There is no separating Football and politics in this side of the world.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung has come out to say that Nigeria would support the candidature of Issa Hayatou in the upcoming election for the Confederation of Africa Football Presidency.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, the minister said support the Cameroonian was in the best interest of the country.
“For the presidency of CAF, when I invited them, I told them Nigeria’s position is to vote in favor of her national interest, and not too long ago, the Federal Government made categorically clear her position.
“And the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria is that, in view of the fact that Cameroon has been a major key player in the war against insurgency and the involvement of Cameroon in fighting for the stability of Nigeria, it will be out of the foreign policy context of Nigeria to abandon Cameroon.
“And the acting president directed which I have communicated appropriately, that if the only vote that will come to Hayatou will be from Nigeria, Nigerians should stand with Hayatou.
“That it is outside our foreign policy, because we are not looking at football, but we are looking at the country Nigeria, what does Nigeria stand to benefit if it moves to the opposite direction?"- the minister said.
Dalung also said that the country was in full support of Nigeria Football Federation’s President, Amaju Pinnick’s interest to contest for a CAF executive position in the elections.
It is an interesting one to see if the NFF would go against the political sphere with Amaju Pinnick reportedly being against Hayatou returning to seat and backing Madagascar's FA chairman Ahmad.
African football goes to the polls tomorrow to choose a new CAF president.
Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung has come out to say that Nigeria would support the candidature of Issa Hayatou in the upcoming election for the Confederation of Africa Football Presidency.
Speaking to newsmen on Monday in Abuja, the minister said support the Cameroonian was in the best interest of the country.
“For the presidency of CAF, when I invited them, I told them Nigeria’s position is to vote in favor of her national interest, and not too long ago, the Federal Government made categorically clear her position.
“And the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria is that, in view of the fact that Cameroon has been a major key player in the war against insurgency and the involvement of Cameroon in fighting for the stability of Nigeria, it will be out of the foreign policy context of Nigeria to abandon Cameroon.
“And the acting president directed which I have communicated appropriately, that if the only vote that will come to Hayatou will be from Nigeria, Nigerians should stand with Hayatou.
“That it is outside our foreign policy, because we are not looking at football, but we are looking at the country Nigeria, what does Nigeria stand to benefit if it moves to the opposite direction?"- the minister said.
Dalung also said that the country was in full support of Nigeria Football Federation’s President, Amaju Pinnick’s interest to contest for a CAF executive position in the elections.
It is an interesting one to see if the NFF would go against the political sphere with Amaju Pinnick reportedly being against Hayatou returning to seat and backing Madagascar's FA chairman Ahmad.
African football goes to the polls tomorrow to choose a new CAF president.
This post first appeared on Wolexis Sports Blog | Nigeria's Online Sports Mag, please read the originial post: here
