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FIFA President Infantino Hails Women’s Football Advancement in Nigeria

FIFA President Gianni Infantino gestures as he speaks during a public debate with members of the Association of International Sports Press (AIPS) as part of its annual congress on February 3, 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. (Photo by Attila KISBENEDEK / AFP)

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, has hailed the sport’s uniting qualities, the power of development and the advancement of women’s football during a two-day visit to Nigeria.

According to Infantino, exposure to high-level competition is the key to evolution for the Super Falcons, Super Eagles and the global game as a whole.

Infantino attended the Aisha Buhari Cup’s opening match in Lagos before flying to Abuja, where he met with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari; First Lady Aisha Buhari; Minister for Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare; and a delegation from the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), which was accompanied by FIFA Vice-President and CAF President Patrice Motsepe.

“When I last came to Nigeria a few years ago, we were discussing what FIFA can do for Africa,” said President Infantino. “We are not here to take, we are here to give and to work together as partners.

“Since then, we have multiplied investments in African football by five. We have doubled the number of African teams going to the FIFA World Cup as of 2026 and the FIFA Women’s World Cup as well. We need to give opportunities, hope and chances because it’s only when you play against the best that you can improve and show that you are better than them.”

Infantino recalled the world-class ability of Nigerian greats as role models inspiring a continent as well as players across the member association. After seeing the Nigerian women defeat Mali in the opening match of the Aisha Buhari Cup, he also hoped to add female players to a long list of national football heroes, and praised NFF President – and FIFA Council member – Amaju Melvin Pinnick for his great work to use the sport’s platform as a vehicle for unity.

“Nigeria is there to lead, in Africa and also the world. We have seen the projects that you are putting in place [here] and you can help us to pass on the message that football is about unity and bringing people together. When football is played, there are no divisions in a nation, on a continent and in the world.

“That is the power of football. Thank you President Pinnick for all that you are doing to spread the message that we need more participation, more inclusion and more unity in the world because together, we are stronger.”

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