Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Melvin Amaju Pinnick has predicted that the country is in for another four years of soccer bliss in the second term of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Sports247.ng reports that Pinnick stated as much while congratulating President Buhari on his re-election, which was confirmed Wednesday by Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
In reaction, Pinnick enthused that Buhari’s will once again bring to bear on the nation’s soccer sector his uncanny aura of glory that has seen Nigeria excel across individual and collective levels on and off the pitch.
During Buhari’s term, Pinnick noted that Nigerian football blossomed on all fronts, with the various national teams picking descent results, while several of the country’s officials got key FIFA and CAF appointments.
Pinnick himself became Nigeria’s maiden first vice-president of CAF as well as a member of the organizing committee for FIFA competitions and president of the organizing committee for the Africa Cup of Nations.
However, Pinnick is now expecting more, as the former chairman of Delta State Football Association and Delta State Sports Commission enthused that Buhari’s charm would bring forth additional successes for Nigeria in the field of play and various categories of soccer boardrooms.
Pinnick, who is attending the FIFA Executive Football Summit in Rome, Italy, alongside NFF general-secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said the accomplishments of Nigerian football in the past four years could not have come without active support and encouragement from Buhari.
“The Government of President Muhammadu Buhari has been providing the conducive environment necessary for the game of football to thrive in our dear country and we believe that the next four years will be even more fruitful for Nigerian football.
“The NFF is excited by the victory of President Buhari. We attribute all the successes that we have had in football in the past four years to His Excellency, working closely and in unison with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other key members of his administration.
“We will remain very grateful to His Excellency and his Government. We have received the maximum support from the administration.
“We will work harder in the next four years to take Nigerian Football to even higher heights of excellence,” Pinnick submitted.
