NFF crisis: Pinnick reacts as Nigeria escapes FIFA ban

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed its sincere appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his intervention which averted a FIFA suspension for the country on Monday.


FIFA had threatened to suspend Nigeria from all her activities, after the Amaju Pinnick-led executive board was prevented from carrying out its duties at the NFF.

However, the sanction was averted after Osinbajo, in a letter to the world football governing body, declared the government’s support for the Pinnick-led board.

“The position of His Excellency, and that of the Federal Government, which was conveyed to FIFA by His Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (GCON) has convinced FIFA that Nigeria is indeed ready as ever to follow FIFA’s Statutes. I want to also use this opportunity to thank the Vice President, who as Acting President, played a very key role in the resolution of the matter.

“Our appreciation also goes to the Members of the Federal Executive Council, Members of the National Assembly, Heads of the various Security Agencies, Members of the NFF Congress, all our sponsors/partners, football stakeholders, analysts and ball fans who stood solidly by the tenets of association football,” Pinnick, who spoke on behalf of the NFF Executive Committee, told thenff.com