Former Boss of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Amaju Melvin Pinnick has disclosed contrary to assumptions, that his NFF led administration didn't get any amount form the government to prosecute the World Cup qualifying matches against Ghana in March this year.
Pinnick has received wild criticisms and condemnation following Nigeria's absence at the World Cup held in Qatar especially after the FIFA Executive Council member that was seen in the World Cup in some games.
However, in exonerating his administration from news of receiving 3.5 million dollars for the qualifiers from the government, Pinnick dismisses the story as untrue.
The FIFA Council Member insisted that NFF tried to ensure that the three-time African champions qualify for this year’s World Cup but what happened was beyond control.
“Football cannot just thrive in isolation, there must be a foundation. There were a lot of issues, so people just look at it, why? I say it today, when Ghana played against Nigeria, in that doubleheader, my colleague told me the government appropriated $3.5 million for those two games.
“In Nigeria, I will say it with all due respect to everybody concerned, we are saying we did not receive a dime from the government, because at that point we didn’t consider it as being very critical, what we considered critical at that point was interfacing with the players.”
The former FA Chairman opines that the Country is going through a lot of challenges and these challenges have affected all facet of the country.
“Nigeria is going through a phase and if I tell you that phase is not affecting every fabric of the society, I will tell you is not true,” the FIFA Executive Council member said in an interview on Channels Television in Qatar.
“We are going through a very negative phase in terms of the economy, not just Nigeria, most African countries, in terms of economy, in terms of security; there are a lot of challenges.
It will be recalled that the Super Eagles of Nigeria could not make it to the 2022 FIFA World Cup after a goalless draw in Kumasi and one all draw gave Ghana the passage to the World Cup in the World Cup qualifying series.
Uche Dozie