KEIR RADNEDGE REPORTS: Fatma Samoura’s first experience of the hoop-la which surrounds FIFA and the presidency may come next month when Gianni Infantino visits Nigeria.

Samoura, whose surprise appointment as the world football federation’s new secretary-general was sprung on FIFA Congress by Infantino on Friday, is currently working out her term as a United Nations co-ordinator in Nigeria.

She is not expected to complete her UN duties until the middle of June.

In the meantime the Nigeria Football Federation has announced that Infantino will visit the country shortly after what the NFF described as “”robust and illuminating sessions with the leadership [of the NFF] at the FIFA Congress.”

Courtesy call

NFF chief Amaju Pinnick has said Infantino will pay a courtesy call on President Muhammadu Buhari, attend the finals of the Future Eagles Championship finals as well as meet business leaders at Corporate Nigeria and meet a nunber of African national association leaders.

Pinnick also hopes that Infantino can use his visit to help resolve a number of domestic governance problems.

He said: “The FIFA president says Nigeria is a big country and a massive footballing nation that should help with the new FIFA leadership’s drive to truly develop the game. He is excited about our various capacity–building and youth development programmes and that is why he is coming to watch the finals.

“He sees a lot of potential and dynamism in the current NFF leadership and says he would love to work with the NFF for the general development of the game.”

Pinnick did not mention the coincidence of the Samoura appointment.

###########