TheCable

Issa Hayatou, president of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), says the continent will miss the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations holding in Equatorial Guinea.

Hayatou disclosed this after the draw ceremony for the championship in Malabo, saying Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the tournament will not diminish the country’s importance to the entire structure of African football.

“The whole of Africa will miss Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea. But the absence will not in any way diminish your stature as a very big and influential nation in the African game,” he said.

“It would have been good to have the defending champions here. Nigeria brings so much value to the Africa Cup of Nations. However, we know that you will come back much stronger, as you did in winning the Cup in South Africa last year after missing out of the 2012 championship.”

Hayatou also celebrated the vitality and enterprise of the youthful Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation, as he formally welcomed him to the African football family.

“I am happy to see someone like you take charge of Nigeria football. I have always known you right from Nigeria ’99 World Youth Championship to the African Women Championship finals in Delta State in 2002 and 2006,” he said.

“I know your dynamism and capacity and I believe you will deliver for Nigeria football. There is so much promise for the future.”