FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pledged continued support for Nigeria’s football reforms after meeting NFF and NSC officials in Zurich.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pledged the world football governing body’s continued support for Nigeria’s football reforms following a meeting with officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) in Zurich.
Infantino said FIFA was ready to work with Nigerian authorities to strengthen the institutional and governance structures underpinning the country’s football development.
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He disclosed this in a post on his Instagram account after receiving a Nigerian delegation.
Infantino said the discussions provided an opportunity for FIFA and Nigeria to align on a shared vision for the future of Nigerian football.
“I was pleased to sit down with a delegation from Nigeria, led by National Sports Commission (NSC) Chairman Shehu Dikko, at the Home of FIFA in Zürich to hold important discussions and align on our vision for football in the country,” Infantino said.
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FIFA focuses on governance, development
According to Infantino, the discussions went beyond immediate football competitions and focused on the institutional foundations needed to build a stronger and more sustainable football ecosystem in Nigeria.
“We had a detailed talk on institutional, governance and developmental topics, as well as our ongoing collaborations,” he said.
The FIFA president said strengthening football structures and creating clearer development pathways would be critical to providing more opportunities for young Nigerians.
“While stressing the need to create stronger structures and pathways to provide even more opportunities for the youth, we explored areas where FIFA can further support the growth of our beautiful game in this football-passionate country,” he said.
Nigeria seeks stronger football structure
The meeting comes as Nigerian football authorities pursue reforms aimed at restructuring the administration and governance of the country’s football.
The engagement with FIFA is expected to help align Nigeria’s reform process with international football governance standards while strengthening collaboration between the Federal Government, the NFF, FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Infantino’s comments signal FIFA’s willingness to remain engaged in the process as Nigeria seeks to build stronger institutions and create a more sustainable pathway for football development.
