“I Have Learned My Lessons”: Samson Siasia Says As He Prepares to Return From FIFA Ban

• Samson Siasia will complete serving his FIFA ban in 2024, and he is poised for a return
• The former Super Eagles coach was suspended from all football-related activities since 2019
• He says he has learnt his lessons, as he prepares to return to do what he loves doing best

Former Super Eagles player and coach Samson Siasia has stated that he has learnt his lessons following the FIFA ban that saw him away from football-related activities since 2019.

Siasia was handed an initial lifetime ban from all football activities in August 2019 by the world’s football governing body.

He was also fined $50,000 for alleged ‘manipulation of matches’ for betting purposes.

In 2021, he filed an appeal, and the Court of Arbitration for Sports reduced the ban to five years, which will lapse in August 2024.

Siasia, in an interview on Kennis 104.1FM, stated that he is excited ahead of his return.

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He said, as per Punch:

“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.

“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.”

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Siasia claims NFF abandoned him

Sports Brief earlier reported that Siasia once accused the Nigerian Football Federation of abandoning him over his ordeal with FIFA.

The 56-year-old lamented that he was abandoned by friends and associates as he continued to serve the FIFA ban.

The former Under-23 coach was sanctioned by world football’s governing body as part of a long-term investigation into match-fixer Wilson Raj Perumal.