Izuchukwu OkosiTunisia faces a nervous wait to find out if they would be playing at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar or be excluded after supposed government interference in the running of the game.
The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) takes exception to governments unnecessarily meddling into the affairs of the running of football associations.
Despite FIFA’s member federations expected to be free from legal and political interference they however have to rely on government backing when hosting of tournaments is the subject.
Tunisia were given up to Friday (today) to clarify statements made by Tunisia’s Youth and Sports Minister, Kamel Deguiche, about the possibility of “dissolving federal bureaux.”
The world governing body considers his statement an attempt to meddle in the running of the country’s football federation (FTF), and has asked for clarification about attempts to interfere in its internal affairs and threats to dissolve its office.
The Zurich-based organisation reminded the FTF that member associations are “legally obligated to conduct their affairs independently and without undue influence from third parties”.
“Any failure to comply with these obligations may result in the imposition of penalties under the Fifa laws, including suspension of the relevant association,” said a letter from Kenny Jean-Marie, Fifa’s director of member associations, to FTF general secretary Wajdi Aouadi.
The 2004 African champions are set to face World Cup holders France, Denmark and Australia in Group D in Qatar.
The Carthage Eagles have never gone past the group stage in five previous World Cup finals appearances, and will open their campaign against the Danes on 22 November.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
In October 2004, Okosi joined Complete Communications Limited, publishers of Complete Sports newspaper and Complete Football magazine as a reporter and later script writer for the Complete Sports studio.
He worked there for 13 years until October 2017.
Okosi also worked various times as Correspondent, Content creator and Editor at Sports Market International Magazine, Opera News, All Nigeria Soccer Media and Iconic Media Watch.
He also undertook freelance writing gigs for some local and international organizations.
Okosi is a member of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Association of Movie Producers (AMP), Association of Voiceover Artistes of Nigeria (AVOA), Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) and Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
He has been part of cast in some Nollywood movies and radio dramas including Blood Money 2, Scores To Settle, Dead End 2, Another Campus Tale and Battle Line.
Aside mainstream media and the entertainment industry, he has interests in scouting/unearthing of talents in the sports and creative sectors, exports business and property development.
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