NFF President, Pinnick Officially Bows out, Urges Falconet To Go For Gold

By Ogo Clarkson

The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, Pinnick Amaju declared that he would not be contesting to retain his seat as President at the next NFF Elective General Assembly.

The President stated that he would be ready at all times to offer his support, encouragement and wealth of experience to the incoming President and the Board.

The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation met on Thursday, 18th August 2022 at the Best Western Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos to deliberate on important issues in Nigeria Football greatly commended the President for his huge sacrifices for Nigeria Football in the past eight years, and wished him success and progress in his future endeavours and pursuits.

The Board of the Nigeria Football commended the Federal Government for the support and encouragement that it has always provided for the Nigeria Football Federation, the various National Teams and Nigeria Football generally to grow and blossom in spite of certain debilitating challenges.

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The Executive Committee praised the U20 Women National Team, Falconets for its excellent performance at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, at which the team has won all three matches of the group phase and qualified for the quarter-finals as group leader. It noted that the achievement, as well as the triumphs of the U20 and U17 Boys in regional tournaments in Niger Republic and Ghana, and the qualification of the U17 Girls for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup India 2022, is a marker of the dedication, vision and investment of the present NFF administration in youth development.

The Board directed the Secretariat to ensure that no stone was left unturned in preparations ahead of the African Nations Championship qualifying fixture between Nigeria and Ghana at the end of this month.

The first leg of the final qualifying fixture will take place in Cape Coast on Sunday, 28th August while the second leg will hold at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja on Saturday, 3rd September.

After listening to the presentation of the 2nd Vice President/Chairman, LMC on the challenges that beleaguered this year’s AITEO Cup competition, the Board adopted resolutions reached at the meeting of the NFF with the owners of Clubs that reached the men’s quarter-finals that the competition reboot at that stage and the Clubs be refunded their expenses for travelling for last-eight matches that did not take place. However, Heartland FC, who defeated Katsina FC in their quarter-final game in Ilorin, are already through to the semi-finals.

It was agreed that the competition (men’s version) restarts after the NFF Annual General Assembly of Thursday, 18th August 2022, with the key objective of providing considerable mileage for sponsors, AITEO.

Following a detailed presentation by the Head of Delegation of Nigeria team to the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, the Executive Committee directed its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to hold a meeting and make recommendations on the way forward for the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, including but not limited to a thorough evaluation of the capability of the coaching crew to lead the team to a creditable performance at the FIFA World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand next year.

IN ATTENDANCE: Amaju Melvin Pinnick (President); Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President); Ibrahim Musa Gusau (Member); Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ (Member); Felix Anyansi-Agwu (Member); Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande (Member); Babagana Kalli (Member); Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Member); Ganiyu Majekodunmi (Member); Aisha Falode (Member); Mohammed Alkali (Member); Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary)