President of world football –governing body, Mr. Gianni
Infantino and the Secretary General, Ms Fatma Samoura arrived in Nigeria’s
capital city, Abuja, on Sunday. They were accompanied by executive assistants
Mattias Grafstrom and Veron Mosengo-Omba.
The world football governors were received on arrival at the
Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport by NFF President Amaju Pinnick and General
Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, vice presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, and
other members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management.
A 10 –year old girl handed the 46 –year old multi –lingual
Infantino a bouquet of flowers as the train emerged from the arrival hall, and
a cultural troupe entertained in the foreground as Infantino and Samoura walked
on the red carpet to waiting cars.
At the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Pinnick accompanied Infantino
to the presidential suite, and meetings between the FIFA President and the NFF
Board and with the visiting FA presidents from other African countries, as well
as a cocktail dinner were on the programme for the night.
A total of 17 FA presidents from other African countries
arrived in Nigeria on Saturday to join the NFF in receiving Infantino. These
are Kwesi Nyantakyi (Ghana), Lamin Kaba Bajo (The Gambia), Isha Johansen
(Sierra Leone), Musa Bility (Liberia), Juneidi Basha Tilmo (Ethiopia), Nicholas
Kithuku (Kenya), Andrew Chamanga (Zambia), Philip Chiyangwa (Zimbabwe), Frans
Mbidi (Namibia), Chabur Goc Alei (South Sudan), Walter Nyamilandu (Malawi),
Abdiqani Said Arab (Somalia), Vincent Nzamwita (Rwanda), Moses Magogo (Uganda),
Jamal Malinzi (Tanzania), Augustin Senghor (Senegal) and Souleman Waberi
(Djibouti).
On Monday, Infantino and Samoura, alongside Sports Minister
Solomon Dalung, NFF President Pinnick, chairmen of the Senate and House sports
committees, NFF General Secretary and other NFF Board members, and the visiting
FA presidents from other African countries, will pay a courtesy call on His
Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa. Also
on the programme for Monday is an U13 exhibition football match at the National
Stadium, visit to the new NFF headquarters and a business dinner with Nigeria’s
political heavyweights and captains of industry.
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