“I’ve learned my lesson” – Nigeria coach Samson Siasia on serving FIFA ban

Samson Siasia has revealed that he is getting prepared for his return to football coaching ahead of the expiration of his five-year ban by the world football governing body, FIFA, in August 2024.

In 2019, FIFA had banned Siasia from all football activities for life following an intensive investigation into attempted match-fixing by Wilson Perumal and the Nigerian coach. the former Olmypic bronze and silver medalists was also fined $50,000 for admitting to match manipulation for betting purposes.

However, in 2021, the former Super Eagles player and coach appealed the ban at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) where it was decided that the ban be reduced to five years.

And the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations winner admitted he has learned his lessons after being away from football-related activities since 2019 and is eager to return to football when his ban elapses in August 2024.

“I thought I was going to be free by this year (2023), and I was so excited,” Siasia said in a radio interview on Kennis 104.1FM.

“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.

“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.”