The stage is set and the participants are ready. Already, the major foreign visitors expected in the country for the second NFF-Aiteo Football Awards, including FIFA Secretary General, Ms Fatma Samoura, have landed in Lagos for today’s show. Ms. Samoura arrived in Lagos on Saturday, ahead of more than 20 presidents of FIFA’s member associations from across the African continent for the awards billed to hold at the Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Samoura had lunch yesterday with some stakeholders in Nigerian football, including NFF top officials, led by its President, Amaju Pinnick, captains of industry and top sports journalists.
The Senegaleseborn former UN top official expressed her delight at being invited to Nigeria for the Awards and also for being considered worthy of a special award on the night. She will receive the NFF Order of Merit award.After the lunch in Ikoyi, Ms. Samoura was at the Campos Mini Stadium as a special guest in a football involving former Super Eagles’ stars and an All Stars team in honour of former Lagos Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who clocked 67 last week.
Earlier on Friday, NFF First Vice President and Chairman of the Awards Organizing Committee, Seyi Akinwunmi enumerated the programme for the awards, saying that everything had been done to ensure a successful outing.He listed the highlights of the awards to include a special honour to the 1994 set of Super Eagles – the squad forever referred to as the ‘Golden Generation’ for being the first to qualifying Nigeria for the FIFA Cup finals, winning the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia and reaching the Round of 16 at the Cup finals in America.
He added that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State would receive a Lifetime Achievement Award, while internationallyrenowned business mogul, politician and avid football financier and supporter, Chief Moshood Kasimawo Olawale Abiola, who died in 1998, will be honoured post –humously with the NFF Presidential Award.
Today’s ceremony will begin with a welcome remark by Akinwunmi after a performance by internationally –respected dancer Kaffy, before brief remarks by Pinnick and AITEO’s Deputy Managing Director, Mr. Francis Peters. Superstar musicians D’ Banj, Ricardo Banks and Timi Dakolo are among those to entertain on the night.Former Nigeria captain, Olusegun Odegbami, Super Falcons’ legend Maureen Madu, former Super Falcons’ coach Edwin Okon, former FIFA referee, Faith Irabor and Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League, Aisha Falode would be among the presenters at the event.
