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Leke Baiyewu, Abuja
The Senate has urged the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, to make best use of his new position as an executive member of Confederation of African Football.
The upper chamber of the National Assembly urged Pinnick to make positive impact while representing Nigeria in CAF.
The Chairman, Senate Committee on Youths and Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, gave the charge while fielding questions from journalists on the outcome of the CAF election, through which Mr. Ahmad Ahmad from Madagascar emerged as the new President of CAF.
Ogba stressed that the outcome of the election was a good omen for Nigeria, with the ouster of the former CAF President, Mr. Issa Hayatou.
The lawmaker alleged that Hayatou, throughout his 29 years of leading CAF, did not favour Nigeria both at the boardroom level and on the field of play.
He said, “For most of the 50 years of CAF existence as the administrator of football competitions among African countries, Nigeria has always been shut out of the boardroom politics, which is very critical to what takes place at field of play. But with Pinnick on board, Nigeria expects nothing but better representation with attendant developments like Nigerian referees being more involved in officiating CAF and FIFA matches.”
Ogba noted that Pinnick’s executive membership of CAF would aid Nigeria in qualifying for 2018 World Cup competition.
The lawmaker added that the National Assembly would fast track the passage of a bill seeking to give NFF autonomy in running football administration in the country in line with the set standards of FIFA.
Source: Punch News
