TheCable

Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has disclosed that the federation did everything for Segun Odegbami to contest the FIFA presidential election.  

The former Nigeria international blamed “some Nigerians” for stopping him from getting endorsements from five of the 209 football associations of the world in his quest to be elected new FIFA president.

Odegbami, who was endorsed by the NFF to run for the FIFA presidency, could not get the desired endorsements as at Monday, October 26, which was the deadline for the submission of a nomination form.

But Pinnick said he did all he could to get support for Odegbami’s candidacy.

“We thought he had the other nominations and ours was just the icing on the cake,” Pinnick said.

“I did my best as president of the Nigeria Football Federation. We did our human extreme best, but other FAs were already committed to other candidates.”

Pinnick also dismissed suggestions that he could not muster support for Odegbami because of another group from the country interested in presenting someone else for the plum job.

“I can’t be arm twisted. What happened just happened,” he said.

Two Africans – Tokyo Sexwale and Musa Bility – are part of the eight candidates that are hoping to replace Sepp Blatter.

The FIFA election comes up in February.