Gianni Infantino: not coming to Lagos

FIFA President Gianni Infantino who is due in Nigeria on Sunday, will no longer be visiting Lagos.

According to an itinerary released by the Nigerian Football Federation, Infantino  would now visit only Abuja.

According to a statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Assistant Director of Communications, Infantino and the organisation’s Secretary General, Fatma Samoura, will arrive in Abuja on Sunday for a two –day working visit.

“ The duo, to be accompanied by a couple of aides, will be received at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by NFF President Amaju Pinnick, members of the NFF Executive Committe and Management, and a host of other prominent figures in Nigerian football.

“A welcome cocktail for the FIFA President and Secretary General will hold at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel later on Sunday.

“On Monday, Infantino and Ms Samoura, led by the Minister of Youths and Sports, Solomon Dalung, and Pinnick will pay a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

“A number of Football Association/Federation presidents from other African countries, who are expected in Nigeria to join the NFF in welcoming the FIFA chieftains, will also be at the Villa.

“Also on Monday, Infantino and Samoura are scheduled to be guests at an under-13 exhibition football match at the National Stadium.

“They will later attend a corporate dinner with a legion of Nigerian political heavyweights and captains of industry at the Transcorp Hilton.

“The FIFA President will fly back to Switzerland on Monday night, while the Secretary General will depart Nigeria on Tuesday,’’ the statement indicated.

Monday’s tight schedule for the FIFA duo, especially as it involved visiting President Buhari, must have necessitated cancelling the Lagos leg of the visit.