Kadiri Ikhana, the former Super Falcons head coach, has called for an open, fair, and transparent election to install a new board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
A free and fair election, free of any type of intimidation, is the only way to elect a new board, according to the former Super Eagles defender who was a member of the inaugural team to win Nigeria's maiden Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 1980.
The former Confederation of African Football (CAF) Coach of the Year acknowledged the avalanche of candidates vying to succeed the departing Amaju Pinnick as the president of the football house in an interview with our correspondent, but he added that it was also good that there were options, which he said are also healthy in deciding who runs Nigeria's football in the upcoming four years.
“All I am interested in a transparent process so that whoever emerges will be the choice of Nigerians,” he said.
“Once the election is fair, then it has favoured both the winners and the losers and it will mean that the person elected is the choice of Nigerians.
“I know there are many that are contesting to lead and I can tell you that it is right since it makes Nigerians to have many options.
“Nigerians will be looking to have a fresh board that will start work immediately because several things need to be put in place,” he said.
Recall that Ikhana was the first manager to win the CAF Champions League title for Nigeria when he guided the People’s Elephants to victory in 2003.
The feat was repeated by Coach Okay Emordi in 2004 when he also managed the eight times Nigerian champions to successfully defend the premier continental club title.
Ikhana was among the first set to win the Africa Cup of Nations for Nigeria when they defeated the Desert Foxes of Algeria in the final of the 1980 edition of AFCON in Lagos. The team was captained by Coach Christian Chukwu while Brazilian Otto Gloria was at the dog out.