Human rights lawyer Malcolm Omirhobo has criticized the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for tying the Super Eagles’ performance at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to President Bola Tinubu’s political agenda.
The NFF president, Ibrahim Gusau, suggested that President Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope agenda’ was the driving force behind the team’s success. Aisha Falode, an NFF Executive Board Member, also echoed this sentiment, stating that they were working in line with President Tinubu’s mandate to bring the AFCON trophy back to Nigeria.
Omirhobo took to social media to express his disapproval, urging the NFF to refrain from mixing politics with football. He emphasized that the Super Eagles’ victory at AFCON should not be politicized.
This criticism comes amidst ongoing debates about the intersection of sports and politics, with Omirhobo advocating for the separation of the two spheres to ensure the team’s success without political interference.