Confederation of African Football (CAF) has joined Nigeria’s sports authorities in their historic move to initiate widespread reforms across all levels of the round leather game in the country, Sports247 reports.
This was disclosed by the chairman of Nigeria’s National Sports Commission (NSC), Mallam Shehu Dikko while providing an explanation of reasons for reforms and confirmation of approval for the initiative that was granted on Tuesday by Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).
Dikko confirmed that the approval from FIFA came during a meeting that a high-powered Nigerian delegation had with top officials of the global football governing body at their headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.
In contrast with apprehension among football followers about a likely hammer from FIFA, the world body instead expressed an understanding of the planned reforms, and Dikko later revealed the role played by CAF in helping Nigeria get the approval.
The verdict, which also implies FIFA’s go ahead for a Normalisation Committee aimed at restoring football glory to the country, came during a meeting the delegation held with FIFA top shots to explain recent developments.
Nigeria was represented at the meeting by Dikko; NSC’s director-general, Honourable Olopade; acting general-secretary of the football federation, Emmanuel Ikpeme; and NFF’s former president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick.
Also in the Nigerian delegation were NFF’s director of legal services, Okey Obi Esq; as well as CAF 2nd vice-president, Kurt-Okraku; and FIFA’s Director of Member Associations (Africa), Gelson Fernandes.
The delegation briefed FIFA about latest developments affecting Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), after the body’s president, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau led a mass resignation that included the general-secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi and entire members of the executive committee.
Dikko expatiated: “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.
“(This includes) agreeing a roadmap going forward in accordance with the relevant rules, regulations and statutes. Indeed, there is no doubt Nigeria football will emerge much better and properly-structured after the conclusion of this process.”
Sports247 reports further that the nod from FIFA also paves way for Nigeria to implement the report submittted by a fact-finding committee that was set up by the past NFF leadership after the female national team, Super Falcons failed to qualify for the FIFA Women’s World Cup for the first time ever.
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