By Andrew Warshaw
September 3 – Another prospective candidate has entered the race to become the first African president of Fifa as Nigeria’s Segun Odegbami – a former national team captain – said he wanted to join the party.
Odegbami’s expression of interest follows that of Liberian federation president Musa Bility though neither are expected to gain much support from their own region if they officially bid to replace Sepp Blatter on February 26 especially with South African human rights icon Tokyo Sexwale weighing up his options. Uefa president Michel Platini and former Fifa vice-president Chung Mong-joon are the heavyweight contenders so far going head to head.
Odegbami, 63, issued a typically bullish statement of intent.
“FIFA is undergoing the worst crisis of its 111 years,” he said. “Moving forward, Fifa thus requires a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport. The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of Fifa, considering the present images and state of this institution.”
Odegbami may have achieved much on the field – he was top scorer when Nigeria won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 1980 — but his experience in football politics is minimal. He has previously tried unsuccessfully to run four times for head of the Nigerian Football Federation but said his bid would have the “highest sense of responsibility, integrity, transparency, probity and accountability.”
“I want new and optimistic future for football that focuses on human, infrastructural, social and community development across the world.
“The choice of an African, specifically a Nigerian, may look far-fetched in this pursuit, noting the international coverage of FIFA and the historical trend in its leadership reputation. However, a closer scrutiny of the international football environment reveals the real possibility of such change.”
Odegbami, who became an author and journalist after hanging up his boots having played for Nigeria between 1976 and 1981, says he has already informed his federation of his intentions.
“Football is what my entire life has revolved around,” he said. “My life’s ambition has always been to use football to make a difference in my local space and across the world.”