“It has been terrible for 5 years” – Ex-Super Eagles coach reveals return date from FIFA ban

Former Super Eagles and Olympics Eagles coach, Samson Siasia, has disclosed the anticipated end date of his FIFA-imposed ban on all football-related activities, Soccernet.ng reports.

FIFA initially slapped Siasia with a lifetime ban in August 2019, alongside a $50,000 fine. This followed Siasia’s admission of his involvement in match manipulation for betting purposes during an investigation into attempted match-fixing orchestrated by Wilson Perumal, in collaboration with the Nigerian coach.

However, subsequent developments saw Siasia’s ban being reduced to a five-year suspension by the Court of Arbitration for Sports in 2021.

This reduction shifted his expected return date to August 2024.

1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner Siasia has expressed his eagerness to re-enter the football arena in the coming year.

In an interview with Kennis 104.1FM (as per the Punch), the former Nigeria international shared his thoughts ahead of the ban end, stating,

“I thought I was going to be free by this year (2023), and I was so excited. But I had to look through the document that FIFA served me, and I found out that it was going to be next year.

“By next year, in August 2024, I will be free from the FIFA ban, and hopefully I will be back to football.”

Siasia also reflected on the past, acknowledging his lessons learned and the reduction in his ban.

He stated, “Irrespective of what happened, I have learned my lessons, but FIFA, who initially gave me a life ban in football, could not prove anything wrong with what they claimed I did.

“But they had to reduce it to a five-year ban, and it will expire next year. I thank God for that.

“It has been terrible to be away from football for five years, but I am preparing myself to come back to football, so I have to prepare myself so I can start ‘running’ once I resume by next year.”

Before his ban, Siasia enjoyed a successful coaching career, achieving notable milestones.

He guided the Flying Eagles to victory at the 2005 U-20 African Youth Championship and secured silver at the 2005 Under-20 World Cup. In 2008, he led the Nigerian Under-23 Olympic squad to the final against Argentina, securing a silver medal.

Under his tenure, the team had previously claimed the inaugural Intercontinental Cup in Malaysia.

Six years after leaving the post, Siasia returned as the U23 coach in 2015, overseeing the Olympic Eagles’ bronze-medal finish at the Rio Olympics in 2016.