The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has denied that its president, Amaju Pinnick, filled any form to be considered for CAF nomination for the FIFA Council.
“Although the truth is that Nigeria is big enough as a country to have a member in the esteemed FIFA Council, I want to say without any fear of contradiction that at no time did the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick, filled form for CAF to consider him for nomination,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said.
“It is not an illegitimate ambition for a Nigerian to aspire to be in the FIFA Council. In the future, perhaps Mr. Pinnick or any other worthy Nigerian who is able to receive the support of the Government will approach CAF to be nominated to the Council.”
Sanusi also called on the media, to always cross-check their facts, before they publish stories.
“This administration has always harped on the fact that it does not abhor criticisms. What we are against is sheer falsehood made to look like facts.
“As it is said in the media, facts are sacred and comments are free. It is important to separate facts from opinion.”
Only on Tuesday, Pinnick admitted that he was desperate to get into either CAF or FIFA.
As big as Nigeria, we don’t have a representative in CAF or in FIFA, so if I am ambitious to go to CAF or FIFA, yes because I am the president of the NFF, not because I’m just a member,” the NFF president told Lagos-based radio station, Lagos Talks FM.
“I am praying about it and if God wills it, why not? But the truth is Nigeria needs a presence globally and this is exactly what we are doing.”
CAF has announced seven possible candidates, that will contest for the elections into the FIFA Council scheduled for September 29.
They are: Almamy Kabele Camara (Guinea); Suketu Patel (Sychelles); Kwesi Nyantakyi (Ghana); Ahmad (Madagascar); Augustin Senghor (Senegal); Hamidou Djibrilla (Niger) and Chabur Goc Alei (South Sudan).
The seven candidates will undergo the FIFA integrity test, before their names are finally ratified for the ballot.
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