The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation met on Sunday, 8th August 2021 to deliberate on important issues in Nigerian Football and resolved as follows:
1) The meeting commenced with a one-minute silence in honour of the one-time Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Brigadier-General Dominic Obukadata Oneya (rtd), who passed on Thursday, 5th August 2021 and Chief Abel Ehigie, a former Chairman of the Edo State Football Association who died in the month of July 2021. Members prayed for the repose of the souls of the two illustrious personalities and for the Almighty God to grant their families, friends, relations, the NFF and the Nigerian Football family at large the fortitude to bear the big losses.
2) The Committee poured encomiums on the Federal Government for the conducive environment it continues to provide for the improvement, sustenance and development of the game of football in Nigeria even in the face of challenging and arduous times of the past 20 months.
3) For their unwavering devotion and unflinching support to the cause of Nigeria Football in these trying times, the Executive Committee praised the Federation’s Sponsors, Partners and Supporters and assured that the National Teams will continue to challenge for honours to give them the necessary good mileage for their commitment.
4) In view of the significant changes and disruptions to the way football (as well as other areas of life) is administered and organized globally in the past few years, made more poignant by the global coronavirus pandemic that threw the world into jeopardy at the beginning of year 2020 and still wreaking havoc, and the glaring obsoleteness of the current NFF Statutes, the Executive Committee resolved to forward a proposal to the Congress for approval of the commencement of the process for amendment of the NFF Statutes.
5) The Executive Committee resolved, in view of the high importance of Nigeria’s qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar, that all strands, threads and patterns must be put in their right places and complemented with hard work to ensure the Super Eagles have a successful qualifying campaign even before the race starts next month. Committee enjoined the Secretariat to be at the top of its game and leave no stone unturned to see that the Eagles emerge winner of their Group C pool and go ahead to win the home-and-away knockout round to ensure a seventh FIFA World Cup appearance for Nigeria.
6) Following a detailed briefing by the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee for the Dr Aisha Buhari International Invitational Women’s Tournament taking place in Lagos in September 2021, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, the Executive Committee lauded the efforts so far made and urged the LOC to proceed apace with all arrangements and focus hard at organizing a tournament that will uphold the virtues of decency, excellence and uprightness for which the First Lady is known. It further urged the NFF Secretariat to ensure all hands are on deck for adequate preparation of the Super Falcons to emerge champions of the tournament.
7) Given the importance of forwarding to the Confederation of African Football the names of Nigeria’s four representatives in the next CAF Club Competitions, the Committee ordered that the NFF Appeals Committee must meet immediately to dispense with the appeal lodged by Jigawa Golden Stars FC and Kwara United FC against the decision of the NFF Disciplinary Committee at its sitting of Thursday, 5th August which favoured Rivers United FC.
8) The Executive Committee expressed heartfelt appreciation to the Executive Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki and the Edo State Government as a whole for hosting the 2021 Extraordinary General Assembly of the NFF.
IN ATTENDANCE: Amaju Melvin Pinnick (President); Seyi Akinwunmi (1st Vice President); Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President); Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Member); Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ (Member); Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande (Member); Babagana Kalli (Member); Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Member); Ganiyu Majekodunmi (Member); Aisha Falode (Member); Mohammed Alkali (Member); Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary)
ABSENT WITH APOLOGY: Felix Anyansi-Agwu (Member); Obinna Ogba (Member)
