Malcolm Omirhobo, a human rights lawyer, has strongly criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for suggesting that the Super Eagles’ quarter-final victory against Angola at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was in line with President Bola Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope agenda’.

NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abidjan, encouraged the Super Eagles to believe in Tinubu, stating, “You heard what he [Tinubu] said. He said, ‘Boys go there, believe in me… You don’t have any problem and whatever issues you are facing, just believe in me. Go and do the job and you will see the result.'”

Aisha Falode, an NFF Executive Board Member, also emphasized that the NFF was working in compliance with President Tinubu’s mandate to bring the AFCON trophy back to Nigeria.

Reacting to these statements, Omirhobo took to his Twitter account to urge the NFF to be genuine and avoid mere lip service. He expressed that the Super Eagles’ victory at the AFCON should not be tied to Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope agenda’. Omirhobo emphasized the need to keep politics out of football and not bring any bad luck to the team.

In his tweet, Omirhobo stated, “NFF, can you please stop your eye service? The Super Eagles’ victory at the AFCON 2023 has nothing to do with the talk of aligning with Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’. Please keep politics out of football and don’t bring bad luck to the boys.”