Former President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who lost his bid to retain his FIFA Council seat by a single vote at the Confederation of African Football General Assembly election in Cairo on Wednesday, has expressed gratitude to President Bola Tinubu for his support during his electioneering campaign for the position.
Pinnick who thanked FIFA President, Gianni Infantino for his sincerity also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF)
He said he remains ‘unbowed, full of gratitude to God and to the throng of persons’ that had supported his push to retain the seat on the all-powerful FIFA Council. The Council consists of only 37 persons and are saddled with determining the governance of the beautiful game, globally.
Pinnick, who had previously served as First Vice President of CAF between 2018 and 2019, thanked President Tinubu as a person and the Government of Nigeria as a whole, as well as FIFA supremo Gianni Infantino, NSC boss Shehu Dikko, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau and those he called friends in government and the corporate world.
“I am drawn to tears by the support of President Tinubu, right from the time he publicly endorsed my candidature. I am most grateful and do not take anything for granted. I cherish my relationship with Gianni (Infantino) and appreciate his sincerity. I thank the National Sports Commission led by Shehu Dikko. The NFF, particularly Ibrahim Musa Gusau, were amazing in their push. Kudos also to my friends in government and the corporate world.
“I was to be no more than the head of NFF electoral committee back in 2014, but fate catapulted me to the presidency and I became the youngest-ever Nigerian in world football’s supreme council. I am more than fulfilled,” he said.
Pinnick, who lost the seat by one vote having polled 28 votes, as against 29 votes each garnered by both Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Souleman Hassan Waberi of Djibouti, admitted that: “Football politics is fierce, but I am proud to have fought a good fight.”
He continued: “I campaigned hard; travelled to more than 30 countries. Hours before the election, I was sure of close to 40 votes. But politics happened. I am not bitter about anything, just full of gratitude to everyone who supported my push.”
Yet, looking back on his trajectory in the world of football, the former NFF president said: “When I started out 26 years ago, as a volunteer at the FIFA U20 World Cup that Nigeria hosted, I never dreamed of reaching these heights. Never thought I could become the number one administrator of football in Nigeria (and for eight years for that matter), play key roles in African football and easily mingle with the world’s top football governors. I have only gratitude to give to the Almighty God, to those who have helped me one way or the other and to all those I have met on my way.”
