•Differences ‘irreconcilable’, says Pinnick
Paul Erewuba
The Super Eagles of Nigeria could be cheered at the Russia 2018 World Cup by two warring factions of the supporters club.
This is so, after Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick admitted in a chat that the supporters club fans are divided by ‘irreconcilable differences’.
“The supporters club is divided by irreconcilable differences,” Pinnick said in apparent surrender.
“I cannot take sides in this problem, as long as the various groups are not supporting a rival team and are throwing their full weight behind the Eagles in Russia, the NFF will go with this division”, he stated.
One of the factions is led by Rafiu Ladipo, while the other group of supporters is led by Vincent Okumagba.
Pinnick, however, argued that even top clubs around the world have various groups supporting them.
And the two factional leaders have told whoeveer cares to listen that they would be in Russia to cheer the Super Eagles to victory.
It would be recalled that a long running power tussle is behind the division. While Ladipo insists that an election that was inclusive ushered in a new leader, Okumagba refused to agree, stating that the election was illegally conducted.
Speaking to SportingSun, Ladipo said Okumagba is being economical with the truth, adding that the election that ushered in the new chairman of the Supporters Club was conducted in Lagos by eminent Nigerians and stakeholders.