INFANTINO’S VISIT, PINNICK’S NEW POLITICS AND THE FUTURE OF AFRICAN FOOTBALL

The Fifa president’s recent visit to Abuja was a moral victory for Amaju Pinnick’s administration as well as an opportunity for federation chiefs to chart a new path.


Football’s biggest personality was in Abuja last week as part of moves to reposition Nigerian football in an era when its fortunes have tumbled faster than a deluge.

Gianni Infantino, the president of Fifa, visited Nigeria alongside secretary general Fatma Samoura as the administration of Amaju Pinnick got a shot in the arm.

Infantino met with President Muhammadu Buhari at Aso Villa and shared with him the changes that are taking place in the world of football.

Both men shared their common struggles, having to clean up the Augean stable after their predecessors and the massive work of forging a new image for their different constituencies.

While Infantino’s visit must have cost a fortune to put together in such a time of belt tightening both in public service and corporate practice, the gains it is hoped will outweigh the cost on the long run.

Apart from giving legitimacy to the Pinnick-led Nigeria Football Federation board in his battle against spoiler Chris Giwa, the visit has helped to lend a positive image to Nigerian football after almost two years of upheavals that have caused animosity for current and potential sponsors.

Nigerian football has never had things this bad. The Super Eagles have failed to qualify for two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and have fallen to 70th place on the Fifa Rankings.

They have gone without a substantive coach for the last five months ahead of commencement of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers in October.

The U20 side failed to qualify for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations despite fielding a team comprised of the bulk of players from last year’s victorious Fifa U17 World Cup.

Coaches and back room staff have gone unpaid. Players’ bonuses have suffered as the country’s economy has nose-dived.

While the NFF was receiving around 150million Naira monthly from the federal government until two years ago, that sum is now a paltry 60million Naira that is expected to be shared around 11 national teams.

Meanwhile, a typical Super Eagles game costs at least 200million Naira just to pay flight tickets and bonuses.

Sponsors that haven’t cancelled their contracts due to the bad economy have cut down to less than half of what they used to do as they continue to feel the squeeze from all angles.

Infantino’s visit and affirmation of the NFF has brought a glimmer of hope that potential sponsors will come to put funds in the sponsorship of Nigerian football.

Meanwhile, the political impact of the Fifa president will be felt across African football with the not so subtle moves being made by the 17 federation chiefs that came to see him.

There was no mention of the Fifa supremo’s visit on the Caf website.