FG Endorses Pinnick For CAF Position
Amaju Pinnick, NFF President[/caption]
The Federal Government has endorsed the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, for an elective position in next month’s Confederation of African Football election.
Speaking during an emergency meeting of the NFF at the Abuja National Stadium on Tuesday, Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung advised Pinnick to vote in the interest of the country.
Dalung said: “The board, after extensive deliberation, reaffirms its earlier decision that Pinnick should contest the executive position in CAF and we collectively wish the president well in his bid.
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“On the issue of Nigeria’s position in the CAF election, the board also mandated the president, who is a delegate to the election, to exercise his vote in the interest of Nigeria.”
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the meeting was convened by the minister to address the controversy, which trailed Pinnick’s ambition and decision.
Dalung believes the NFF boss’ descision to go against incumbent CAF President, Issa Hayatou, was on personal grounds.
“Pinnick, as a person, has the right to support anybody based on the quality he has seen on that person,” Dalung said.
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“As a country, we are asking Pinnick to go to CAF and vote in the interest of Nigeria.”
Pinnick had stated publicly that he would support Madagascar’s Football Association Chairman, Ahmad Ahmad, who is challenging Hayatou for the CAF presidency at the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of CAF, slated for March 16 in Ethiopia.
The 70-year-old Hayatou, who was first elected in 1988, is seeking an eighth consecutive term as head of African football.
