FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hosted a Nigerian delegation led by National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko at the Home of FIFA , as the world football’s governing body confirmed it has accepted the resignations of the Nigeria Football Federation’s principal officers and committed to a roadmap for comprehensive reform of the game in the country.
FIFA said the decision followed a meeting at FIFA House attended by FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and its advisers, the NSC, and NFF administration officials. Parties at the meeting agreed to continue refining the roadmap to deliver reforms in the short, medium and long term, with the stated aim of producing an inclusive NFF and a stable environment for Nigerian football to succeed on and off the pitch.
Dikko was joined in Zurich by NSC Director-General Bukola Olopade; former NFF President Amaju Pinnick, attending as Special Adviser to the CAF President and Deputy Chairman of FIFA’s Men’s National Teams’ Competitions Committee; NFF Acting General Secretary Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme; and NFF Director of Legal Services Okey Obi. CAF Second Vice President Kurt Okraku and FIFA Director of Member Associations (Africa) Gelson Fernandes also attended.
‘Mutual engagement among the National Sports Commission, the NFF administration and the Confederation of African Football is ongoing with FIFA on the comprehensive reforms of Nigeria football, including agreeing a roadmap going forward in accordance with the relevant rules, regulations and statutes, and indeed there is no doubt Nigeria football will emerge much better and properly structured after the conclusion of this process,’ Dikko said.
Infantino, writing after the meeting on Instagram, said he was pleased to sit down with the delegation to hold discussions and align on FIFA’s vision for football in Nigeria.
He said the talks covered institutional, governance and developmental topics as well as ongoing collaborations, and stressed the need for stronger structures and pathways to widen opportunities for young players.
He added that FIFA had explored areas where it can further support the growth of the game in the country.
Infantino also wished the Falconets and Flamingos well ahead of the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup, and thanked the Nigerian delegation for their time and willingness to work together in taking the country’s football forward.
He wrote: ‘I was pleased to sit down with a delegation from Nigeria, led by National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko, at the Home of FIFA in Zrich to hold important discussions and align on our vision for football in the country.
‘We had a detailed talk on institutional, governance and developmental topics, as well as our ongoing collaborations. While stressing the need to create stronger structures and pathways to provide even more opportunities for the youth, we explored areas where FIFA can further support the growth of our beautiful game in this football-passionate country.
‘I also wished luck to @ng_superfalcons for the upcoming FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup and thanked the entire team for their time, ideas and positive intent to work together in taking Nigerian football forward.