24th December, 2014
The Association of Professional Footballers of Nigeria (APFON) had their membership in FIFPRO scaled up in Douala, Cameroun on 18 December during a meeting with FIFPRO Africa Division officials led by its Stephane Burchkalter.
In a statement released by the Executive Secretary of APFON, Austin Popo, the meeting with the FIFPRO Africa division officials went well as concrete issues were resolved to facilitate APFON’s affiliation with FIFPRO.
The delegation led by Dahiru Sadi and Popo, APFON’s Executive Secretary were well received as they were informed that the meeting is conveyed based on the board’s recommendation to set up a special committee to look at the situation in Nigeria following series of reports received by the General Secretary on the progress made by APFON.
He further reemphasized the importance of Nigeria in the development of Football in Africa and by extension its pivotal role in FIFPRO. He commended the progress made so far by APFON.
He said the committee’s job is to find out the current situation in APFON regarding the areas such as recognition of APFON by the national association and Nigerian league body and relationship with the football family, including the players of the leagues and national teams and the level of participation of players in the union’s activities, database of players, as well as financial situation amongst others issues.
The APFON delegation provided answers both orally and in documented forms, including highlights of video recording of the 5th APFON Annual General Assembly, to all the issues and questions raised. These were commended by the FIFPRO delegation.
As part of FIFPRO Africa Division’s effort in fast-tracking the development of Players Union in Africa, the FIFPRO delegation through its Head of Communication Stephane Saint Raymond presented a documentary to the APFON delegation showing key areas of strategic development plans and work carried out by the Division; such as the Declaration of Faith, MOU with CAF and the “ Winning in Africa with African Footballers” amongst many others.
The FIFPRO team informed the APFON delegation of its satisfaction with its progress, the report of the meeting he said, will be discussed in FIFPRO Africa Division board meeting in February 2015 in Morocco, after which APFON will be invited to its Congress in Namibia in June 2015 where a decision will be taken to communicate the admission of APFON as an observer status to FIFPRO headquarters.