NFF Crisis: Minister Seeks Assistance From FIFA

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

In a bid to find a lasting solution to the lingering tussle over the leadership of the country’s apex football governing body, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), the Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, said the ministry has set up a seven-man advisory committee, including seasoned technocrats with the FIFA.

The committee, which has two weeks to submit its report, is to seek ways of resolving the seeming logjam in the crisis that engulfed the Football House by trying to reconcile the factions involved in the crisis.

The Minister, who was at the national secretariat of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday in Abuja, said he couldn’t have supported the Chris Giwa’s group against the NFF  leadership led by Amaju Pinnick because it will not be in his interest to allow the crisis to escalate.

“I have set up a seven-man advisory committee, and from the briefings I got they would start sitting today.  I think, by the end of two weeks, when I receive their report, there would be sufficient advise in the way forward.

“They have invited so many stakeholders in the football industry to interact with them. And some of them have worked with FIFA, some of them are working with FIFA I brought them together, so that we can benefit from their experiences,” he said.
Lalong said the development in the football industry is unfortunate, especially the leadership tussle, adding that both parties in the conflict “must shieft position from their extreme position to a mid-way in the. Interest of football and in the interest of the nation”.

MORE TO FOLLOW