Pinnick Slams NFF’s Critics Over FIFA’s Fund Management

Former President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick is troubled by the lingering calls for accountability in the management of funds and projects by the body, noting that the criticisms are not good for the country.

The NFF is still under fire for its handling of funds received from FIFA, with football enthusiasts circulating claims via social media that the body misappropriated funds from the FIFA Forward 2.0 Programme, for the construction of two mini stadiums which were valued at $1.2m each.

Although the country’s football governing body had since denied the claims, Pinnick, who was the president between 2014 to 2022 when the grants were allocated, has again come to the defence of the NFF and Nigerian sports institutions in general.

“We should stop maligning institutions in Nigeria. I’m just appealing because it doesn’t make us look good on the international scene,” Pinnick told Arise TV.

“It de-markets this country. We just lost our bid to host the Commonwealth Games. I know what somebody told me about it.

“Whenever we want to host any tournament, Nigeria is almost a red flag because we de-market this country by the minute.

“If the government is even doing something good, I think we should complement them, work with them and pray for them.