NFF crisis: Jonathan invites Pinnick to Villa

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, is scheduled for a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on Wednesday over the lingering crisis in the NFF. The PUNCH learnt that the meeting is at the behest of Jonathan, who is also scheduled to receive the Super Falcons that just won the African Women’s Championship on the same day.

A ruling by a Federal High Court in Jos last Thursday ordered the NFF executive committee members who were elected in Warri last month to vacate office. The court then ordered Chris Giwa, who is also laying claim to the office of the NFF president, to take charge pending the determination of the case filed before the court. Under the FIFA statutes, football matters are not heard in civil courts and the decision of the Giwa-group to seek redress in court has angered the world football ruling body. Nigeria is to be banned from international football by FIFA during to the lingering situation which began since July during the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

FIFA has asked the NFF secretariat to send a detailed report on events in the Nigerian football administration since the ruling was made in Jos. The officials at the FIFA headquarters want to determine if Pinnick and his officials are still in free control or if Giwa has actually taken over the offices of the NFF. The NFF’s counter application against the decision in Jos is also billed to come up on Wednesday. It is not clear if the report and case coming on Wednesday forced FIFA to delay their decision to ban Nigeria on Monday.

“They (FIFA) have asked for a detailed report,” NFF spokesperson Ademola Olajire confirmed on Monday.

Meanwhile, the NFF has concluded plans for the Super Eagles to train in Warri, Delta State ahead of the game against the Red Devils of Congo in Pointe Noire.

Congo’s Pointe Noire Stadium has an artificial pitch and the NFF’s decision for the Eagles to train in Warri is in line with that, considering the stadium in Warri also has an artificial turf.

General Secretary of the NFF Musa Amadu, announced the venue after a meeting with Shaibu Amodu and his technical crew in Abuja on Monday.

“The pitch in Warri where the Super Eagles will train has an artificial pitch and should provide the required feel and match conditions as the pitch where the game will be played in Congo,” Amadu said.

“After the game in Congo, the team will proceed to Uyo to prepare for the last qualifier against South Africa. For us the real challenge is to go to Congo and get the desired result that will put our qualification aspirations back to the right track.

Nigeria is placed third in Group A of the final qualifying series for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations with four points from four matches.