BY AYODELE ODUMADE

One of Nigeria’s greatest footballers Chief Segun Odegbami has decided to contest for the FIFA presidency. He said: “Africa must play a big role in world football.”  Candidates who wish to contest the elections must receive five nominations among the 209 countries that make up FIFA by the deadline, which in on October 26.  The election will take place on February 26, 2016.

FIFA has been under the spotlight recently due to several allegations around corruption and the bidding process for both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.  Odegbami said: “The current scandal at Fifa is the organisation’s worst crisis in its 111 years of existence,”

Odegbami, who was part of the Nigerian team that won the African Cup of Nations for the first time in 1980 went on further: “Moving forward, Fifa thus requires a new era of leadership that can restore the dignity of the noble sport.

“The world is very interested in who becomes the next president of Fifa, considering the present images and state of this institution. I see myself fitting into this role.”

He has spent most of his life in football as a manager, football pundit and author.  He also runs a football Academy in Wasimi, Ogun State Nigeria.  Due to his football wizardry on the ball, Odegbami was named “Mathematical” by a football commentator in the 80s and the name has stuck ever since. 

“My life’s ambition has always been to use football to make a difference in my local space and across the world.”  He played 46 times for Nigeria and scored 23 goals averaging a goal every other game.