SAN FRANCISCO, July 11, (THEWILL) – Gianni Infantino, President of world football governing body, FIFA, and the Secretary-General, Fatma Samoura, will be visiting Nigeria on July 24 on a two-day working visit.
The Italian-Swiss, who was elected FIFA President at an extraordinary general assembly in Zurich on 26th February 2016, confirmed the trip following a meeting with Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in Paris on Sunday.
A statement on the NFF website on Monday revealed that Infantino and Samoura will pay a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
“The FIFA President and Secretary-General will arrive in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja on July 24 on a two-day working visit to Nigeria,” the statement read.
“During the visit, Infantino and Samoura will pay a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.
“They will also hold meetings with a delegation of African FA presidents who are expected in Nigeria to join the NFF to receive the FIFA top shots and attend an evening session with Corporate Nigeria in Lagos.
“The duo will also meet with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State before watching the final of the NFF/ZENITH Bank Future Eagles Championship.
“A welcome dinner put together by the League Management Company (LMC) and also to be attended by members of the diplomatic corps is on the cards.”
THEWILL recalls that Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura, 54, was appointed FIFA Secretary General at the 66th FIFA Congress in Mexico City on 12th May.
The Senegalese, who has wide experience working with the United Nations in several countries, is the first woman to hold the position in FIFA’s 112 year history.
Story by David Oputah
