By John Egbokhan
A former SecretaryGeneral of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Sani Toro, has okayed President Goodluck Jonathan’s withdrawal of the Green Eagles, from international competition until 2012, following their disappointing performance at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Eagles

The decision to withdraw the Eagles, was disclosed by Presidential Adviser, Ima Niboro, yesterday in Abuja, who noted that the disbandment was to help restructure Nigeria’s football for improved performance in the future.

The ban will prevent Nigeria from partaking in the qualifying series for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

And in a swift reaction to the development, Toro, in a telephone chat with Sports Vanguard, said that the disbandment of the Eagles was long overdue.

“I have always called on the government to take more than a passenger’s seat position in the running of Nigerian football because if the national team, like the Super Eagles, is failing in major competitions, then it is the government that would bear the brunt of the masses on the streets.

“For once, the government has started taking steps to address and redress the issues which stakeholders like us, have been championing because we need to rejig the Eagles for better performance. The problem we have is that of administration and it has to be confronted headlong”, added Toro.