Russia 2018: Narrow Escape For Super Eagles
- As FIFA axes Nigeria over ineligible player
GROUP B FINAL STANDINGS AFTER FIFA’S SANCTIONS
Countries | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Points | GF | GA | GD |
Nigeria | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 11 | 6 | +5 |
Zambia | 6 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 8 | 7 | +1 |
Cameroon | 6 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 9 | – 2 |
Algeria | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 10 | -4 |
For fielding an ineligible player, Shehu Abdullahi against Algeria in their November 10 last Group B World Cup qualifier in Constantine, FIFA has stripped Nigeria of the point garnered from its one-all draw with Algeria.
Consequently, the world football governing body has awarded three points and three goals to the Dessert Warriors. It also fined the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 6,000 Swiss Francs (about N2, 2 million).
Luck however smiled on Nigeria as the points’ deduction did not affect the Super Eagles’ place in Russia 2018.
The FIFA statement said; “The match is declared to be forfeited and awarded 3-0 in favour of Algeria, with the NFF also receiving a fine of CHF6, 000. This sanction bears no impact on the final result of the preliminary competition for the FIFA World Cup since Nigeria had already qualified (and Algeria eliminated) before the match took place.”
According to FIFA, Abdullahi, who plays as a right-back for Anorthosis Famagusta of Cyprus, did not serve a one-match suspension after receiving yellow cards’ caution in during the preliminaries and group stage qualifiers against Swaziland and Zambia.
Despite the sanctions, Nigeria’s Super Eagles still maintained leadership of the group with 13 points from six games while Algeria finished bottom of the group with five points.
In his reaction, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick has ordered an immediate inquest into the circumstances surrounding the embarrassing incident that would have cost Nigeria a slot at the World Cup finals.
The NFF said in a statement; “We accept the decision of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee to fine the NFF and award the match to Algeria.”
The NFF spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, stated that the President “has directed that an internal inquiry be instituted immediately and persons found culpable be dealt with.”
He quoted the NFF boss as saying; “This is a grave error and somebody must be punished,” adding; “We apologise to Nigerians for this and assure that this will not in any way derail or even distract us in our well-laid plan to ensure that the Super Eagles have a great outing in Russia.”
The statement further stated thus: “At the same time, I want to assure that persons responsible for this slip-up would not be given just a slap on the wrist. We are actually looking at a re-organisation of the technical department.”
