Amaju Pinnick Rules Out Return as NFF President, Ends Third-Term Speculation

ByMoses Alamu1 week Ago1 Mins read127

Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has firmly ruled out any return to the leadership of the country’s football governing body, putting to rest long-running speculation about a possible third term in office. Pinnick made the clarification while speaking to News Central TV in Morocco.

The football administrator, who is 55 years old, said that although he remains young and capable of leading the federation again, he has no desire to do so. According to him, his chapter as NFF president has been closed.

“I’m young. I’m 55. I can still be an NFF president. But do I want to be? Never,” Pinnick stated.

Pinnick served as NFF president from 2014 to 2022, completing two full terms. During his tenure, Nigerian football experienced notable moments on the continental and global stage, while Pinnick himself rose to prominence internationally. He held positions as First Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and was also a member of FIFA’s Organising Committee for competitions.

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Reflecting on his eight years in office, Pinnick expressed contentment with his time at the helm and stressed the importance of allowing the federation to move forward. He noted that progress comes from recognising institutional shortcomings and working to improve them rather than clinging to leadership positions.

“I’ve done eight years and I’m okay with it. So it’s moving forward. It’s helping the federation, seeing some of their inadequacies and see how to make it adequate,” he said.

His decision not to seek another term follows years of controversy surrounding the NFF’s electoral process and leadership tenure. Although Pinnick had previously indicated he was eligible for a third term under his interpretation of the NFF statutes, the move was widely criticised as conflicting with Nigeria’s constitutional principles on term limits.

In 2022, Zamfara FA chairman Ibrahim Gusau succeeded Pinnick as the 40th NFF president after a government-backed electoral process aimed at ensuring a smooth and legally compliant transition.