Report Kenya To FIFA – Runsewe Tells NFF

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe
Otunba Olusegun Runsewe

Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation Olusegun Runsewe, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation to protest the antics of the Kenya national team – the Harambee Stars – during last weekend’s World Cup qualifying match against the Super Eagles in Calabar.

The Kenyans failed to properly inform the NFF of their travel schedule before their arrival in the country contrary to the world soccer governing body, FIFA, stipulation. They also resorted to blackmailing Nigeria by complaining on arrival at the Murtala Muhammed Airport in Lagos that they were abandoned. They also reportedly filed a protest to FIFA.

Runsewe said, “Did they expect to just fly into the country anytime they liked and be flown straight to Calabar? Things must be properly structured.”

Runsewe, a football lover, sports sponsor and a patron of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria has been using sports to boost Nigerian tourism.

He added that the Kenyans apparently employed the “dirty tricks” to prepare an excuse for the loss they expected to suffer in the match.

He said, “They also wanted to disorient our players and disorganise the NFF before the match and they might have just succeeded in a way because attention was focused on what the Kenyans were saying and the mind game they were playing.” [Punch]