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Former NFF President Amaju Pinnick says he has no interest in returning to lead Nigerian football through a proposed normalisation committee.
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His comments follow the resignation of NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and other senior officials amid mounting pressure over Nigeria’s recent football setbacks.
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President Bola Tinubu has ordered reforms aimed at addressing governance, administration, development and accountability problems within Nigerian football.
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Pinnick says Nigeria has enough capable administrators to navigate the leadership transition and that he has moved on from domestic football management.
August 27, (THEWILL) — Former Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick has ruled out returning to lead the country’s football administration through any proposed normalization committee, THEWILL can authoritatively report.
This development comes as the federation faces a leadership transition following the resignation of President Ibrahim Gusau and other senior officials.
Pinnick, who led the NFF from 2014 to 2022, dismissed speculation linking him with the leadership of a possible transitional body and a subsequent return to the federation’s Presidency.
In a phone conversation with THEWILL, Pinnick said, “I’m not interested. Nigeria is a country blessed with eggheads in all areas of human endeavor, so the country will not lack leadership in football.”
Pinnick, who remains involved in international football administration, added that he had “done my part and since moved on”, although he would provide support when required.
His comments come amid one of the most significant leadership upheavals at the NFF in recent years. Gusau, General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi and members of the federation’s Executive Committee resigned on Thursday, August 27, 2026, following sustained criticism over Nigeria’s recent international results.
The Super Eagles failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while the Super Falcons missed the 2027 Women’s World Cup after losing their African play-off to South Africa, ending Nigeria’s record of qualifying for every edition of the women’s tournament since its inception in 1991. Before the resignations, the NFF had established a fact-finding committee to examine the causes of the national teams’ recent setbacks.
Tinubu pushes for sweeping football reforms
President Bola Tinubu has since ordered a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football, directing the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and other stakeholders while engaging FIFA and the Confederation of African Football.
The Presidency said the overhaul should address weaknesses in governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability.
Earlier reports suggested that the NSC was considering a normalization committee. However, the commission later denied claims that the Federal Government had ordered NFF officials to resign and said consultations were continuing.
Any formal normalization arrangement would also have to account for FIFA’s rules governing the independence of national football associations. Under FIFA statutes, its Council may, in exceptional circumstances and in consultation with the relevant continental confederation, replace a member association’s executive with a normalization committee for a specified period.
Pinnick, however, has made clear that he does not want to be part of such a leadership arrangement.
“I am enjoying absolute peace with my family while consolidating and recalibrating my various businesses,” he told THEWILL.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
