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Six things FIFA President told Buhari in Aso Rock, number four will shock you
FIFA President Gianni Infantino on Monday visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Aso Rock, Abuja.
Infantino was accompanied on the visit by FIFA Secretary-General, Fatma Samoura; the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Solomon Dalung; President of NFF, Amaju Pinnick; and the President of Nigerian Olympics Committee, Mr. Habu Gumel.
Speaking with State House correspondents shortly after meeting President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Infantino made the following key statements:
- He said if FIFA should consider increasing the number of teams that will be participating in the World Cup, he would propose two more slots for Africa. Five African countries currently participate in the event.
- He also disclosed that FIFA would soon decide to increase yearly contributions and investments by four in football development.
- As regards football development in Nigeria, Infantino said more works needed to be done in the areas of organisational structures, setting of training centres and better framework .
- When asked to make a statement on the leadership crisis rocking the Nigerian Football Federation, the FIFA boss said he was not aware of any crisis.
- The FIFA President said he had the mandate to ensure accountability and transparency in the organisation as well as develop football.
- He asked the Nigerian authorities to pay attention to infrastructure and find a lasting solution to the problem of violence and insecurity at match venues.
Meanwhile, Buhari was said to have promised at the meeting that his administration will pay keen interest to accountability and transparency to fast-track football development in the country.
He welcomed Infantino’s programme to reform the world game through transparency, anti-corruption and good governance.
The President pledged Nigeria’s support to FIFA president’s reform agenda, noting that they were similar to those his presidency had outlined to resuscitate Nigeria.