June 20, 2015 – The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has ordered Super Eagles midfielder Ogenyi Onazi to pay into its coffers the sum of $5,000 in addition to a written apology to the NFF.
Ogenyi got a straight red card for an act of retaliation during the recent Nigeria/Chad encounter, which the NFF considered as unprofessional.
In a letter signed by Tunde Aderibigbe on behalf of the General Secretary and dated 19th June, the NFF wrote: “The Board of the Nigeria Football Federation has viewed your behavior and conduct during the Nigeria/Chad match as tantamount to gross indiscipline and unprofessional, which undermined the discipline of the team in its totality and a breach of ethics for players as well as the Code of Conduct for players and officials.
“Consequently, the NFF having reviewed the situation hereby impose a fine of $5,000 (Five Thousand American Dollars Only) on you as well as a written apology. We believe that subsequently you will be of good behavior and conduct, for a repeat of this behavior shall earn you even stiffer punishment.
“We hope that this action shall serve as a deterrent to others in our future engagements.”
The Disciplinary Committee of Nigeria Football Federation has also summoned Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper Vincent Enyeama to appear before it on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2015.
The Lille OSC of France goaltender is being invited to explain his unguarded statement against the NFF’s choice of Kaduna for Nigeria’s 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Chad on Saturday, 13thJune.
The committee, headed by Barrister Chris Green, wrote: “You will recall that you were queried by the Nigeria Football Federation for your uncomplimentary remarks with regards to safety and security in Kaduna State, host of the Nations Cup qualifying match between Nigeria and Chad Republic.
“You received the query letter on June 13th, 2015 and refused to reply to the query up till now, which is well over the 48 hours deadline given to you to reply to the query. Consequently, the NFF has referred the matter to the Disciplinary Committee for adjudication.
“You are by this, invited to appear before the Disciplinary Committee of Nigeria Football Federation sitting on Tuesday, 23rd June, 2015 at the Federation’s Secretariat in Abuja. The committee sitting will commence at 11am prompt.”
