Embattled President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, says he is not stepping down after the Super Eagles failed to make it to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Eagles’ quest to return to Africa’s biggest continental showpiece was given a death blow by Egypt on Tuesday in Alexandria when they fell 1-0 to the North Africans.
As part of the backlash from that debacle, many have called for the head of the Delta-born administrator who they say is responsible for the country’s inability to secure top spot in Group G after picking just two points from three games.
What this means is that the three-time African champions have failed to qualify for any AFCON tourney since Pinnick became head of the Glass House.
And Pinnick, 42, feels he deserves more credit for his achievements rather than criticism since coming into office in September 2014.
He highlighted his accomplishment stressing that it will be “very unfair for anyone to ask for my resignation.”
“I have heard calls by some persons asking me to resign but that is very unfair knowing the achievements this board has recorded during my tenure,” he said at a media briefing in Abuja Wednesday.
“We won the Africa Women’s Championship in Namibia, the FIFA U17 World Cup and we also qualified for almost all major competitions during this period.
“I was elected by the congress with a four-year tenure and it will be very unfair for anyone to ask for my resignation.”
He equally defended the appointment of former coach Sunday Oliseh, who quit his post a month to the crucial matches against the Pharaohs.
“We have no regrets employing him because he came highly recommended like any other Nigerian and we gave him a four-year plan hoping that he will return our football to glory days,” Pinnick said.
He further revealed that he has met with the country’s sports minister and they have agreed a meeting on Tuesday to address the many problems facing Nigerian football.
