15th June, 2014
The delegation of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, to this year’s FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil landed in Sao Paulo on Saturday will also fly to Curitiba for Nigeria’s opening session with Iran.
Led by Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama, the delegation traveled aboard an Air Asia Airbus 340 plane that departed Lagos on Saturday morning and landed in Campinas, outside Sao Paulo in the afternoon.
It was received by NFF’s Marketing Director, Adama Idris and members of the local organising committee of the FIFA World Cup.
Also on board were members of NFF Executive Committee Muazu Suleyman, Shehu Adamu, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Ayodeji Tinubu, Dilichukwu Onyedinma, Yusuf Ahmed, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, Effiong Johnson and Ahmad Muazu.
Director of Technical Department, Emmanuel Ikpeme led the senior staff, with Chairmen of state’s Football Associations and a number of state’s FA secretaries also joined by a few officials of the National Sports Commission and other stakeholders.
There were former national coaches, Christian Chukwu, Amodu Shaibu and James Peters. Others are Bitrus Bewarang, referees president Ahmed Maude and former WAFU president Jonathan Ogufere.
Former NFF board members Abubakar Ladan and Peter Singabele, former Eagles’ stars Victor Ikpeba and Garba Lawal, members of the League Management Company, some club chairmen and a couple of media representatives were also on the flight.
Also on Saturday, Director General of the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Dr (Mrs) Sally Mbanefo arrived in Brazil in company with a large contingent of members of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club.
The team traveled aboard an Ethiopian Airline flight from Addis Ababa through Lome.
This group will also join the NFF delegation in Curitiba on Monday, and with a large community of Nigerians resident here in Brazil, will all ensure a strong presence for Nigeria in the stands.