NFF Sets Up Special COVID-19 Task Force For Sports Men And Women

• Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau heads the task force
• Punitive actions to be taken against football clubs and/or individuals found to have contravened the COVID-19 Protocols

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has put in place a special COVID-19 task force to the safety of sportsmen and women in the soccer sector. The task force is charged with the responsibility of working with the various League bodies to monitor compliance with the COVID-19 protocols by all football clubs at all levels of the Leagues, among other responsibilities.

Chairman of the NFF Security Committee and Member of the Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN), Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau heads the task force, which has eminent medical practitioners like Dr Kweku Tandoh, Dr Nekwu Okolugbo, Dr Rotimi Ogungbe and Dr Babatunde Akinbinu as members. Chairman of the Rivers State Football Association and former Member of the NFF Executive Committee, Barrister Chris Green, is also a member of the task force that will recommend an effective and efficient way of verifying COVID-19 test reports submitted by all football clubs and officials at League venues.

Membership of the Task Force: Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Chairman); Barrister Chris Green (Member); Dr Kweku Tandoh (Member); Dr Rotimi Ogungbe (Member); Dr Nekwu Okolugbo (Member); Dr Babatunde Akinbinu (Member); Mohammed Mala Zanna (Member); Bello Abubakar Sokoto (Member); Hassan Abdullahi Garo (Member); Mr Sunday Longbap (Member); Sir E. C. Chukwuemeka (Member); Mrs Catherine Opara (Member); Alhaji Salihu Abubakar (Member); Ms Modupe Shabi (Member); Mallam Mohammed Ameenu (Secretary).

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Part of the terms of reference guiding the working of the task force includes ensuring all football clubs in all the various leagues have received the COVID-19 Protocols and Guidelines for the re-opening of contact sports developed by the FMYSD in collaboration with the PTF on COVID-19 and the NCDC. To work with the various League Bodies, to monitor compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols by all the football clubs at all leagues levels. To put in place an effective monitoring system to ensure compliance with COVID-19 Protocols at all League match venues. It is also expected to also
recommend an effective and efficient way of verifying COVID-19 Test reports submitted by all the football clubs and officials at all the league’s venues, recommend ways of ensuring the safety and well-being of players, officials and spectators at all match venues in line with the COVID-19 Protocols, come up with various ways and means that the NFF and the League Bodies can support the football clubs in ensuring compliance with the COVID-19 Protocols.

Other terms include recommending to the NFF, punitive actions to be taken against football clubs and/or individuals found to have contravened the COVID-19 Protocols, to regularly monitor the COVID-19 situation in the country and advise the NFF accordingly with regards to further necessary action.

The Committee will provide a report every two weeks to the NFF Football Committee and the NFF Medical Committee through the Office of the NFF General Secretary.