Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has dismissed claims that his administration contributed to the decline of the late Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.
Pinnick said he had no reason to apologise to Keshi, insisting that the decisions taken by his administration regarding the former Nigeria captain were based on reports and what the federation believed was in the country’s interest.
He made the remarks during the latest episode of “The Pinnick Tapes” (REMASTERED): NFF Scandals EXposed, hosted by former Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, on his YouTube channel, Global Football Insights With Oliseh.
Responding to a question on whether the NFF’s relationship with Keshi during the final years of his tenure contributed to the decline of Nigeria’s golden era, Pinnick rejected the suggestion.
Asked what he would apologise to Keshi for if he had the opportunity to meet the late coach again, Pinnick said there was nothing to apologise for.
He described Keshi, who died in 2016 at the age of 54, as an icon and maintained that their relationship remained cordial until his death.
According to Pinnick, “There’s no way I would have apologised to Keshi. Keshi, God rest his soul, he was an icon.”
He added that he and Keshi maintained a warm relationship despite the controversies that surrounded the coach’s final years with the national team.
“We had a very warm relationship until he passed, and when he passed, we were the first people that went,” Pinnick said.
The former NFF boss also rejected allegations that his administration deliberately worked against Keshi, arguing that the federation acted on reports presented to it.
“But there’s no way I would have apologised to Keshi because we didn’t do anything wrong. We did what we did based on report,” he said.
Keshi remains one of the most celebrated figures in Nigerian football. He led the Super Eagles to victory at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa and guided the team to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
He also made history as the first African to win the Africa Cup of Nations both as a player and as a coach.
Pinnick’s latest comments have reignited discussions about the controversies surrounding Keshi’s final years as Super Eagles coach and the broader challenges that have affected Nigerian football.
The interview also touched on other issues surrounding the national team, including the treatment of indigenous coaches, the federation’s technical structure and the challenges experienced by Oliseh during his own tenure as Super Eagles coach.
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