TheNewsGuru

Tag: pinnick

  • Ex-NFF president, Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA council seat

    Ex-NFF president, Amaju Pinnick loses FIFA council seat

    Former president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has failed in his bid for re-election into the FIFA Council, missing out by just one vote.

    The two-term president of NFF missed out by just one vote.

    At the Confederation of African Football General Assembly in Cairo on Wednesday, Djibouti’s Souleiman Waberi secured the last available seat with 29 votes, edging out Pinnick, who managed 28.

    Morocco’s Fouzi Lekjaa topped the election with 49 votes, while Egypt’s Hani Rida and Niger’s Djibrilla Hamidou each polled 35 votes. Mauritania’s Ahmed Yahya and Waberi also secured their places with 29 votes apiece.

    The outcome marks a setback for Pinnick, who had served on FIFA’s highest decision-making body since 2021 and was hoping to extend his tenure.

    In the women’s category, Kanizat Ibrahim from Comoros clinched the seat with 30 votes, outpacing Lydia Nsekera (13 votes) and Isha Johansen (7 votes).

  • My lowest moment since I was born – Pinnick reveals

    My lowest moment since I was born – Pinnick reveals

    Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick has revealed that the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar is the lowest moment of his life.

    The Black Stars of Ghana played 1-1 against Nigeria in Abuja after a goalless draw in Kumasi to qualify for the tournament.

    Pinnick who was still in charge of the NFF when Ghana knocked out Nigeria said he regrets how things turned out.

    “Quite at the beginning I felt very humbled, I felt very bad because it’s not just about me or the country, a lot of people were concerned that Nigeria was not there. From the FIFA president to the CAF president, most of my colleagues in the council were asking where are the Super Eagles?” Pinnick told Channels Television in Qatar.

    “But of course, you also understand that it is football. It can tilt towards any direction, but trust me that moment in March was my lowest moment since I was born,” Pinnick said.

    Pinnick who is now a FIFA Executive Council member insisted that the NFF tried everything humanly, materially, and spiritually possible for the team to qualify for the tournament adding that nobody wanted Nigeria to make it to Qatar more than he did.

    Pinnick said he and the NFF leadership decided to re-engineer the youth development programme to ensure that the country’s youth teams qualify for every tournament.

  • NFF election: Court adjourns suit against Sports Minister, Amaju Pinnick

    NFF election: Court adjourns suit against Sports Minister, Amaju Pinnick

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, has fixed Feb. 6 for the mention of a suit filed against the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, and former President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick.

    The matter, which was scheduled for Monday, could not go on, hence, counsel to the parties in the suit agreed on the new date.

    In the motion marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2021, Harrison Jalla, Chief Victor Rumson Baribote, Austin Popo, and National Association of Nigerian Footballers (NANF) had sued the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Pinnick and the minister 1st to 3rd defendants respectively.

    In the motion dated and field on Sept. 2, the claimants sought an interim order restraining the defendants, his agent, employees, staff, officials or electoral committee from organising or conducting any election into any executive office of the NFF pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

    In the affidavit in support of the motion deposed to by Fayenengigha Jacob,  a lawyer in the chamber of Ukpong, he said that one of the complaints in the matter was the undemocratic manner in which the NFF was being constituted resulting in depriving the majority of the stakeholders and members of the NFF from having a say or contributing to the development of football in Nigeria.

    According to him, the glory of Nigeria football has nosedived as a result of its undemocratic manner of the leadership of the said body.

    Jacob said while the matter was still pending in court the defendants had gone ahead to announce and purportedly try to organise and conduct an election of the said body on Sept. 30 in Edo.

    He said the substance of the matter would be defeated should the said election slated for September goes ahead without hearing of the pending motions and substantive matter.

    After lawyer to the claimants, Celsus Ukpong, moved the ex-parte motion on Sept. 15, Justice Inyang Ekwo restrained the minister and Mr Pinnick from conducting the NFF executive election scheduled for Sept. 30 in Edo.

    Justice Ekwo had ordered them or any person, acting on their instruction, to maintain a status quo pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction, and fixed Oct. 31 for hearing.

    But the NFF filed an appeal against the court order.

    In the notice of appeal marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/1376/2021 dated Sept. 27 and filed Sept. 28, the NFF (the appellant)’s counsel, Patrick Mekako, prayed the court to set aside its earlier order.

    Against this backdrop, the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja, on Sept  29, vacated the lower court order restraining the conduct of the NFF election scheduled for Sept. 30 in Edo.

    Mr Ibrahim  Gusau emerged as the new president of the NFF following the conduct of the election on Sept. 30 in Benin City, Edo.

    Gusau, a member of CAF Organising Committee and Chairman, Football Associations chairmen, was said to have garnered 39 votes to succeed Amaju Pinnick.

  • I won’t run for another term as NFF president – Pinnick gives reason

    I won’t run for another term as NFF president – Pinnick gives reason

    The president of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Amaju Pinnick has made it clear that he won’t be running for a third term in office due to family pressure.

