Akinwunmi Addresses Anti-Lesbian Comment Against Female Players..

Seyi Akinwunmi, the vice president of the Nigeria Football Federation has explained his comment on female football players, after he was quoted as saying “lesbianism kills teams”.

Responding to a question in Ibadan over the weekend, during a sports personality programme, Hot Seat, organised by the Oyo state chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria, Akinwunmi was accused of blaming lesbians for the female team’s decline.

But in a swift response, the NFF VP alleges that his remark was misinterpreted, adding that he was referring to how lesbianism is being perceived in the female team, making it difficult for sponsors of the women’s game as one of the problems.

He said: “I noted that one of the problems we have encountered in trying to raise funds for the women’s game, is the perception of lesbianism therein.

“We strongly believe that there are still potential sponsors out there who will lend their support to help us develop our female teams because of the glory that these girls have brought to this country and their enormous potential to do even more.”

In another reaction, the Oyo state chapter of the Sports Writers’ Association of Nigeria (SWAN), to whom Akinwunmi gave his original speech, also defended the official.

A statement from the group read: “We wish to place it on the records that the observations of Barrister Akinwunmi, who is the first vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is being interpreted out of context and being promoted in negative connotations by those bent on mischief, most of who were not present at the forum,” the SWAN wrote in a statement.

“The NFF 1st vice President in his response to the question by one of the participants began by avowing his huge passion for women football and grassroots football which his administration as Chairman of Lagos State Football Association has championed.

“Among some other problems of running women football he highlighted were comparatively higher costs and lower returns on investment.

He also pointed to the dearth of women football players arising from the place of women in traditional practices of the country and the concentration of interest by both corporate Nigeria and individuals on men’s football.

“His only mention of lesbianism was in general terms and not relative to women football and it in no way suggests an opinion on sexual orientation of any player. Sexual restriction in football camps is also enforced in men’s teams and the reason is obviously to reduce the distraction from focusing on work.”

The Super Falcons have won nine of the 11 African Women’s Championships that have taken place since 1991, making them the toughest female side on the continent.

But the team failed to qualify for the 2016 Olympic Games.