Former member of the technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Austel Elumelu, has advised the federation to abandon any plans to appeal FIFA’s decision rejecting Nigeria’s petition against the DR Congo national team.
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Elumelu described the idea of pursuing an appeal as pointless, insisting that it would not change the outcome of the situation.
“It will be an exercise in futility,” he said.
According to him, Nigeria should stop focusing on administrative battles and instead turn attention to rebuilding the national team and improving future qualification campaigns.
“Nothing will come out of the matter,” Elumelu added.
The former NFF official stressed that the country has already lost valuable time and must now begin planning ahead rather than getting caught up in what he described as unproductive processes.
He emphasized the need for better preparation, stronger organization, and a renewed focus on on-field performance.
“Nigeria should already start planning ahead,” he advised.
Elumelu’s comments reflect growing frustration among football stakeholders following FIFA’s decision and the uncertainty surrounding the appeal process.
He concluded by urging the football authorities to learn from the experience and ensure that future qualification efforts are handled more effectively, rather than relying on petitions and appeals to resolve issues off the pitch.
