. The Task Force is not responsible for any aspect of football in Nigeria. It has no responsibility to hire or fire any body. Even as a body set up by the President of the country it has no powers to do anything other than to ensure that Nigeria qualifies for the World Cup and does well during the championship by giving maximum support to the body whose sole responsibility it is to deal with all matters concerning the national team – the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF. The PTF’s membership, by the way, also includes the President of the NFF and a member of its Technical Committee, Mr. John Mastoroudes, and their contributions at meetings have always shaped and determined the line of action of the PTF. The PTF has not taken any decision on the issue of the technical crew of the Super Eagles. That responsibility lies entirely with the NFF which has since made its decision publicly known that it is happy with the present team and is ready to swim or sink with it! In line with its simple and clear mandate, therefore, the PTF, I believe, shall provide maximum support to the NFF to reinforce its decisions. Its task is not to interfere or take over the responsibility of the NFF. It is the media that continues to fuel what would make good copy, creating tension and friction that do not exist and ascribing imaginary powers the body does not possess and responsibilities that are not its own to it!