Kinsmen of former Super Eagles coach, Samson Siasia have been in jubilant mood following the expiration of his five year ban on August 16, 2024, by the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA).
Siasia, one of Nigeria’s most decorated football coaches was initially banned for a lifetime but he approached the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS), which reduced the ban to five years and quashed the $50,000 imposed on him by FIFA.
The CAS found that a lifetime ban was too severe a penalty for a first-time offender who played a passive role in the offense.
However, the court emphasized the importance of imposing a punishment that would serve as a deterrent.
Siasia's kinsmen in Odoni, Sagbama Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, at the weekend celebrated his return to active football, thanking God for keeping him alive till the end of the punishment.
The celebration, which coincided with Siasia's 57 birthday, saw the kinsmen highly in a social mood, dancing and drinking at a popular bar in the community.
"We're happy, very, very happy. Five years ban is over. It has been a trying period for our brother. Staying this five years without being active in doing what he knows and likes best. But we thank God it is all over", they said.
He was just a victim of an unfortunate circumstance. But in all, we give God the glory. He is alive, he is well and strong and that is important. Like a shining star that he is, we know he will pick up from where he stopped and continue, "James Siasia, one of the relatives, said.
The former Super Eagles handler is the only indigenous coach to win silver and bronze medals in the Olympic Games men’s football tournament in 2008 and 2016, plus a silver medal finish in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in 2005.
He played 51 international matches for Nigeria, scoring a total of 13 goals and was part of the Super Eagles team that won the 1994 African Nations Cup in Tunisia as well as bronze at the 1992 African Nations Cup in Senegal.
Samson Siasia, who holds a U.S. Soccer Federation coaching license also featured in the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States of America.
There are speculations that several clubs in Nigeria’s domestic leagues, including the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Nigeria National League (NNL), including former NPFL champions Mighty Jets of Jos are interested in his services.
It is also a possibility that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may make an offer for the vacant Super Eagles job, a position Siasia is familiar with, having held it twice.
