FIFA Council: Stakeholders split over push for govt to support Pinnick’s re-election

Moves to make Federal Government support the re-election campaign of former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, into the FIFA Council may have created a sharp division among stakeholders in the football family.

Pinnick was elected into the FIFA Council in Rabat, Morocco, in 2021, with support of some top Nigerian football administrators who were sympathetic to his course. He defeated Malawian FA boss, Walter Nyamilandu, by 43 votes to eight during the CAF General Assembly, a victory that was made possible following spate of withdrawals by some notable candidates.

Pinnick is seeking re-election at this year’s polls in Bangkok, Thailand on May 30, and opinions are divided among stakeholders.

Former chairman of Bayelsa United FC and ex-chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Barrister Victor Baribote, told The Guardian in a telephone chat that the first thing that would come to mind is what are the benefits that Pinnick’s membership of FIFA has brought to Nigeria?

“I strongly believe the answer to that will take care of whether or not he deserves government support for his re-election.”

Speaking further, Baribote said: “Those facts are not within my knowledge that is the gains of football administration to Nigeria as per his membership of FIFA Council non I can recollect. In that spirit, I will be tempted to say that his membership in FIFA Council was more of personal upliftment than the gains of football administration to Nigeria, unless there are other facts that are not known to me. Again what are his achievements as President of Nigeria football?”

Former International, Adegoke Adelabu, a sports scientist, said: “Pinnick’s antecedents should speak for him if he had done well to deserve re-election. But knowing who we are in the football community, anything is possible. Personally, I would prefer for him to be re-elected as a Nigerian. Sooner or later his tenure will expire and we will be back to square one as usual.”

For Christopher Ikenne, a football analyst, who spoke on a radio sports programme monitored in Lagos, yesterday, Pinnick’s re-election should be his personal business. “I don’t really know why some people should drag our government into Pinnick’s re-election into FIFA Council. One good turn deserves another. I have not seen any meaningful thing Pinnick’s membership of FIFA Council has brought to Nigeria. I remember FIFA gave Nigeria two Goal Projects under his administration as NFF President. Till now, I don’t know what has happened to those projects. Even at that, those projects came when he was NFF President. I have not seen nor heard of any other thing Pinnick did as a member of FIFA Council. He should carry his cross all alone,” Ikenne stated.

However, the Managing Director of Nilayo Sports Management Limited, Bukola Olopade, feels Pinnick should be supported. He called on the Federal government and football stakeholders across the country to support his bid for re-election into the FIFA council.

Olopade said that Nigerian football ecosystem stands to gain from his re-election, adding that it is important for the Nigerian government and football Stakeholders to throw their weight behind Pinnick.

Speaking with The Guardian on phone, yesterday, Pinnick said: “I am not desperate to return to FIFA Council and I don’t need the support of anyone to win.”