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Senator Obinna Ogba, a retired referee and current Chairman of Abakaliki FC, a second-tier Nigerian domestic league side, has revealed his determination to contest for the position of First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Completesports.com reports.
The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Sports said he has the requisite experience and track record to contribute his quota towards restoring Nigerian football to its former glory.
The NFF Elective Congress is scheduled to hold on 26 September 2026 in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
“I’m interested in the First Vice President position,” Senator Ogba said when discussing the forthcoming NFF board elections.
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“The reason is that, from the look of things, the (NFF Presidency) is with the North. Otherwise, I would have gone for the Presidency (of the NFF), you know.
“But the important thing is that one gets the opportunity to be part of it, and I just want to contribute my own quota to get our football back on track once again.
Senator Ogba Talks Up His Experience, Capacity
“Of course, I have all that it takes to make things work again as far as Nigerian football is concerned. I have the prerequisite experience, I have the knowledge, and I have the capacity. In any way you look at it, I believe I have all it takes to be on the Executive Board of the NFF.”
In the present NFF Executive Board led by Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, the position of First Vice President is held by a South-Easterner, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu.
Anyansi Agwu is a renowned football administrator with an impressive record. Under his watch as Chairman, Enyimba won the CAF Champions League in 2003 and 2004, becoming the first Nigerian club to achieve the feat.
Anyansi Agwu led Enyimba to win no fewer than 28 trophies across various competitions, an intimidating record, one would say. He has also been a member of the NFF Executive Board for several years, having previously served as Chairman of the powerful NFF Technical Committee.
There is also Barrister JBC Obikwelu, a retired referee, former Vice Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association and current Chairman of the NFF Disciplinary Committee. They are all thought to be in the race for the NFF Vice Presidency, but Senator Ogba is not blinking.
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“It’s a contest. All of them are into football. Anyone who wins is okay by me. But we know those who are ‘tested’ and ‘trusted’. And we also know those who have been there and don’t have anything to show for it.
“I’ve been there (in football) all the days of my life so far,” Ogba said before going on to reel out what he described as remarkable achievements in the game which, he believes, set him apart from his competitors.
Ogba’s Legislative Achievements
“Today’s National Sports Commission, NSC, is my baby. It is a product of the bill that I sponsored when I was in the Senate, which I single-handedly wrote, and it was passed by the National Assembly.
“And Mr President then, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, signed it into law. I also had a bill establishing a university of sports in Nigeria which has been signed into law.
“But the Government’s reasons for not having kick-started it yet are best known to them. But all I know is that it is already an Act of the National Assembly and, whether they like it or not, it is already a law.”
Ogba Criticises National Teams’ Recent Form
Senator Ogba, Chairman of the Ebonyi State Football Association and former Proprietor of Ebonyi United FC, also reflected on poor performances of the Flying Eagles, Super Falcons and other junior national teams in CAF and FIFA tournaments in recent times.
“They have not done well at all. That’s the bottom line. They have not done well by any standard of assessment.
“Nigeria is not known to be so dismal in international football at whatever level — youth or senior levels,” he submitted.
