Nigeria/Ethiopia: CAN Qualifier – FIFA, NFF At Odds Over Victor Moses

Tunde Sulaiman

25 March 2011

As Nigeria prepares for their crunch African Nations Cup (CAN) qualifying game against Ethiopia, there is confusion surrounding the status of new Super Eagles invitee, Victor Moses.

According to a report by an international news agency, Nigeria runs the risk of forfeiting points in Sunday’s clash should Coach Samson Siasia field the England youth international because world football governing body, FIFA says it was yet to receive an application from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for the Wigan Athletic winger to change his national status.

But NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire insisted Thursday that the Glass House had written to FIFA requesting for the change in status of the former England youth star.

“I know we have written to them (FIFA),” Olajire told THISDAYLIVE. He did, however, admit that they were yet to get a response from the football governing body.

“We are yet to receive a reply but I know we have written because we know the procedure to follow once a player has played for another country before.”

But when pressed to say what would happen should the Glass House fail to get a response before Sunday, Olajire said: “Of course we will not field him because we know the implications.”

Incidentally, the Wigan star could have secured his first cap for Nigeria last month when the Super Eagles played Sierra Leone in a friendly but for his failure to show up in Lagos as he was recovering from an injury.

He is already in Abuja with his colleagues and speaking on a local television station, expressed his delight at being part of the Nigerian national team.

But according to the Reuters’ report, an unnamed FIFA official appeared to contradict the NFF spokesman when he said in an email: “As of today (Wednesday), FIFA has not received any such request from Victor Moses or the Nigeria Football Federation.”

Moses, born in Nigeria’s Kaduna but who has lived in England since the age of 11, has been capped by England at under-17 and under-21 level and if he wishes to play for Nigeria must first apply to FIFA to formally change his international eligibility.

As Moses has dual nationality and has not played for England’s senior side, he is eligible for Nigeria once an application has been made to FIFA.

World football’s governing body said teams fielding ineligible players in official matches would forfeit the points and pay a minimum fine of 6,000 Swiss Francs (4,067.31 pounds).

The Super Eagles trails leaders Guinea in qualifying Group B by three points after winning one and losing one of their first two fixtures.

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