Nigeria in anxious wait for Fifa

The country is set to receive news of the lifting of its suspension from the governing body after meeting requirements to withdraw a law suit that removed the Aminu Maigari board

By Shemmy Sholabomi
There was anxiety at the headquarters of the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday as officials sent final details of the resolution of the crisis in the organization to Fifa.
After the withdrawal of the law suit filed against the leadership of NFF by Mrs. Ebiakpo Baribote, there was expectation among officials as they awaited word from Fifa that the suspension would be lifted.
Goal gathered that although the case has been withdrawn from the High Court in Jos, Plateau State,
the documentation had been processed and sent to Fifa.
An official at the government House said that he expected FIFA to make public the lifting of the suspension on Friday.
“The documentation as regards the withdrawal of the case is being done as I speak [around 6.30pm]. The document will soon be sent to Fifa and I am sure Fifa will react accordingly latest Friday. We don’t need to travel to Switzerland to deliver the document, we only need to send it through e-mail,” the official told Goal.
At the NFF headquarters in Abuja, skeletal activities were ongoing as only a few officials were seen.
None of the sacked Aminu Maigari-led board members were around as acting general secretary Lawrence Katken was still in charge.
Other principal officers including Tunde Aderibigbe- special senior adviser to the acting general secretary, assistant director of communication, Demola Olajire, special assistant to the general secretary, Christian Emerua, Head of Protocol to the NFF Banabas Joro and Head of Competition Bola Oyeyode were all around to ensure work was done.
Meanwhile, there was rejoicing in the camp of the Nigeria U20 Women's team on Thursday when news filtered in that the law suit had been withdrawn.
The Falconets have been the first casualties of the Fifa suspension as their proposed trip to Canada to participate in next month's Fifa U20 Women's World Cup has been put on hold.
“We have been very worried, thinking our training will be in vain following the suspension of the country by Fifa. This news has given us hope, our doubts have been settled. Our prayers have been answered. We are happy right now we cannot wait to intensify our training," some of the players said.