Why Tears For Amaju Pinnick's Loss is Scarce

Even as mixed reactions continue to trail Amaju Pinnick’s exit from the FIFA Council, former players from the past and present have waded in, to offer their iwn opinions about the development, its impact on Nigeria football.

The most surprising thing is that Pinnick lost his bid last Wednesday in Cairo, Egypt, to some candidates from relatively unknown football playing nations, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Souleman Hassan Waberi of Djibouti.

First to react is; former chairman of Gombe FC, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, who  advised Nigerian sports administrators to imbibe the culture of conducting themselves well while occupying public offices. Stating that, Amaju Pinnick was the architect of his own failure, so he  got what he planted because the same man denied many qualified people who desired to contest elections locally into the Board of the NFA and into some states football associations the opportunity.  Whi says the LAW OF KARMA isn't REAL?. Besides, Amaju Pinnick was not the best candidate to represent Nigeria in the first place. Of what benefit was his membership to Nigeria?

Paul Okoku, 1984 AFCON silver medalist spoke from his base in the United States of America saying; This is not about celebrating anyone’s downfall, Instead, Pinnick’s loss to relatively unknown candidates should serve as a wake-up call.  If Nigeria should ever secure another FIFA Council seat, it must go to someone who prioritises National Interest over personal ambition. Nigerian football cannot continue to be governed by policies that fail to reflect our realities.

If he had used his influence in FIFA to push for financial accountability within the NFF, maybe Nigerian coaches and players wouldn’t be compelled to beg for their salaries while administrators continue to prosper and eat FAT.

It was seen as a significant breakthrough for Nigerian football When Pinnick secured a spot on the FIFA Council because his presence offered a rare chance to shape policies at the highest level and push for reforms that could strengthen Nigeria’s footballing structures. However, the reverse is the case as there is little evidence to show that Nigerian football truly benefited from his tenure..

If Amaju Pinnick could not make any meaningful impact as President of NFF, what do you expect of him at such a highly professional office? His tenure speaks for itself. This was the position of Adegoke Adelabu, who played club football with IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan.

For Harrison Jalla, who has been championing true transparency in the administration of football in Nigeria, Amaju Pinnick’s four years in FIFA Council was a complete disaster because Nigeria  benefited nothing from his tenure. He personalised it as if it was his personal property with evident self-aggrandisement, forgetting that People like;  Patrice Mosepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, and Samuel Eto’o deserved their victories with the way  they are passionate about the development of football in their respective Countries.  Their work Speaks volume and they are loved in their countries and beyond.

Even though, Amaju Pinnick with his deep pocket jumped into mainstream African and world football politics, lack of  sufficient experience became a concern..

Meanwhile, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, hailed Amaju Pinnick’s resilience and  Spirit despite narrowly losing the FIFA Council seat election, stating that he was in Egypt along with the Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko as directed by President Bola Tinubu to give Amaju Pinnick all the necessary support.

We saw the politics  but despite this, he lost narrowly by one vote.

Meanwhile, the man in the middle of the whole thing, Amaju Pinnick declared after his defeat in Cairo that: I have only gratitude to give to the Almighty GOD, and to those who have helped me one way or the other. I am proud to have fought a good fight because I campaigned hard by travelling to more than 30 countries. , I was sure of close to 40 votes hours before the election but  politics happened., you know Football politics is fierce.

Story by Ibrozano Adams