United States-based former Green Eagles player, Francis Moniedafe, wants Nigeria football re-jigged for a better result.

Moniedafe was part of the then Green Eagles team alongside players like Godwin Odiye, Segun Odegbami, Mudashiru Lawal, Samuel Ojebode, Mike Nsuk, Joseph Erico, Thompson Usiyan and others, who became prominent names in Nigerian football.

His association with the Green Eagles extended through the 1970s and into the period preceding Nigeria’s historic triumph at the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations. Moniedafe traveled to the United States to further his education just before the 1980 AFCON, which Nigeria won on home soil.

His football journey continued at North Carolina State University, where he combined education with collegiate football and established himself as an accomplished defender.

Moniedafe remained involved in football in different capacities, including coaching, refereeing, administration and advocacy. He eventually became President of the Nigerian Ex-International Footballers Association (NE-IFA), an organisation comprising former Nigerian internationals, many of whom are based in the United States.

He has said that the nation’s former internationals living in the diaspora are prepared to become active participants in discussions surrounding the rebuilding and development of Nigerian football.

“The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has a monumental opportunity to drive change that has immense consequences for the country’s football,” he told The Guardian.

“However, opportunity does not equate to accomplishment. Action is what equates to accomplishment. Thus, the NFF and the Nigerian football family are being called to action. We, at the Nigeria Ex-International Footballers Association (NEIFA), join that call.

“Years ago, we watched Nigeria’s football begin a certain descent to death, asphyxiate towards irrelevance, and it seems to be all induced by legal suicide. In essence, the electoral regulations were hamstringing Nigeria’s football. It regurgitated caliber of men who focused on simply returning to the office not based on progress made by the nation’s football but based on a small circle of friendships with other football officials. Each year represented a further nail in the proverbial Nigerian football coffin.

“No one noticed or the signs were ignored. But no one needed any deep thinking when the failings of Nigeria’s football increasingly became apparent, failure to appear in two straight World Cup, including one where Africa sent 10 representatives, failure of the Super Falcons to reach the medal stage of a WAFCON that Nigeria had regularly won, persistent failure at the youth level. The Nigerian public noticed and cried out. The mass resignation of the Federation’s leadership was due and the fact that they all resigned has created an opening that should not be squandered.”

Moniedafe continued: “It is time to make a difference. That difference starts with re-jigging, substantially, the electoral rules. The most annoying of the current rules is the narrow focus on state FAs to determine who runs the country’s football. That must change. We must ditch the idea of working from a silo. Silos do not breed good ideas. They kill ideas. They ensure the regurgitation of practices and a retardation of progress. Silos must be replaced by broadening the base from which ideas emerge.”

According to him, the NFF has to provide access to the business sector, provide equitable access to football constituencies such as match officials, School Sports, Armed Forces, Police, among others. Change the Article 28 of the Statutes and reconstitute the Congress.

“This should include a drastic reduction in the number of votes held by the state FAs and open access to other constituents. For instance, it is time to open a seat or two up for NEIFA candidates. Today, several footballers based outside the country but of Nigerian descent wear Nigeria’s colors. Yet, NEIFA which represents ex-players based outside the country, has no seats on the Board. It is time for that to change. One seat is no more than this body and the involved Nigerian diaspora deserve.

“As I bring attention to this monumental opportunity, I salute President Bola Tinubu and the Sports Commission for listening to the cries and anguish of Nigerians. I also thank former NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, for leading his executive in resigning from the Board. That act by Gusau and the Board deserves applause. They listened to Nigerians and resigned accordingly. It demonstrates their recognition of a problem and an acknowledgment of the demand of Nigerians. It is time to move forward with a new NFF and a great future for Nigerian football. Let us do the right thing and act for a great Nigerian football future,” Moniedafe stated.