The Guild of Sports Editors yesterday congratulated members of the newly-elected Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) board over their victory at the federation’s elective congress held in Warri last week.

The body hoped the polls would signal the end of the crisis that has dogged the country’s football since the Super Eagles’ ouster from the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

In a release signed by the President of the Guild, Tony Ubani, the sports editors also thanked the stakeholders in Nigerian sports, including President Goodluck Jonathan, Sports Minister, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, Secretary to the Federal Government, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, as well as members of the National Assembly for their roles in ensuring the congress in Warri was  peaceful.

“We are highly impressed by the caliber of people on the new NFF board, led by Amaju Pinnick and we hope they will bring their wealth of experience in the private sector to bear on Nigerian football.

“The elections are just the beginning of the job of repositioning Nigerian football and not an end in itself. We, therefore,  hope that the new board members will rise to the challenge of lifting the country’s game to its right position in the comity of the world’s best footballing nations,” Ubani said.

The Guild of Sports Editors also urged all aggrieved members of the football family to join hands in rebuilding the fractured football house since all of them want a bright future for the game.

Ubani added: “While we urge the new President of NFF, Amaju Pinnick, to try to bring all the warring parties back to the fold, we plead with Ambassador Chris Giwa, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote and  others, who feel offended in one way or the other, to embrace peace as that is the only way our game can grow.”