FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a “fan of football”.
Infantino, 48, paid a courtesy visit to Buhari on Monday as part of his two-day working visit to Nigeria.
Both presidents had a tête-à-tête in which Buhari outlined his plans for the country’s football to the admiration of his FIFA counterpart who was utterly impressed.
“As far as I’m concerned, I see the president of the country (Nigeria) as a fan of football who wants to help the football association in terms of support,” the Swiss-born Italian stated.
“And I think together we can help when it comes to finances in particular. FIFA is increasing financial support and investment for national associations.
“Instead of 300 or 400 million dollars given till now, we have increased it to 1.3 to 1.5 billion dollars for each association every year compared to before. This will be four times more than what is coming every year in the past.”
The world football supremo added his voice to the internal crisis in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) – but however revealed that the body has so far done well in terms of development.
“When it comes to Nigeria football, let me say one thing that it is the same everywhere,” Infantino added.
“Everyone is critical and everyone is criticising when result is not there and many other issues.
“We can judge the work of a football federation based on whether the ball hit the post or enters into the goal. This is not the measure that we need to use in judging the federation.
“You need to judge it on the work they are doing in the development of football. Don’t forget one thing that you’re world champions at the U17. There are not many countries in the world which are world champions. And you should be proud of it.”
