Super Eagles: NANS dissociates self from protest against Chelle

By Oluseye Ojo

Leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has described as frivolous and mischievous, a report that the body threatened a nationwide protest over the appointment of Eric Sekou Chelle as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

The students’ body noted that the untrue report was credited to one Abdul-Yekinn Odunayo, who claims to be the Clerk of the NANS Senate.

A statement made available to thesun.ng by President of the Senate, NANS Headquarters, Akinteye Babatunde Afeez, read in part: “It is imperative to categorically state that this position is baseless, fraudulent, and does not represent the stance of the leadership of NANS nor does it reflect the sentiments of Nigerian students nationwide.

“For the record, the said person holds no position in the organisation as claimed. Ergo, the NFF should disregard the threat for protest.

“Thus, we unequivocally dissociate ourselves from the disingenuous utterances of these self-appointed individuals, whose credentials and affiliation with NANS are dubious at best.

“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.

“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.”

However, NANS urged 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,” he stated.

The NANS held that no organ of the body, at any level, endorsed or proposed any protest against the appointment of 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,” NANS said.