Anxiety Mounts over NFF President's Whereabouts

Anxiety has gripped the football fraternity over the absence of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick from the activities of the federation in the past months.

Extra Time gathered reliably that Pinnick had since March travelled out of the country for medical treatments abroad which led to his not performing the function of presiding over the unveiling of Stephen Keshi on his return as Super Eagles gaffer.

NFF first Vice President, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi stood in for him even without the NFF telling Nigerians the whereabouts of the President which made him conspicuously missing at the august event covered by the world press.

However, few days later the NFF Assistant Director of Communications Ademola Olajire posted on the NFF website that the President has led a high powered NFF delegation to London to sign contract with sports kits manufacturing firm NIKE to kit the country’s national teams.

But palpable fears over the health of the NFF President engulfed soccer fans as the team he was said to have led to London for the contract signing has returned without Pinnick and several football stakeholders who have been visiting the NFF glasshouse headquarters in Abuja with the intention of meeting with him were disappointed.

Meanwhile, in a related development, Olajire has revealed that Pinnick will return to the country on Tuesday after a four-week medical trip to the United Kingdom.

He told Extra Time that a domestic accident four years ago has compelled the Delta State–born administrator to undergo regular ear surgery and the recent exercise has been as successful as previous ones. He further revealed that the NFF boss was advised by doctors that he must not, under any circumstances, travel by air within four weeks after the operation because that will be risking permanent damage to his ears.