FIFA briefed on Nigeria's football crisis

Monday, September 8, 2014 9:46 pm

The Secretary-General of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Musa Amadu, has written the world football governing body (FIFA) intimating it of the latest development in the country’s football house.

Amadu told newsmen in Abuja after close of work on Monday that the letter was to inform FIFA that he and few others returned to office and worked in the football secretariat unhindered.

FIFA had on Sept. 3 threatened to suspend Nigeria from football after it declared as illegal the Aug. 26 election that produced, Chris Giwa, as NFF Chairman.

FIFA had subsequently directed that the Aminu Maigari-led NFF board be returned to office to supervise a fresh election into the NFF board.

It also directed that the Maigari-led group return to office on Monday to perform their duties unhindered.

Aminu Maigari

“I can confirm to you that I did write a letter just now to FIFA which I copied CAF informing them about the event of today. The development is in line with FIFA directives that we be allowed to come to the secretariat and do our work unhindered.

“Also those persons claiming to be elected did not come to the office just to allow us to do our work and I think at the end of the day reason has prevailed.This is because the crisis is inimical to the development of football for a big country like Nigeria which is a powerhouse in African football.

“I believe that the event of today will be cemented and peace will return to the Nigeria football,’’ Amadu said.

The NFF scribe explained that his reason for copying CAF was to ensure that Nigeria’s second AFCON qualifying match against South Africa went unhindered in Cape Town on Wednesday.

He pointed out that Maigari and his board members was expected back any time from now to ensure election into the board was concluded Sept. 25.

“From the letter we got from FIFA on Sept. 3, it was stated in clear terms that the Maigari-led board will preside over two emergency congresses. The first will be to elect members of the Electoral Committee and the Appeals Committee as well as another congress leading to election within the shortest possible time.

“I am not a member of the congress but I know that congress is trying to see that this election is held within the shortest possible time and for us to have election probably by Sept. 25. This is to enable the next NFF board to carry out their mandate from 2014 to 2018,’’ Amadu said.

The Giwa-led faction of the NFF board did not show up at the football secretariat on Monday.