Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, has said that he would not resign amid public outcry and flak that have trailed the failure of the Super Eagles to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon next year.
His uncompromising stance is against the grain that it was under his watch that Nigeria missed two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations finals, a setback that is unprecedented in the nation’s football history.
Following the 1-0 loss to Egypt in Alexandria on Tuesday, the Super Eagles will now miss the plane to Gabon 2017 in same manner they were absent at the event in Equatorial Guinea in 2015.
Pinnick, who briefed Sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, shortly after the chartered flight that took the delegation to Alexandria arrived in Abuja, addressed reporters yesterday.
He vowed not to resign, saying he was legally elected by the Nigerian football congress. In addition, Pinnick insisted the executive committee he headed deserves commendation as the country excelled across boards at international football competitions, particularly in youth football.
He said he was not giving excuses but was rather more determined in righting the wrongs that happened by focusing on the Olympic football in Brazil in August.
“I am not going to resign. I don’t think we have done very badly. When you are in a battle field you don’t retreat as whoever comes in will have to begin from where you started: he might run into the same pit. I was elected by the Nigerian football congress and have a mandate for four years. Our template is there to take football forward 100 per cent,” Pinnick declared.
