It’ll Be an Aberration for Nigeria Not to Be in the US – Pinnick
Amaju Pinnick, former President of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), highlights the critical need for Nigeria’s active involvement in international sports events, calling it an aberration for the nation to miss out on global opportunities.
Former Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has described the prospect of the Super Eagles missing out on the 2026 FIFA World Cup as a disaster that must be avoided at all costs.
The three-time African champions find themselves in a precarious position in the World Cup qualifiers, sitting on just three points from four games.
With qualification hanging by a thread, the Super Eagles must win all their remaining matches to keep their World Cup hopes alive.
In an interview with Arise News, Pinnick reflected on the team’s past struggles, describing Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as one of the lowest moments of his life.
“It’ll be an aberration for Nigeria not to be in the US. You can imagine, the highest number of educated immigrants in the US are Nigerians.
It’s something I personally cannot think about. One of my lowest moments in life was when Nigeria did not qualify for the last World Cup.”
To address the team’s challenges, the NFF has appointed Malian coach Eric as the new head coach of the Super Eagles, filling the role that has been vacant since June 2024.
Pinnick expressed his confidence in the process leading to Eric’s appointment, urging Nigerians to support the decision.
“They didn’t just take the decision on their own. They also have the Sports Commission, which superintends the activities of the Nigeria Football Federation. I’m sure the Sports Commission gave them their blessing.”
With the qualifiers set to resume in March, Pinnick’s comments underscore the urgency of the situation as the Super Eagles prepare for a do-or-die campaign to secure their place in the 2026 World Cup.
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