The leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has distanced itself from a purported nationwide protest against the appointment of Eric Sekou Chelle as the new coach of the Super Eagles.
This follows a report attributed to one Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, who claims to be the Clerk of the NANS Senate, threatening a nationwide protest over Chelle’s appointment. In response, NANS has rejected the claims and described the position of the so-called Clerk as “baseless, fraudulent,” and not reflective of the association’s stance or the sentiments of students nationwide.
In a statement issued by the Senate President of NANS, Com. Akinteye Afeez, it was emphasized that the individual in question holds no official position within the organization, urging the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) to disregard the protest threat.
Afeez stated: “We unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the disingenuous utterances of these self-appointed individuals, whose credentials and affiliation with NANS are dubious at best.”
He further condemned the actions, calling the individuals involved “criminals attempting to exploit the respected name of NANS for nefarious blackmail and financial inducement.” He also urged security agencies to investigate the matter, saying: “We call on security agencies to immediately invite and investigate these impostors for impersonation and an attempt to incite public unrest. Their recklessness constitutes a direct affront to the credibility and integrity of NANS as an institution.”
Afeez also criticized the media outlets that reported the claims without proper verification. “To the media, we express our disappointment in the unprofessionalism exhibited by platforms that lent their voices to these fallacious claims without verifying the authenticity of their sources. It is the duty of reputable media outlets to uphold journalistic standards and desist from amplifying unsubstantiated narratives. The press must demonstrate more responsibility by verifying the identities and affiliations of individuals before granting them access to platforms capable of influencing public perception.”
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Regarding Chelle’s appointment, NANS reiterated its respect for the NFF’s prerogative in making decisions concerning the Super Eagles. “On the appointment of Eric Sekou Chelle, NANS acknowledges and respects the prerogative of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to make technical decisions that they believe will advance the fortunes of Nigerian football. We implore the NFF to remain resolute in its professional decisions and ignore the empty threats of protest by nonentities masquerading as NANS representatives.”
While fully backing the NFF’s right to appoint Chelle, NANS also called on the Federation to expand its search for talent across Nigerian campuses. “However, we strongly urge the NFF to extend their scouting activities to Nigerian campuses, where a plethora of untapped football talents reside. By creating a pipeline that identifies, develops, and promotes homegrown players, the Federation will be making a strategic investment in the future of Nigerian football.”
Finally, NANS made it clear that no body within the association has endorsed or proposed any protest against Chelle’s appointment. The statement concluded: “Ultimately, let it be known that no organ of NANS, at any level, has endorsed or proposed any protest against the appointment of Eric Sekou Chelle as the Super Eagles coach. Any claims to the contrary are the concoctions of desperate impostors whose agenda remains suspect and antithetical to the progress of Nigerian students.”
This statement by NANS comes as part of its efforts to clarify its position on the issue and defend the integrity of the association against misleading claims.
