The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amaju Pinnick

  • Falcons: Presidency summons Pinnick, others

    Falcons: Presidency summons Pinnick, others

    The Presidency has summoned the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and other top officials of the federation following Wednesday’s protest at the National Assembly by the country’s women’s team.

    Pinnick has also divided his executive committee members after he unilaterally decided to contest for a seat on the executive committee of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) next year, africanFootball.com reports.

    The ladies had been pressing for their entitlements since winning the African Women Championship (AWC) in Cameroon.

    The Chief of Staff at the Presidency, Abba Kyari addressed the players when they stormed the National Assembly to protest the non-payment of their entitlements by the NFF.

    He promised the players will be paid this week.

    The ladies led by skipper Rita Chikwelu displayed various placards to protest their shabby treatment by the NFF.

    The players have also rejected the assurances of Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, who admitted no provision was made to pay them because officials did not expect the team to win the AWC in Cameroon.

    [poll id=”8″]

  • NFF wants Age-grade teams to concentrate on developmental programmes

    NFF wants Age-grade teams to concentrate on developmental programmes

    ….Falconets recount hardship in Papua New Guinea

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has insisted that the Glass House has been able to manage the economic meltdown within the sports circles. The President, Amaju Pinnick explained the funds constraints by some age grade teams like the Falconets.

    Sequel to reports of untold hardship experienced by the Falconets during their sojourn to Papua New Guinea for the FIFA U-20 Women’s Championship, the NFF President opined that teams like Falconets should concentrate more on developing themselves rather than expecting huge financial rewards from the NFF.

    He said: “I didn’t want to speak on this issue, but when you call the Falconets, you ask, how old they are? If you are in the media you should preach that these young girls should concentrate more on their football rather than go to the media and talk about money. If Oshoala kept complaining about money, she won’t be where she is today. And people should always realise that whatever we do, the Federation is just a platform for you to excel and go to a club which is the biggest and the best. And that is just the truth.”

    Pinnick added: “Sports is all about money and the truth is that Nigeria is going through recession. I want you to name one sector of the economy that is doing very well because there is recession but give and take, we still give ourselves a pat on the back, we are almost in the World Cup, we won the only medal in the Olympics, we made our presence in Jordan, in Papau New Guinea. I don’t think we have done badly in spite of the challenges. We have a lot of distractions and challenges in finance, if you were the NFF President what would you do?”

  • World Cup qualifier: Pinnick assures Nigerians of victory over Algeria

    World Cup qualifier: Pinnick assures Nigerians of victory over Algeria

    President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick,  has assured Nigerians that Super Eagles would defeat their Algerian opponents in the November 12 World Cup qualifying match in Uyo.

    Pinnick told newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja that the federation was satisfied with the team’s preparation for the encounter.

    “We are very happy with the preparations; the coach, Gernot Rohr, is on top of his game.

    “He speaks to the players all the time. We believe very firmly that we are going to beat Algeria; we are bent on beating them and winning that game.

    “Nigeria cannot afford not to see us at the World Cup because we know the ancillary benefits of going to the World Cup and not just the main benefits,” he said.

    Amaju also assured Super Falcons that the NFF would pay their bonuses soon.

    “Their bonuses will be paid to them; we are working round the clock and we assure you that all will be well.

    “The truth is if we do not have, we cannot give; we only crave and pray to have, based on things that are realistic.

    “We are really appealing to them, and are urging them to be charged up and represent this country.

    “What female football has done in this country, no other facet of sport has given that prominence in Nigeria,” he said.

    NAN reports that the senior national female team is owed some match bonuses and allowances by the NFF.

  • NFF crisis: Supreme Court begins hearing on Giwa’s suit September 9

    NFF crisis: Supreme Court begins hearing on Giwa’s suit September 9

    The president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, on Tuesday disclosed that a case instituted against the federation by Chris Giwa will begin on September 9 at the Supreme Court.

    Giwa has been locked in a tussle for the NFF leadership since 2014, africanFootball.com reports.

    The chairman of Giwa Football Club has argued he was duly elected NFF president in August 2014 and his election should be upheld based on the laws of the land.

    His case at the Appeal Court was thrown out and he has now taken the matter to the country’s highest court.

    “We have been served, we have a case on September 9, just three weeks before a big World Cup qualifier in Zambia and anything can happen,” africanFootball.com quoted Pinnick as saying in a YouTube interview.

    The NFF president lamented that the instability in the country football polity has affected quest by the federation to attract private sector sponsorship.

    “It’s almost impossible to thrive under instability,” he complained.

    “This is purely destructive. For some people, if we cannot get it, let us destroy it.”

  • Pinnick: Flying Eagles best not good enough

    Pinnick: Flying Eagles best not good enough

    NIGERIA Football Federation Presiodent, Amaju Pinnick, who watched the match with 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi, said he was disappointed that Flying Eagles failed to fly when it mattered most, as Niegria crashed out of Zambia U-20 Nations Cup Saturday.

    He said: “This was unexpected. Our boys won the first leg away in Sudan and looked strong enough to go through. However, in as much as we are disappointed, this is a developmental competition and we take a lot of positives from a number of very promising players that we have seen in this team. Coach Emmanuel Amuneke and the boys gave their best, but their best proved not to be good enough today.”

