The Nigerian football community was in an ecstatic mood when the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) President, Gianni Infantino, visited Nigeria on Monday last week at the instance of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF).
It was indeed a historic event for the nation to host the world’s number one football personality at this critical time in the Abuja soccer Glass House that is often bogged down by leadership crisis.
Nigeria played a vital role in the Switzerland-born Infantino’s emergence as FIFA President. Nigeria-based Senegalese-born FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, promised to bring him on a thank-you visit. The reception which President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki accorded him underscored the importance of the occasion. One of the messages he brought was the need for the country to concentrate its resources on developing the game of football rather than the emphasis on winning.
The presence of Football Association Presidents from 18 African countries who joined to welcome Infantino, confirmed Nigeria as the powerhouse of football in Africa. Infantino’s cheering announcement of plans to give additional slots to Africa in the 2026 World Cup projected the nation to the soccer world as a rising power and a compelling force to be reckoned with in the game.
The tremendous opportunities of the two-day event must not be lost. The NFF should not stop at the speculated financial boost the visit brought to its coffers. It should fully explore the open windows of investments and sponsorships for the game’s development. There is no better time than now when the economic downturn is negatively impacting on all sectors including sports, football in particular.
Beyond the euphoria and the benefits, there are lessons to be learnt. The FIFA President’s presence in Nigeria at the behest of the NFF was an endorsement of the Amaju Pinnick-led Federation. It should put an end to the recurring power tussle over who is in charge at the Glass House. The fact that Buhari and Saraki hosted Infantino was a stamp of legitimacy on the leadership. Chief Chris Giwa who is laying claim to the position should give peace a chance.
We urge the NFF to brace up to the daunting challenge of developing the game. It is lamentable that the Flying Eagles have crashed out of the Africa Under-20 soccer competition holding in Zambia March next year. The Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for January 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon is a national embarrassment. It is a major setback for our football development.
We call on critical stakeholders to close ranks and address the issues hampering the sport that unites the nation such as funding, improvement of the local league and the appointment of a foreign coach.
It was indeed a historic event for the nation to host the world’s number one football personality at this critical time in the Abuja soccer Glass House that is often bogged down by leadership crisis.
Nigeria played a vital role in the Switzerland-born Infantino’s emergence as FIFA President. Nigeria-based Senegalese-born FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, promised to bring him on a thank-you visit. The reception which President Muhammadu Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki accorded him underscored the importance of the occasion. One of the messages he brought was the need for the country to concentrate its resources on developing the game of football rather than the emphasis on winning.
The presence of Football Association Presidents from 18 African countries who joined to welcome Infantino, confirmed Nigeria as the powerhouse of football in Africa. Infantino’s cheering announcement of plans to give additional slots to Africa in the 2026 World Cup projected the nation to the soccer world as a rising power and a compelling force to be reckoned with in the game.
The tremendous opportunities of the two-day event must not be lost. The NFF should not stop at the speculated financial boost the visit brought to its coffers. It should fully explore the open windows of investments and sponsorships for the game’s development. There is no better time than now when the economic downturn is negatively impacting on all sectors including sports, football in particular.
Beyond the euphoria and the benefits, there are lessons to be learnt. The FIFA President’s presence in Nigeria at the behest of the NFF was an endorsement of the Amaju Pinnick-led Federation. It should put an end to the recurring power tussle over who is in charge at the Glass House. The fact that Buhari and Saraki hosted Infantino was a stamp of legitimacy on the leadership. Chief Chris Giwa who is laying claim to the position should give peace a chance.
We urge the NFF to brace up to the daunting challenge of developing the game. It is lamentable that the Flying Eagles have crashed out of the Africa Under-20 soccer competition holding in Zambia March next year. The Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for January 2017 Nations Cup in Gabon is a national embarrassment. It is a major setback for our football development.
We call on critical stakeholders to close ranks and address the issues hampering the sport that unites the nation such as funding, improvement of the local league and the appointment of a foreign coach.
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