    Recall that Pinnick has come under heavy criticisms to resign as NFF President after the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

    In an interview with ARISE TV on Friday, the former Delta State Sports administrator stated that his time in the Glass House has taken a toll on his relationship with his family.

    He said that he will step aside after his tenure comes to an end later this year.

    “I’m eligible to run based on the status. Do I want to run ?, It’s a no-no, my family is very key to me, they said it’s taking a toll on me and the family.

    “They believed that I’ve done my best and it’s time to move on . It’s a regrettable decision, but it’s the best,” Pinnick said

  • I contacted Mourinho for Super Eagles job – Pinnick

    I contacted Mourinho for Super Eagles job – Pinnick

    The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, president, Amaju Pinnick revealed he held talks with Roma manager, Jose Mourinho, in its search to replace Gernot Rohr as Super Eagles coach.

    Pinnick stated this during a media parley with sports journalists in Lagos.

    He also hinted that the interim coach of the team Austin Eguavoen might not take the squad to the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which begins January 9, 2022 in Cameroon as the federation may announce the new coach in “within the next week or so.”

    The NFF boss added that the emphasis on the new coach is discipline.

    He said: “The emphasis on the new coach is discipline. We will look at his antecedents on discipline.

    “Secondly, we will also look at how hungry he is to win trophies because if they are hungry it supersedes so many things and if he wants to win he will instil discipline. We will look at all these things but I cannot make a pronouncement emphatically because I will be undermining my executive committee.

    “So, until my executive committee comes out within the next week or so to say this is the name because the technical committee has to bring their presentation to the executive committee. It is going to be a seamless movement to the current team headed by Eguavoen.

    “But we have spoken to three top coaches and Peseiro, whose name has been going around, is one of the coaches and I can tell you he is a top coach.”

    He added, “We also talked to Mladen (Krstajic) but after talking to him he got a job with a top club in Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv. You can see these are coaches that are hungry and ready to take Nigeria as a home; they are people that we know are ready to face the challenge from the 200 million Nigerians.

    “They are coaches who the players cannot be bigger than and I believe we are doing everything we can and that’s why we interface with the ministry on every level.

    “Of course Mourinho, I am not going to tell you we didn’t talk to Mourinho because we did and the (sports) minister also talked to Mourinho and there is nothing wrong with it.”

    Pinnick refused to mention the coach who will manage the Eagles at the AFCON but noted that the new coach must guarantee to win the 2022 Nations Cup.

    He added, “If the coach will give us the Nations Cup, he will be drafted in immediately. I am not going to tell you that it will be later, because of what essence is the recruitment? If the executive committee says yes and we are ready, what are we waiting for?

    “When I spoke with one of the coaches on Tuesday, he was already scouting our players and was telling me things I didn’t even know about our players. It was quite impressive and he told me the strength of each player and he took me off guard. We are not going to experiment and if he can win the Nations Cup, no problem.”

  • Odion Ighalo set for Super Eagles return

    Odion Ighalo set for Super Eagles return

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, has revealed Al Shabab striker, Odion Ighalo is likely to return to the Nigerian national team.

    TheNewsGuru reports that Ighalo announced his retirement in 2019, after he emerged top scorer at the Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

    According to Amaju Pinnick who spoke with the striker about a possible return said, “I had a long conversation with Odion Ighalo, personally I believe we need experience in our attack to combine with our energetic youthful Osimhen, Onuachu, Kelechi et al.

    “Odion’s body language is very positive. We are also in touch with his agents and club.

    “The vibe going into these last two games and indeed Afcon is very good,” Pinnick wrote on Instagram.

  • ‘Don’t join mushroom clubs in Europe’- Pinnick warns NPFL players

    ‘Don’t join mushroom clubs in Europe’- Pinnick warns NPFL players

    NFF president Amaju Pinnick has appealed to players in the Nigeria Professional Football League to stop moving to obscure leagues in Europe.

    In a bid to better their lives, players in the Nigerian top-flight have moved to countries like Vietnam, India, Uzbeskistan and other lesser known European countries.

    The careers of some of them have been truncated by these wrong choices.

    Pinnick has however promised to help the players join top clubs in Europe.

    “If you’re living in Nigeria, you’re going to a top club. Villarreal, Valencia, Lille, and all those proud footballing clubs and not to one mushroom club that you’re better off,” he said as quoted by Brila.net.
    “I want to expose you, people, to the highest levels so when you’re going to a foreign club, and we won’t allow any agent take you to countries like Cyprus, Belarus, etc., no, never we won’t allow it and I will make sure no transfer is issued on situations like that.”

  • Pinnick’s position in FIFA beneficial for Nigeria’s football dev’t – Buhari

    Pinnick’s position in FIFA beneficial for Nigeria’s football dev’t – Buhari

    President Muhamamdu Buhari says membership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Pinnick into the FIFA Council will provide benefits that will lead to the advancement of football in Africa.

    The president stated this on Friday in Abuja, when he had an audience with the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare and Pinnick, at the State House.

