AS mixed reactions continue to trail Amaju Pinnick’s exit from the FIFA Council, former Green Eagles player and 1984 AFCON silver medalist, Paul Okoku says Nigeria football gained nothing from his administration.
Okoku spoke from his base in the United States of America, just as other stakeholders including former Green Eagles winger, Adegoke Adelabu, ex-national team player, Harrison Jalla and former chairman of Gombe FC, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe advised Nigerian sports administrators to learn how to conduct themselves while occupying public offices.
Pinnick’s regime in FIFA Council came to an end on Wednesday during an election in Cairo, Egypt, where he lost to some candidates from relatively unknown football playing nations, Ahmed Yahya of Mauritania and Souleman Hassan Waberi of Djibouti.
“This is not about celebrating anyone’s downfall,” Okoku told The Guardian. “Instead, Pinnick’s exit should serve as a wake-up call. If Nigeria ever secures another FIFA Council seat, it must go to someone who prioritises national interest over personal ambition. Nigerian football cannot continue to be governed by policies that fail to reflect our realities.
“When Pinnick secured a spot on the FIFA Council, it was seen as a significant breakthrough for Nigerian football. His presence offered a rare chance to shape policies at the highest level and push for reforms that could strengthen Nigeria’s footballing structures. However, despite holding this prestigious position, there is little evidence that Nigerian football truly benefited from his tenure.”
Okoku continued: “If Pinnick had used his FIFA influence to push for financial accountability within the NFF, perhaps Nigerian coaches and players wouldn’t be forced to beg for their salaries while administrators continue to prosper.
“If FIFA is serious about fairness, it must allow government intervention where public funds are involved—because without accountability, the cycle of mismanagement will persist. At the very least, Nigeria needs football administrators who are willing to stand up for what is right—not just for themselves, but for the players, coaches, and fans who make football the lifeblood of the nation,” Okoku, a member of the Flying Eagles squad that qualified Nigeria for the 1983 World Cup, stated.
On his part, Adegoke Adelabu, who played club football with IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan said: “If Pinnick could not make any meaningful impact when he was in charge of NFF, what do you expect of him at such a highly professional office? His tenure speaks for itself.”
For Harrison Jalla, Pinnick’s four years in FIFA Council was a complete disaster.
“Nigeria as a country benefited nothing from Pinnick’s tenure. He personalised the FIFA council membership as if it was his personal property for self-aggrandisement. Men like Patrice Mosepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, and Samuel Eto’o deserved their victories because they are passionate about the development of their countries football.
“Their work in football speaks for them because they are loved in their countries and beyond. Pinnick’s deep pocket assisted him in jumping into mainstream African and world football politics without sufficient experience,” Jalla stated.
For Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, Pinnick is the architect of his failure. “Amaju got what he planted. He denied many other people who desired to contest elections locally into the Board of the NFA and into some states football associations’ opportunity. The law of karma is real. Beside, Amaju Pinnick was not the best candidate to represent Nigeria in the first place. Of what benefit was his membership to Nigeria? Nothing.”
However, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, has hailed Pinnick’s resilient spirit despite narrowly losing his FIFA Council seat.
“I came to Egypt along with the Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko as directed by President Bola Tinubu to give Pinnick all the necessary support. And we saw first-hand how the politics of only serving Chairmen of Federations should and must emerge, but despite this, he lost narrowly by one vote.”
After his defeat in Cairo, Pinnick declared: “I have only gratitude to give to the Almighty God, to those who have helped me one way or the other and to all those I have met on my way. Football politics is fierce, but I am proud to have fought a good fight. I campaigned hard; travelled to more than 30 countries. Hours before the election, I was sure of close to 40 votes. But politics happened.”
