President Buhari congratulates Pinnick on his FIFA new role

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick, on his election into the FIFA  Executive council on Friday.

I congratulate Mr. Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on his election into the FIFA Executive Council, the highest decision-making organ in world football.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) March 12, 2021

President Buhari took to his Twitter handle to congratulate Pinnick on Friday night, praising the NFF president as a top football administrator.

“I congratulate Mr. Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on his election into the FIFA Executive Council, the highest decision-making organ in world football, Buhari said.

Through hard work, dedication and consistency, Mr. Pinnick has proven to be an efficient football administrator, and the world has taken notice by electing him into the FIFA Council and as one of the Vice Presidents of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Yet again Nigeria is seeing enhanced visibility and prestige in the international community, on the heels of recent elections of other qualified Nigerians into strategic leadership positions in international organisations. I wish Mr. Pinnick the best in his new position!

Pinnick was elected in the same election that brought in Patrice Motsepe as the new CAF president. The South African billionaire became the 8th president of Africa’s football governing body, replacing Madagascar’s Ahmad Ahmad.

Motsepe was elected unopposed after his rivals pulled out following discussions with FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

The 59-year-old is also the first person from an Anglophone country to rule Africa’s football governing body.