The maiden version of the Large Sports activities Dialogue in Ikoyi, Lagos, reached a defining second on Monday when former President of the Nigeria Soccer Federation (NFF) and ex-CAF Vice President, Amaju Pinnick, got here below intense scrutiny over Nigeria’s tangible advantages from his years in continental and international soccer management.
The dialogue, designed to reappraise Nigeria’s sports activities sector and deal with its regular decline—highlighted by the Tremendous Eagles’ failure to qualify for each the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups—introduced collectively key stakeholders from throughout the business.
Ogunjimi’s Query That Silenced the Corridor
Stress rose when Prince Abayomi Ogunjimi, Nationwide President of the Genuine Nigeria Soccer & Allied Sports activities Supporters Membership (ANFASSC), took the microphone. Talking calmly however firmly, he delivered a query that resonated with many Nigerians.
Instantly addressing Pinnick, he requested: “With the highly effective place you held at CAF, what precisely did Nigeria profit out of your workplace? What did your function deliver again dwelling to develop Nigerian sport?”
His query created a direct hush within the room, as directors, journalists, entrepreneurs, and federation officers waited for Pinnick’s response.
Although respectfully phrased, the inquiry mirrored widespread public frustration over the perceived disconnect between Nigeria’s international illustration and native sports activities improvement.
Pinnick Responds
Pinnick, in his response, emphasised the structured nature of FIFA and CAF funding.
“Each cash you obtain from FIFA comes with a selected function. When you don’t comply in 2014, you’ll not get 2015. Every thing is documented. Go and do your research, go to Zurich and discover out what’s being given and the way cash is retired.”
He added that Nigeria’s worldwide picture—typically related to corruption and safety considerations—has negatively influenced international perceptions, limiting alternatives to host main occasions.
Monday Kalu’s Comply with-Up: The Morocco Comparability
The scrutiny intensified when Monday Kalu, former youth worldwide and sports activities strategist, posed one other urgent query.
He in contrast Nigeria’s sports activities progress up to now decade to that of Morocco, a nation extensively praised for deliberate planning, infrastructural funding, and strategic execution.
Kalu requested: “If Morocco, throughout the similar interval you served as NFF President, might reposition their sports activities via deliberate planning and infrastructure improvement, what did you do with the cash FIFA gave Nigeria?”
Pinnick once more defended his tenure, insisting that the federation operated below strict auditing procedures:
“We had been audited by PWC, the quantity two audit firm on the planet. You can’t inform them what to do. Every thing is captured within the audit. It’s not about saying we obtained FIFA 1.0; it’s documented.”
He maintained that accusations of mismanagement had been largely unfounded and reiterated that Nigeria’s credibility suffers when corruption claims go unchecked.
A Defining Second of Accountability
The exchanges between Pinnick, Ogunjimi, and Kalu grew to become one of many standout moments of the Large Sports activities Dialogue 1.0.
