Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick has
said that the football body is united and committed to
Nigeria football after a peace meeting with his opposition
came to a deadlock yesterday in Abuja.
Minister of sports, Solomon Dalung had called a peace
meeting between the NFF president and faction leader, Chris Giwa in his office yesterday but the meeting was cut short by further disagreement between both parties.
Giwa had lost the presidency elections in Warri, on
September 30, 2014 to Pinnick but has since registered his
anger over the emergence of the present board following
appeal cases at the Confederation of African Football and
Federation of International Football Agency which he lost.
In the meeting called by the sport minister, both parties
refused to step on common ground and settle their
differences but the Pinnick has said that the effort of the
minister is not in vain.
“We want to say a big ‘Thank You’ to the Honourable
Minister, the Permanent Secretary and the Director General
for their wonderful efforts in trying to solidify the unity
among the football family,” Pinnick said in a statement.
“Wednesday’s meeting was another of such efforts and we
praise the attitude of the Minister, Permanent Secretary and
Director General all through the meeting.
Nigeria was about to get a ban over NFF crises in 2014 but
for the intervention of the former President of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Jonathan who stepped in the
matter in which Giwa withdrew his case from Jos Court.
However, the Glass House administrator has said that the
differences would not be in their way as the board is very
much focused on the development of Nigeria football.
“The NFF wishes to reiterate that we remain focused as ever
on the several programs that we have this year. On Friday,
the Super Eagles have an important match against Tunisia
at the African Nations Championship.
“In two months, we have a crucial double –header against
Egypt in the race for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
Pinnick however calls for support form every areas of
Nigeria football to support the present administration into
ensuring that Nigerian teams do well in various competition
they will partake in.
“We are calling on everyone to work with the present
administration to consolidate on the glorious run of the
various National Teams. This is a very, very important year
for Nigeria football: the Super Eagles will conclude the
qualification series for the 2017 Cup of Nations and start the
qualification series for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
“There is the Olympics football tournament in Rio. We also
have age-grade women World Cup competitions and the
African Women Championship, and qualifying campaigns for
the U-20 and U-17 teams.
“The NFF is happy that the whole family remains united and
committed to the attainment of more successes,” he
concluded.
The peace meeting is adjourned till Tuesday, 26th January
2016 to be presided over by the minister of sports.
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