    Nigeria’s U20 squad, Flying Eagles, failed to reach the 2017 Africa U20 Cup of Nations after a 3-4 defeat by the Young Falcons of Sudan in Lagos on Saturday. The fixture ended 5-5 on aggregate, but the Sudanese go through on the away goal rule.

  • Nigeria will qualify for 2018 World Cup – Pinnick

    Nigeria will qualify for 2018 World Cup – Pinnick

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has expressed optimism that the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

    Pinnick disclosed this after meeting the NFF technical committee on the choice of Frenchman Paul Le Guen as new Eagles’ technical adviser.

    “By God’s grace we are going to qualify. We have worked round and have done everything possible. We have discussed with the players. There are a lot of things we have done. There is a level you can go in terms of providing everything,” Goal quoted Pinnick as saying on Nigeria World Cup aspiration on Tuesday.

    “All what they need is mental character, we have to psyche them up. You have to give them the sense of patriotism.

    “If you see what Ronaldo did, he was injured and he was crying when he was being taken out of the field. That is the kind of mentality we want our players to put up when they are playing for the team.

    “Like I said, the 20 teams that qualified for the last round are all capable. I would rather play Algeria than to play Gabon.

    “Gabon has never been to the World Cup and the players would want to go to the World Cup. I can assure you.”

     

  • Super Eagles will have substantive Head Coach in two weeks’ time-Pinnick

    Super Eagles will have substantive Head Coach in two weeks’ time-Pinnick

     

    Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Sunday in Ibadan said the Super Eagles would have a substantive Head Coach within the next two weeks.

    Pinnick told newsmen that the football body was working assiduously to ensure they got a new head coach for the Super Eagles, urging Nigerians to hope for the best.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the NFF President was in Ibadan to watch a 2015/2016 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) match.

    The NPFL Match Day 24 fixture between hosts Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) and FC IfeanyiUbah Football Club ended in a 2-2 draw.

    Pinnick also spoke on the Russia 2018 World Cup Qualifier draws, pointing out that football has come of age and was getting tougher by the day.

    “Football has come of age. Peru beat Brazil in Copa America. But I think we have assets that can make the country proud and I believe we will qualify,’’ he said.

    NAN recalls that the African 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have the Super Eagles placed in Group B with Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia.

    The NFF President said Super Eagles players were excited about facing Algeria and not Egypt, adding that the Federation would do everything possible to support them to qualify.

    “We will ensure that we make the difference in all,’’ he said.

    Also speaking on the allegation that he was in Ibadan as a guest of FC IfeanyiUbah, Pinnick said he was there to visit his aunt.

    “I grew up here and I am a fan of 3SC. I have only come to greet my aunty in Ibadan,’’ he stated.

    Pinnick said he was very glad to see football fans come out in their thousands to support 3SC.

    “It is a sign of the people’s love for the team and the game,’’ he said.

  • NFF shopping for Eagles’ coach sponsor – Pinnick

    NFF shopping for Eagles’ coach sponsor – Pinnick

    Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, has said the federation is shopping for a sponsor for the new Super Eagles coach that is expected to appointed soon.

    Salisu Yusuf is holding the Eagles coaching job in interim capacity.

    “We’re looking for a sponsor to ensure we don’t owe the coach and hopefully in the next couple of weeks we will take a decision,” africanFootball.com quoted Pinnick as saying on the matter.

    NFF said former coach Sunday Oliseh’s salaries were borne by a commercial bank, but with the banking industry experiencing difficulties lately, it is left to be seen if a bank will now come up to foot the new coach’s salaries.

  • Reps urge Pinnick, Giwa to resolve crisis amicably

    Reps urge Pinnick, Giwa to resolve crisis amicably

    The House of Representatives on Thursday urged the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and his challenger, Chris Giwa, to reach a compromise on the lingering leadership crisis rocking the country football.

    Both factions appeared before the House of Representatives Committee on Sports on Thursday.

    The resolutions reached  at the meeting have not been made public  because both men met the committee behind closed doors.

    But there were speculations that Pinnick and Giwa have agreed to resolve  the matter amicably.

    The Chairman of the committee, Goni Bukar, confirmed that the meeting will continue next Tuesday at the House chambers, where the duo are expected to reach a compromise.

    “What was discussed was not made public as only Giwa, Pinnick and the committee sat and discussed at the meeting. But they have been advised to collaborate and are expected to reach a compromise next week,” a National Assembly source told africanFootball.com.

     

  • Giwa arrested at NFF headquarters

    Giwa arrested at NFF headquarters

    The contest for the leadership of the Nigerian football Federation (NFF) continued on Friday as Amb. Chris Giwa and his faction took over the federation’s headquarters in Abuja.

    This happened after a bailiff had served a court judgment from the Federal High Court Jos on the NFF general secretary, Goal reports.

    Giwa walked into the Zone 7 premises of the NFF at about 4:00pm despite the presence of a police van placed there to keep him and his faction out of the building.

    He spent about 30 minutes in the building and granted interviews to journalists as well as trying to take charge of administrative duties before a detachment of policemen asked him to leave the premises.

    He was escorted by policemen who led him to the Divisional Headquarters, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja.