Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board member, Fan Ndubuoke, has faulted the federation on the choice of cities chosen as venues for next year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, which the country is bidding to host.

In a statement yesterday, Ndubuoke noted that the NFF erred by ignoring cities in the southeast zone, even as he called for a rethink.

“The decision of the nation’s football governing body, NFF to ignore and exempt the South East among the cities selected across the geo-political zones in the country considered to host the proposed FIFA U -20 Women World Cup next year is to say the least most unfortunate, unacceptable, very questionable and above all, insensitive.

“It raises doubt on fairness, equity and sincerity of purpose in the entire bidding exercise given the fact that one zone alone, out of the six geo-political zones in the country, was allotted three cities namely Benin, Uyo and Asaba, while the South West was given two slots (venues) in Lagos alone.

“Agreed that some parts of the country may not be favourably disposed towards female participation in sports, the South East is certainly a home for women football. That such a zone was not considered by the NFF and the Bid Committee is unacceptable. That the South East, which has been the nation’s feeding/recruitment ground for female footballers in the country since the commencement of the women game, was suspiciously omitted in the provisional choice of cities to host the proposed FIFA Women World Cup is unfair and unjustifiable.

“The South East, over the years, has produced more than 70 percent of national team players in all tiers of the female national football teams. The same goes for clubs in the women’s domestic league in the country. It, therefore, becomes very surprising, if not shocking, to observe that the zone with five states and world-class football stadia and solid sporting facilities was exempted in the provision of cities for the global sporting fiesta.

“Moreover, the South Eastern governors have shown immense commitment towards sporting excellence in the country. These are factors that should have been considered while this decision of national importance is being contemplated.”

Ndubuoke revealed that the Imo State Governor, Emeka Ihedioha, recently voted millions of naira for the rehabilitation of the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, “to prove his commitment towards taking sports to the next level in the state in particular and the nation at large,” adding that Ihedioha made it clear during his campaigns that sports would be used to engage the youths gainfully and take them off the streets.

“On these premises, one can only call on the NFF and its bid team/committee to do a rethink, beat a fast retreat and make a bold U-turn in this unfair decision to exempt the South East from this “developmental project”. You don’t deny the hen that lays the golden egg her honour of feeding, even if you decide not to give her more food than others,” he said. (The Guardian)

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