TheCable

Chris Giwa, factional president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Thursday said he would be the one to receive Gianni Infantino, FIFA president, when he arrives Nigeria on July 23.

Giwa spoke in Abuja at the inauguration of board members of the various Nigerian leagues.

He said that his decision was predicated on the rule of law which FIFA had sworn to adhere to.

“The issue of who invites or who did not invite the FIFA president does not arise,” he said.

“All we are waiting for is to receive him if he is coming into our country; we are people that abide by the rule of law and constitution.

“I am sure that the FIFA president also believes in the constitution of his own country and the constitution of FIFA too.

“So, once he comes in, the man known by the laws of the land I should be the one to receive him.”

The factional NFF president noted that his adherence to the rule of law necessitated the inauguration of the Nigerian leagues’ board members.

He noted that the visit of the FIFA boss to the country would boost the image of Nigerian football.

Twenty-five people were inaugurated for the country’s four major leagues.

The league is the Nigeria Football League Limited (NFLL), to be chaired by Sam-Sam Jaja, a former chairman of the Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), with Kasali Obanoyen as acting executive secretary of NFLL.

Others are the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), to be chaired by Debo Adeoye, while the Nigeria National League (NNL), would be chaired by Abdulazeez Mohammed.

The Nationwide League One (NLO) will be chaired by Isa Umar.