Federal Government Summons NFF Over CAF Election

Ahead of the March 16 election into the executive board of the Confederation of African Football, (CAF) the federal government has through the Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung summoned an emergency meeting with the executive board members of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The mandatory emergency meeting which the minister noted will have in attendance, all the board members of the NFF holds on Tuesday 28th, February 2017, at the Minister’s conference room, National Stadium Abuja at 11am.

The Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports had recently reacted to comments by the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, blasting the current CAF president, Issa Hayatou ahead of the election.

Pinnick had openly canvassed for support for Hayatou’s opponent, Ahmad Ahmad and the NFF also said in a statement that it has given its president the blank cheque to vote for any candidate of his choice.

The minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalund warned in his reactions to Pinnicks open support for Ahmad that the interest of Africa and sub-regional neighbours will determine Nigeria’s position in matters regarding the upcoming Confederation of African Football (CAF) elections.

In a statement on Friday in Abuja, the ministry said Nigeria was going to support what was good for its football only.

The statement noted that the minister was dismayed by press statements and interviews on the issue by some officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) committing Nigeria to supporting a candidate

“The press statements are very personal to the NFF President and do not represent the position of the people and the government of Nigeria.

“Elections into CAF have a long tradition and Nigeria as a major actor has always taken a position that will not only promote unity and international integration but also take into consideration the interest of Africa and its sub-regional neighbours.

“As it is today, Nigeria has not taken a stand on the candidature of anybody contesting the Presidency and should not be misrepresented by anybody

“We will support what is good for football but we will exercise our rights through the laid-down democratic process as guaranteed by the rules of the game”, t he statement quoted Dalung as saying.