Amaju Pinnick, the former President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has hailed his recent appointment as Deputy Chairperson of the FIFA Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee as a testament to Nigeria’s rising influence in global sports.
In an interview with Arise Television, Pinnick expressed his gratitude for the opportunity, stating that the appointment is not just a personal achievement but a reflection of the country’s growing relevance within FIFA. He noted that the committee is one of the most important within the organization, as it oversees all men’s national team tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, U-20 and U-17 World Cups, and the Olympic Games.
Pinnick’s new role is expected to provide Africa with a stronger voice in key decisions regarding tournament hosting rights, competition formats, and continental representation quotas. He emphasized that FIFA’s selection process is based on merit, professionalism, and integrity rather than regional or political considerations.
The appointment has been widely celebrated, with figures like the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Hon. Bukola Olopade, congratulating Pinnick and describing the role as a well-deserved honor. Olopade stated that the government, through the NSC, would continue to support Nigerian sports administrators in their pursuit of global leadership positions.
In a separate statement, Pinnick also congratulated other Nigerians who received key FIFA appointments, including NFF President Ibrahim Gusau, legal icon Abdulhakeem Mustapha (SAN), and football executive Aisha Falode. He described their appointments as a reflection of Nigeria’s “intellectual capital and strategic importance” in international football, stating that together, they represent a “new era of professionalism, integrity, and innovation” for Nigerian football on the world stage.
