Football is the winner, says Pinnick after re-election as NFF president

Amaju Pinnick says “football is the winner” following his re-election as president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

Pinnick defeated his closest rival, Aminu Maigari, on Thursday.

Speaking with TheCable after the election, Pinnick said there is “no victor and no vanquished” in the race.

“Football is the winner,” he said.

“Like I said, there’s no victor, there’s no vanquish. Aminu Maigari is my big brother. I even call him my father.

“Taiwo Ogunjobi happens to be a big brother as well. We just need to do what we need to do and the best thing to do is to initiate reforms, we have started it.”

The first Vice-President of Confederation of African Football (CAF) said he will focus on youth development programmes and reconciliation during his second tenure.

“We respectfully ask for more support as we start a new tenure, during which we aim to consolidate on our vision of building a sustainable football culture for our dear country, and continue the great march towards ensuring financial independence for the NFF,” he said.

“We owe this country a lot, and we are committed to working hard to give back so much to it.

“We intend to set up a reconciliation team in a few days to reach out to aggrieved members of the football family with a view to bringing everyone under one umbrella for the purpose of a united front in the pursuit of the greater good for Nigerian Football.”

Reacting to Pinnick’s victory, Maigari said: “The vote has come and gone, and football is the winner.

“The focus is football development. I bear no grudge and I must say that I am indeed delighted by the strides that Amaju Pinnick has taken since taking over from me four years ago.

“He is like a son and I am proud of him.”

Pinnick is the first person since Father Dennis Slattery in 1957 to be re-elected as head of football in Nigeria.