EDO QUEENS ORPHANED IN THE WILDERNESS OF CAF: WHERE ARE NIGERIANS IN CAF?
A few weeks ago, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Edo Queens won the WAFU B version of the African Women’s Champions League to represent the zone in the CAF Women’s Champions League.
However, 48 hours later, their opponents, a Ghanaian women’s football club known as Ampem Darkoa Ladies FC, protested the victory to CAF, claiming that the match had not been played to completion within the regulation time before the match officials proceeded directly to penalty kicks.
CAF upheld the petition and, in its verdict, issued sporting conditions directing that the match be replayed at the same venue, with the same players, for 15 minutes per half to make up for the 30-minute shortfall in the first game.
CAF, however, again flouted its own verdict by changing the match venue to Cairo, Egypt, and failing to give Edo Queens the opportunity to feature some of their players who were then participating in the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Throughout this entire drama, no Nigerian in CAF lifted a finger to speak up for the country.
Where are the Nigerians in CAF? Who appointed them in the first place? Are their appointments based on merit?
We remember the days of Orok Oyo, Adegboye Onigbinde, Patrick Okpomo and Jonathan Ogunfere, all of blessed memory. After them, there were Dr. Amos Adamu, Sani Toro, Amanze Uchegbulam, and others.
Nigeria once had very strong voices in WAFU, CAF and FIFA. These individuals served the country passionately and diligently before the wave of corruption swept through Nigerian football about 12 years ago.
Appointments to CAF and FIFA became fully commercialised. A particular candidate who contested for a seat on the CAF Executive Committee was alleged to have collected money from all the state governors and the Federal Government to finance his election campaign.
CAF and FIFA positions, whether elective or by appointment, gradually became money-making ventures. Nigerians occupying positions in these football governing bodies no longer appear to see themselves as representatives of the country but rather as individuals pursuing their personal interests.
Edo Queens have been left in the lurch to carry their own cross. However, thank God we have a capable chairman and a fighter in Emperor Jarrett Tenebe, the chairman of Edo Queens, who has fired the first shot with a fresh petition to CAF dated 29 October 2026.
The Confederation of African Football is fast becoming a loose cannon, with a continental governing body in disarray, fumbling from one blunder to another.
Prince Harrison Jalla
Chairman
Advocacy for Nigeria Football Reform Initiative
