From his residence in the United States, Okoku echoed the sentiments of other stakeholders, including former Green Eagles winger Adegoke Adelabu, ex-national team player Harrison Jalla, and former Gombe FC chairman Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe. They collectively urged Nigerian sports officials to emphasize integrity and the nation's interests while serving in public roles.
Pinnick’s tenure on the FIFA Council ended on Wednesday during an election in Cairo, Egypt, where he lost to candidates from Mauritania (Ahmed Yahya) and Djibouti (Souleman Hassan Waberi), nations with relatively lesser footballing profiles.
Okoku: Pinnick’s Exit a Wake-Up Call
“This is not about celebrating anyone’s downfall,” Okoku told The Guardian. “Instead, Pinnick’s exit should serve as a wake-up call. If Nigeria ever secures another FIFA Council seat, it must go to someone who prioritizes national interest over personal ambition. Nigerian football cannot continue to be governed by policies that fail to reflect our realities.”
Okoku noted that while Pinnick’s election to the FIFA Council was initially seen as a significant achievement for Nigerian football, there is little evidence that the country benefited from his tenure.
“If Pinnick had used his FIFA influence to push for financial accountability within the NFF, perhaps Nigerian coaches and players wouldn’t be forced to beg for their salaries while administrators prosper,” Okoku said.
He added, “If FIFA is serious about fairness, it must allow government intervention where public funds are involved—because without accountability, the cycle of mismanagement will persist. At the very least, Nigeria needs football administrators who are willing to stand up for what is right—not just for themselves, but for the players, coaches, and fans who make football the lifeblood of the nation.”
Adelabu, Jalla, and Gara-Gombe Weigh In
Adegoke Adelabu, a former IICC Shooting Stars player, criticized Pinnick’s tenure, stating, “If Pinnick could not make any meaningful impact when he was in charge of the NFF, what do you expect of him at such a highly professional office? His tenure speaks for itself.”
Harrison Jalla described Pinnick’s four years on the FIFA Council as a “complete disaster.” He said, “Nigeria as a country benefited nothing from Pinnick’s tenure. He personalized the FIFA Council membership as if it was his property for self-aggrandizement. Men like Patrice Motsepe, Fouzi Lekjaa, and Samuel Eto’o deserved their victories because they are passionate about the development of football in their countries. Their work speaks for them because they are loved in their countries and beyond. Pinnick’s deep pockets assisted him in jumping into mainstream African and world football politics without sufficient experience.”
Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe echoed similar sentiments, stating, “Amaju got what he planted. He denied many others the opportunity to contest elections locally into the NFF Board and state football associations. The law of karma is real. Besides, Amaju Pinnick was not the best candidate to represent Nigeria in the first place. Of what benefit was his membership to Nigeria? Nothing.”
Olopade Praises Pinnick’s Resilience
In contrast, Bukola Olopade, Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), commended Pinnick’s resilience despite his narrow defeat.
“I came to Egypt along with the Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, as directed by President Bola Tinubu to give Pinnick all the necessary support. We saw firsthand how the politics of only serving chairmen of federations played out, but despite this, he lost narrowly by one vote,” Olopade said.
Pinnick’s Reaction to Defeat
Following his defeat, Pinnick expressed gratitude and reflected on his campaign efforts.
“I have only gratitude to give to the Almighty God, to those who have helped me one way or the other, and to all those I have met on my way. Football politics is fierce, but I am proud to have fought a good fight. I campaigned hard; traveled to more than 30 countries. Hours before the election, I was sure of close to 40 votes. But politics happened,” he said.