Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President Amaju Melvin Pinnick has categorically ruled out a return to the helm of the federation, stating that he has no intention of seeking another term in office.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with News Central, Pinnick acknowledged that he remains eligible to contest the presidency but made it clear that his focus has shifted away from frontline leadership.
“I’m young. I’m 55. I can still be an NFF president. But do I want to be? Never,” Pinnick said.
“I’ve done eight years, and I’m okay with it. It’s now about moving forward—helping the federation, identifying some of its inadequacies, and figuring out how to make it better.”
Pinnick served two full terms as NFF president between 2014 and 2022, overseeing a period that also saw him rise in continental and global football administration.
During his tenure, he held key roles including First Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and membership of FIFA’s Organising Committee for Competitions.
His decision to step aside permanently from the presidency signals the close of a significant chapter in Nigerian football administration, with Pinnick now positioning himself to support the federation’s development from outside the top office.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
