Eagles 2022 World Cup no-show still ‘haunting’ Pinnick

Amaju Pinnick, former President of the Nigeria Football Federation and member of the FIFA Council, is still troubled by his country's inability to qualify for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, according to TalkTalk Nigeria.

Amaju said this during an interview with Arise TV on Thursday.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup after a 1-1 aggregate result against fierce rivals Ghana, falling short on the away goal rule.

Almost two years later, Pinnick, who was the NFF president at the time, said he was still plagued by the country's inability to participate in the largest football event and asked the current NFF to give new coach Finidi George the necessary assistance to succeed ahead of next month's important World Cup  qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic.

Nigeria is currently third in Group C, with just two points after two games.


"The backroom staffing is more scientific right now. If he (Finidi) says he needs three backroom assistants, one for goalie training and the rest for other positions.

"We have tremendous talent in Nigeria, both on and off the pitch; you can't help but notice that Nigerians are everywhere.

"Assistant coaches are the engine room of any coach's success because they notice things the coach cannot. They draw his attention to things he can't see even before games. The team is made up of backstage staff.


"The coach is just like the leader; he harmonises and simplifies everything that they say and puts it to use but it goes beyond that.

"However, it is dependent on federation money, but I believe it is appropriate. Finidi should be able to do anything he wants. However, if funds are limited, they can talk to him about it because we have vital matches.


Pinnick went on to say, "It is impossible that Nigeria will not participate in the next World Cup. Even the last one, which we did not attend, still haunts me because I was the federation's head at the time.

"So, we must do everything possible to ensure that we get to that point where we can qualify."