Former NFF President, Amaju Pinnick Sweet talks Nigerians

If there is one thing that can’t be taken away from Nigeria Football Federation’s president, Amaju Pinnick, it’s his oratory prowess to smooth talk audiences and play the necessary politics with the minds of the Nigerian fan base.

The former NFF President was part of the FIFA footballing elites that were present in the Qatar tournament, recently captured amongst elites such as Ronaldo Nazario, and the FIFA president in Portugal’s triumph against Uruguay.

Acknowledging the tense feelings of Nigerians towards the inability of the Super Eagles to perform at the tournament, Amaju Pinnick, expressed to his compatriots his regret for the Super Eagles’ inability to advance to the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup.

The FIFA World Cup 2022 is still going on, and some teams have advanced to the Round of 16 phases.

Remember that the Super Eagles drew 1-1 with their bitter rivals Ghana in Abuja a few months ago, failing to earn a spot in Qatar 2022 for the first time since 2006.

Amaju Pinnick, who is still in Qatar, suggested on Thursday that Nigeria might have hosted this year’s World Cup and added that he took blame for the Super Eagles’ exclusion from the international football festival.

“This [Qatar 2022] could have been Nigeria’s World Cup. Osimhen would have been like what Maradona was in 1986 in that World Cup,” Pinnick said.

“Like I told the African teams [like Senegal and Morocco], we want an African team to win it [ the World Cup], but if you people don’t, Nigeria will be the first to win it, maybe in the next World Cup.

“When they are playing on the field, I take them as Nigerian. And again, I will apologize to Nigerians and I take responsibility as the then President of the Federation, but I believe we have gone beyond that now.”

He added:

“Let us enjoy the World Cup. Qatar has given us a wonderful spectacle to behold, and I believe we should enjoy it. I am a proud Nigerian and am happy to be here to represent the country with dignity at any time.”