Nigeria has acknowledged Amaju Pinnick and his executive committee as those in charge of running the country’s football federation which has been engulfed in a governance crisis for years now.
Fifa made it clear that it would suspend Nigeria by 12 noon local time (1100 GMT) which would lead to the Super Eagles missing out of next month’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifying against Seychelles and Enyimba being thrown out of the CAF Confederation Cup among others.
The world governing body cited that the West African government obtruding in the running of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
However in a new twist of the saga which has centred on Pinnick and Chris Giwa who is also claiming to be the authentic NFF president, Laolu Akande, a spokesman to Nigeria’s vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, stated that the country’s government recognizes “Amaju Pinnick-led NFF as the current & only NFF Exco.”
The spokesman also said that the Nigerian government will work to ensure that the dispute over the NFF leadership is resolved “in a timely manner.”
“The FG has already conveyed to Fifa its firm position recognizing Amaju Pinnick-led NFF as the current & only NFF Exco. Govt will also continue to work with all relevant stakeholders involved to resolve dispute in a timely manner. FG is upholding NFF treaty obligations to Fifa,” Akande stated via his Twitter account on Monday morning.
The FG has already conveyed to FIFA its firm position recognizing Amaju Pinnick-led NFF as the current & only NFF Exco. Govt will also continue to work with all relevant stakeholders involved to resolve dispute in a timely manner. FG is upholding NFF treaty obligations to FIFA
— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) August 20, 2018
However Fifa has issued a statement of “confirmations that the legitimate leadership of the NFF under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi has been given back effective control of the NFF and its offices.”
Fifa said Nigeria will no longer be suspended after meeting its conditions set by its bureau of council.
But the world football governing body said it will continue to monitor the situation in Nigeria to ensure that its rules are not breached.
“Following the decision of the Bureau of the Fifa Council of 13 August 2018 concerning the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Fifa received confirmations that the legitimate leadership of the NFF under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick and General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi has been given back effective control of the NFF and its offices.
“In view of these circumstances, Fifa deems that the conditions set by the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council have now been met and consequently the suspension of the NFF will not take effect,” Fifa’s statement on Monday conveyed.
“Fifa will continue to closely monitor the situation in order to ensure that Fifa’s rules and regulations are fully adhered to.”
The governance crisis in Nigeria has led to all the leagues including the top-flight the NPFL and the women’s league being shut down indefinitely.
- SportsAfric
