Linking politics with sports, Nigeria’s opposition Action Congress (AC) party Sunday hailed Ghana for winning the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Egypt, saying ”political stability, good governance and accountability are the building blocks of Ghana’s rising profile in all sectors”.

In a statement issued in Lagos and made available to PANA, AC also commended Ghana for extending its electoral transparency and credibility to sports, saying there is no evidence that Ghana prosecuted the FIFA U-20 World Cup with over-aged players, or rigged into the team those who are not qualified.

“Because Ghana has continued to lead the way by conducting credible elections, showing transparency in governance and ensuring accountability, it did not come as a surprise that the country became the first African nation to win the FIFA Under-20 World Cup trophy, when it beat mighty Brazil on Friday, despite being one man down.

“In the same competition, our team – the Flying Eagles – could not go beyond the second stage because our sports authorities have also imbibed the indiscipline, cheating and lack of transparency in our political life. This is why we have been saying that the chaos that has characterised our elections, the lack of accountability and transparency in governance and the widespread indiscipline in our society can only spell disaster in all areas of human endeavour,” AC said.

The party said unlike most Nigerian professional footballers playing overseas, the average Ghanaian footballer ”is ready to put his country before his club, saying that explains while Ghana also became the first African team to qualify for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa – with two matches to go – while Nigeria’s qualification ”lies in the hands of other teams and in the realms of wishful thinking”.

“Nigeria is a three-time winner of the FIFA Under-17 World Cup and two-time runner-up in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup. Sadly, the country has not been able to sustain its impressive performance in FIFA age-grade competitions. The reasons are not far fetched: Indiscipline and cheating (disguising old men as youthful players, who then fizzle out when they are supposed to be at their prime).

“This is a fallout of the mess on the political front. A nation that is being led by those largely rigged into office cannot expect to excel in any sector whatsoever, as the widespread electoral malfeasance is bound to percolate to other areas, whether sports or economy, the Nigerian opposition said, taunting the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is widely believed to have rigged the 2007 general elections.

Tags: ghana news, nigeria, Politics