President of the Nigeria Football Federation
(NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick has stated
that his administration remains very much
focused on giving the Super Eagles the
maximum support to qualify for the 2018
FIFA World Cup finals.
Pinnick addressing his Board members at
the NFF secretariat
While acknowledging that failure to qualify
for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (second
time in succession) was quite painful,
Pinnick said the objective of reaching Russia
2018 was non –negotiable.
He said: “We cannot afford any distractions,
not from anywhere. We have an objective of
qualifying for Russia 2018 and that is not what
we can negotiate. That is one of the reasons I
am in the office today.
“The Board has to look at various areas of the
preparation as we countenance the draw for
the group phase of the series that is coming
up on 24th June.”
Pinnick addressed the media in his office at
the Glass House, in company with NFF
Executive Committee members Chris Green,
Ibrahim Musa Gusau, Sharif Rabiu Inuwa,
Sunday Dele-Ajayi, Babagana Kalli and
Ahmed Yusuf Fresh.
There were also Bola Oyeyode (director of
competitions), Ademola Olajire (director of
communications), Tunde Aderibigbe
(coordinator of political matters), Chikelue
Iloenyosi (special assistant on security),
Okey Obi (chief legal officer) and Nasiru
Jibril (personal assistant to NFF President).
Pinnick also drew positives from the two
international friendly matches the Super
Eagles played in Europe against Mali and
Luxembourg, saying the two games unveiled
a young, vibrant team capable of taking
Nigeria football to new levels of excellence.
The NFF president, in company with his
Board members and the general secretary,
Mohammed Sanusi, later held a meeting with
the staff of the federation.
Comments