Former Chairman of the Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Green, has suggested that FIFA’s continued silence over Nigeria’s petition against DR Congo may indicate that no ruling will be delivered before the playoffs.
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Nigeria had filed a formal complaint alleging breaches in the World Cup qualification process, but with weeks passing and no official communication from FIFA, Green believes expectations should be tempered.
“The silence from FIFA may already be a message,” Green said. “We must prepare ourselves for the possibility that there may be no verdict before the playoffs.”
Green expressed disappointment that Nigeria’s qualification hopes now hinge on administrative processes rather than performances on the pitch.
“It is sad that we are discussing petitions instead of celebrating qualification through football,” he noted.
According to him, the bigger issue lies in Nigeria’s failure to secure qualification during the group stages.
“We missed our opportunity on the field of play. That is the hard truth,” he admitted.
Green pointed to both administrative and technical shortcomings as contributing factors to the setback.
“There were lapses in planning, execution, and coordination. These are areas we must urgently correct,” he stressed.
He warned against relying on external decisions to rescue campaigns that should have been settled competitively.
“No country should depend on technicalities to qualify for a World Cup,” he added.
Green urged stakeholders to use the experience as a learning curve.
“Whether FIFA rules in our favour or not, we must fix the system. The focus now should be on rebuilding and preparing properly for the future,” he concluded.
As anticipation lingers over FIFA’s final decision, Green’s comments reflect growing calls for introspection and structural reform within Nigerian football.
