Amaju Pinnick, former President of the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF), lately opened up about his involvement within the number of Ahmed Musa for Nigeria’s Tremendous Eagles squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Talking on the 2024 CAF Awards in Morocco, Pinnick revealed the pivotal function he performed in guaranteeing Musa’s inclusion, regardless of doubts surrounding his participation because of restricted taking part in time at Leicester Metropolis.
Pinnick shared how Musa’s place within the group was in jeopardy simply weeks earlier than the match, as he had not been commonly that includes for his membership. In accordance with Pinnick, Musa was near being dropped for the World Cup after failing to play in two or three worldwide matches main as much as the occasion. At that time, Pinnick took issues into his personal fingers.
“I recall when even Ahmed Musa was about to be dropped from going to 2, three matches to the World Cup as a result of he wasn’t taking part in for Leicester and had numerous points,” Pinnick mentioned in a video shared by OJB Sports activities. He went on to clarify that he personally intervened with then-head coach Gernot Rohr, insisting that Musa should play in an upcoming worldwide pleasant match. “That is my very own (in Delta we name it) slot. He should go, let him be the twenty fourth participant,” Pinnick added.
Musa’s inclusion paid off, as he performed a vital function in Nigeria’s marketing campaign, scoring a memorable brace in opposition to Iceland, a efficiency that solidified his place as a World Cup hero for the Tremendous Eagles. Reflecting on the result, Pinnick humbly remarked, “Musa was the hero on the World Cup. I’m not giving myself credit score, however there are some issues that God simply imputed in me to say.”
This revelation has ignited conversations concerning the complexities of participant choice, significantly the affect of soccer directors and the elements that form such selections.