    He, once again, congratulated the NFF boss on his election victory into the strategic body that sets the vision for global football, assuring him of Nigeria’s support in his new position.

    “The position on the Council of the world’s football governing body, FIFA, comes at a time when Nigeria is determined to turn the fortunes of her sports development around through better infrastructure, more investment both public and private government incentives.

    “Without prejudice to the continental nature of your assignment at the Council, I urge you to use your position to ensure Nigeria’s sporting image receives a boost.

    “I know this position will assist Nigeria get technical and financial support from FIFA; and your position should create a platform for other Nigerians to enter into the FIFA family and other international Sports Federations,’’ he said.

    While emphasising his belief in the potential of sports to promote peace, unity, enhance good health and stimulate the economy, Buhari said: ‘‘One of the greatest sports is football and Nigeria is a great football nation.

    ”I am myself a keen follower of football.’’

    On his vision for Nigerian football, the President told the minister and the NFF President:

    ‘‘I want to see Nigeria’s football develop and move in a more dynamic trajectory from football administration to youth and grassroots football, talent hunt and use of Nigeria’s home based talents.

    ‘‘Nigeria also needs a more privatized and better organised football regime that can rival others in Europe and America,’’ he said.

    The president, therefore, urged the NFF to work with the Sport ministry and football stakeholders to provide Nigeria with a 10-year Football Master Plan that would ensure youth football development, in line with FIFA’s commitment.

    He urged corporate organisations to invest in sports development, and pledged his administration’s commitment to turn sports into business.

    He added that the expected reviewed Sport Industry Policy ‘‘will be the catalyst that turns football activities associated with it into key contributors to the national economy.’’

    In his remarks, Dare thanked the President for his support for sports development in the country, and for approving the reclassification of sports as business, instead of mere recreation.

    He promised that a new draft policy on the sports industry was almost ready, as well as a 10-year master plan for football at all levels.

    The new FIFA Council member, Pinnick, equally lauded President Buhari for his support for football, saying: ‘‘without you, I couldn’t have won election into the FIFA Council. Your name is highly respected across the continent.’’

    Pinnick pledged to be a worthy Ambassador of the country, adding ‘‘I will use the office to build Nigerian football, in conjunction with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development.’’

    He was on March 12, elected into the FIFA Council after a landslide victory, defeating Malawian FA President Walter Nyamilandu by 43 votes to eight at the CAF General Assembly held in Rabat, Morocco.

    He becomes the third Nigerian elected into the prestigious council after Oyo Orok Oyo (1980-1988) and Amos Adamu (2006-2010).

  • Pinnick hints on having football fans back in stadiums

    Pinnick hints on having football fans back in stadiums

    Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has assured that football fans in Nigeria would soon be allowed back into the stadiums to support their teams.
    Pinnick gave the assurance while speaking with journalists at the Osogbo Township Stadium on Thursday during a one-day working visit and inspection of football facilities and academies in the state.
    The NFF president said: “The AITEO Cup finals which is coming up in the next three to four weeks will have 50 percent of fans allowed into the stadiums.
    “We have to, however, liaise with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health to ensure the safety of our fans.”
    Speaking on sports development drive in Osun, Pinnick said he was impressed with the sports academy he visited in Ileogbo, describing it as a novel idea in sub-Saharan Africa.
    “Anything about football development is welcome by the football federation and what we have seen in Osun is very new, and something very novel.”
    He, however, decried the state of the Osogbo Township Stadium’s football pitch, saying the grass was not in line with NFF club licensing standard.
    “We need to talk to the state Football Association (FA) and the state government to re-grass the pitch, because this one is not in line with club licensing.
    “The good news, however is that we are here and we will deal with all these issues,” the NFF President added.
    The NFF boss visited Lanreleke Sports Academy in Ileogbo, the proposed mini-stadium Sites in Iragbiji and Ile-Ife and the Osogbo Township Stadium.
  • Gov. Diri hails Pinnick’s election into FIFA council

    Gov. Diri hails Pinnick’s election into FIFA council

    Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa has applauded the emergence of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, into the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) council.

    Diri in a congratulatory message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Daniel Alabrah, on Thursday in Yenagoa, described the election as another positive development for Nigeria on the global scale.

    The governor said with Pinnick, Nigeria had put its best foot forward to occupythe top seat in the global football community.

    According to him, the NFF president has displayed a remarkable passion for football development in Nigeria since his assumption of office.

    The governor said that he was not surprised that Pinnick had continued to excel as a football administrator.

    Diri, also a former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Bayelsa, observed that Pinnick’s dedication had earned him a deserved recognition and elevation, urging him not to rest on his laurels.
    “Pinnick has shown remarkable passion for football development, not only in Nigeria but also, at the global level.

    “I, therefore, congratulate him and Nigeria, which put its best foot forward to ensure that he was elected into the FIFA council.

    “It is a deserved call to further service towards football development in Nigeria, Africa and on the global level.” Diri stated.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pinnick was, on Saturday, elected as member of FIFA council at the 43rd CAF Ordinary and Elective General Assembly in Rabat, Morocco.