Chairman of the Nationwide Sports activities Fee, Shehu Dikko, has reiterated that Nigeria’s pending case earlier than FIFA relies strictly on alleged breaches of guidelines and rules within the World Cup qualification course of, and never on political affect or sentiment.
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Talking after a high-level assembly with Bola Tinubu on the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Dikko clarified that the Nigeria Soccer Federation had formally submitted a criticism to FIFA lengthy earlier than the playoff matches had been concluded.
In accordance with him, the matter is now firmly within the fingers of FIFA’s unbiased disciplinary and ethics committees, not the FIFA govt committee.
Dikko defined that Nigeria’s method was procedural and evidence-based, stressing that the nation didn’t wait till outcomes went in opposition to it earlier than elevating issues.
He revealed that the NFF documented what it believes had been a number of violations of FIFA statutes and rules and adopted due course of in submitting the criticism.
“This matter is just not being dealt with by FIFA’s govt committee or influenced by politics,” Dikko stated. “It’s earlier than FIFA’s unbiased disciplinary and ethics committees, which function individually.
Nigeria adopted the best course of and submitted documented breaches even earlier than the playoff matches.”
The NSC chairman additionally used the chance to temporary the President on the Fee’s efficiency in 2025 and description its strategic plans for 2026, noting that governance, transparency and adherence to guidelines stay central to Nigeria’s sports activities coverage.
Whereas acknowledging that Nigeria has already shifted focus to future competitions, Dikko maintained that the nation stays hopeful that FIFA will overview the case strictly on its deserves.
He urged Nigerians to train endurance and keep away from hypothesis, stressing that no matter choice is reached have to be revered as a part of the worldwide soccer governance framework.
“We’re assured that the best processes had been adopted,” he added. “The ultimate final result is for FIFA to determine, based mostly purely on the principles.”
