TheCable

Amaju Pinnick says the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) played a role in the return of Ahmed Musa to CSKA Moscow on loan.

The forward recently rejoined the Russia-based team from Leicester. He will be there until the end of the season.

The NFF president said the glass house is involved in “every major movement” of Nigerian players abroad.

“We just don’t maintain a relationship with the players, we maintain a relationship with their clubs,” he said while speaking on Kakaaki, a programme on Africa Independent Television.

“You can see that Iheanacho is now playing in Leicester City, it’s not by magic but we spoke with their coaches, backroom staffs.

“Shehu Dikko came to me and said because of the relationship with the La Liga, I have spoken to the Spanish FA, can you talk to the president of the Spanish league?

“Last minute we have to get Etebo to Las Palmas, today look at the results.

“Even Ahmed Musa, when we knew that he wasn’t going to have playing time, we told him he has to move out.

“We had to make contact and he was keeping in touch with us every second.

“Every major movement, trust me had the blessings and contribution of the Nigerian federation.”

Pinnick expressed optimism that the Super Eagles will perform beyond expectations at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, noting that “our football is rising again, I can proudly say that”.

He said: “With the caliber of players we have right now with the team spirit that is embedded inside the team right now, we believe we will not just qualify for the Nations Cup by God’s grace, we will do very well [in the tournament].

“I keep saying to my executive committee members that we are a team that is better prepared for the next World Cup, even this World Cup.

“We are the youngest team statistically going to this World Cup and this team is very strong, united, coordinated with one goal-success.

“So, if you put this team together in four years they’ll be more mature, more experienced and they’ll be more enterprising.

“We have a team at least for the next five years that can make Nigeria very very proud.”