Horrible sporting weekend for Nigeria, FIFA President still coming
It may have been a dismal weekend for Nigerian sports, but the FIFA president’s scheduled visit to Nigeria will go on as planned.
Defending champions Flying Eagles of Nigeria will not feature at the 2017 U20 African Cup of Nations after they were dumped out of the qualify stage by Sudan on Saturday.
That followed embarrassing reports that Rio Olympics athletes were told to pay their way to the tournament.
That was also preceded by horrible performances by “abandoned” Nigerian athletes at the Under-20 IAAF Championship in Poland.
FIFA President, Mr. Gianni Infantino and FIFA Secretary General, Ms Fatma Samba Samoura will arrive in Nigeria’s capital city, 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 Board and Management, and a host of other prominent figures in Nigeria football.
A welcome cocktail for the FIFA President and Secretary General will hold at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja later on Sunday.
On Monday, Infantino and Samoura, led by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Barr. Solomon Dalung and NFF President Pinnick will pay a courtesy call on His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa. A number of FA 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 U13 exhibition football match at the National Stadium, before attending a corporate dinner with a legion of Nigeria’s 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..
