Amaju Pinnick: Ex-NFF President Speaks on Son’s Potential Nigeria Future
- Former NFF President Amaju Pinnick has spoken about whether his son would play for Nigeria or not
- Pinnick convinced many foreign-trained stars to play for the Super Eagles during his time as NFF chief
- The former FIFA Council member opened up on some of those who failed to play for Nigeria and regretted
- A Nigerian journalist hit back at Pinnick’s more of addressing the question claiming he did not directly answer
Former NFF President Amaju Pinnick has spoken about whether his son would play for the Nigerian national team or not when faced with the question.
Pinnick served as NFF President for eight years from September 2014 to September 2022, during which some foreign-born and foreign-trained stars switched allegiance to Nigeria.
Source: Getty Images
Former captain William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, and Ademola Lookman are some of those who switched from European countries to Nigeria.
Pinnick, speaking on the Play Zone Podcast, confirmed that he has a 15-year-old son who plays as a midfielder for his school football team in London.
Pinnick speaks on son’s football future
The former FIFA Council member was faced with the question of whether his son would play for Nigeria, starting with the Golden Eaglets.
“My son plays for his school in midfield in London, he is one of the key players in the team, he is 15, going to be 16 soon,” he said on the podcast.
“Let him concentrate on his studies,” he responded when told he is eligible to play for the Golden Eaglets. “I keep telling him this, even though he is a very good football player.
“You understand me and Nigeria. All my children were born in Nigeria, very proudly. I could have given birth to them outside the country, but it doesn't stop them from going anywhere in the world.
“I love this country, and I understand the potential, and being in CAF and FIFA further gave me that vibe that Nigeria is a country that is well respected globally, and I'm very happy and have no regrets.”
Pinnick added that he is particularly concerned about his son’s studies because he didn't want him to rest on his father's achievements and because, in football, you can do everything right and still not make it.
“Football has an element of luck, a major element of luck. I grew up in Warri, and I've seen a lot of stars who did not go beyond xyz, many guys you'd think will play to the highest level but did not,” he said.
Source: Getty Images
“If he decides, if he is good enough,” he concluded.
Pinnick's family is heavily into sports. His son is not his only child involved; his daughter, Yolanda Emififen Pinnick, is into football and athletics.
As noted by Sports 247, the 10-year-old won three gold medals and a bronze medal for Nigeria at the 2026 World School Games Olympia in Doha, Qatar.
A Nigerian journalist who asked not to be named hit back at the former NFF boss for how he handled the question.
“He has mastered the art of speaking at length without directly answering the question before him. He never gave a definitive answer and digressed into different discussions to evade it,” he told Legit.ng.
“He spent years of his administration convincing foreign-born players to represent Nigeria, but can not give a certain answer that his son would play for Nigeria.”
Pinnick speaks about Eberechi Eze
Legit.ng reported that Amaju Pinnick explained why Eberechi Eze did not play for Nigeria, despite training with the Nigerian youth team.
The former Delta State Football Association chief claimed that his exit from the NFF in 2022 changed the Arsenal midfielder’s mind about playing for Nigeria.
Proofreading by Omoleye Omoruyi, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
