'Wanted to sign me for Warri Wolves' - Super Eagles captain on relationship with Pinnick, backs third term

Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa has detailed his relationship with Amaju Pinnick, stating that the Nigeria Football Federation boss attempted to bring him to Warri Wolves when he was Chairman of the Delta State club.

Pinnick has claimed that he is not seeking re-election for a third term in the aftermath of Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, on the advice of his family.

Allnigeriasoccer.com can report with certainty that Pinnick is still interested in a third term but is wary of setting the record straight because of his earlier pronouncement. 

The football administrator has taken several State FA Chairmen, who hold the aces in the NFF Presidential election, to Morocco for the ongoing 2022 Women's Africa Cup of Nations to help sway their decison ahead of the election.

Asked to share his thoughts on Pinnick's third term bid, Musa said in an exclusive interview with Arise News :  "I'd say I want him back but he has come out to say that he'll sit down with his family and they said it's time for him to leave so we don't have to force him.

"If a person that knows the job, loves this game, wants to quit, we can't force him. He knows what made him to make that statement. He decided he doesn't want to go for the third term so we just have to wait and see because I'm not voting, the Chairmen do the votes.

"Even when I was playing in Kano Pillars Amaju Pinnick wanted to sign me for Warri Wolves when he was the Chairman of the club so we have come a long way with him and than he believes what I can do."

Musa went on to confirm the key role Pinnick played in his inclusion in the Super Eagles squad to the 2018 World Cup, noting that his place on the roster was not guaranteed as a result of his lack of playing time at Leicester City.

"I remember back then in Leicester when I was not playing before the World Cup, a lot of people were complaining, 'Musa is not playing in Leicester so why is he going to the World Cup', but the president spoke with the coach that no matter what Musa has to be in the World Cup so I went to Russia and later on he was saying you see.

"I remember when I was back home without a club I was still called up to the Super Eagles which a lot of people questioned.

"We have a very good relationship with him but there is nothing personal apart from that. He believes in me and I believe in him, he knows what I can do as a leader."

Nigeria's all-time appearance maker Musa was in the Super Eagles team that failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup, coming off the bench to replace Oghenekaro Etebo in the 78th minute in the playoff tie versus Ghana at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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