The Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, has said that Nigeria has not decided on which candidate to support at the forthcoming CAF election in March.
CAF president, Issa Hayatou, is standing for an eighth successive term of office, but Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick has thrown his weight behind Ahmad Ahmad, the head of Madagascar’s FA, who is challenging Hayatou for the continent’s top football job.
Amaju is also vying for a seat on CAF’s Executive Committee.
A statement from Dalung’s media assistant, Nneka Anibeze, read, “The Ministry of Youth and Sports says it has received with dismay press statements and interviews granted by some officials of the Nigeria Football Federation committing Nigeria to supporting a candidate at the forthcoming Confederation of African Football election.” Dalung said the NFF president’s decision “was personal and does not represent the position of the people and the government of Nigeria.”
The Minister added that Nigeria as a major actor in CAF politics had always taken a position that would not only promote unity and international integration, but also take into consideration the interest of Africa and its sub-regional neighbours.
“As it is today, Nigeria has not taken a stand on the candidature of anybody contesting the (CAF) presidency and should not be misrepresented by anybody. Those aspiring into various offices of CAF are doing so as individuals and are advised not to use the name or image of Nigeria in order to boost their own political fortunes,” Dalung stated.
