Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Amaju Pinnick, has revealed the pivotal role he played in ensuring Ahmed Musa’s inclusion in Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup squad despite concerns over his lack of playing time at Leicester City.
The then-26-year-old forward struggled for game time with Leicester City ahead of the World Cup in Russia, raising doubts about his place in the national team.
However, Musa went on to deliver a remarkable performance, scoring a brace in Nigeria’s 2-0 victory over Iceland, the Super Eagles’ only victory at the tournament.
Speaking during the CAF Awards ceremony, where Ademola Lookman was crowned the 2024 African Player of the Year, Pinnick recounted how he facilitated Lookman’s switch to represent Nigeria.
He then delved into Musa’s story, emphasizing the influence he wielded during his tenure as NFF president.
“When I was in the NFF, I recall when [Ahmed] Musa was about to be dropped from the squad two or three matches before the World Cup because he wasn’t playing for Leicester [City]. There were a lot of issues,” Pinnick told Ojora Babatunde.
“I don’t usually intervene, but I called the coach and said, ‘Musa must go for this game—one of the international friendly games.’ The coach asked why, and I said, ‘In Delta, we call it slot. Just let him be the 24th player.’ Guess what? Musa ended up being the hero in 2018.”
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“I recall just before he (Lookman) played his first game for Nigeria. There were documents / correspondence he needed. I had to rush to Ikoyi club to meet his dad in ensuring I get it personally.”
— Ojora Babatunde (@ojbsports) December 17, 2024
Former Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick is delighted that his… pic.twitter.com/IWobSXv2rr
Pinnick’s insistence ensured that Musa, despite his struggles at club level, donned the Super Eagles jersey at the World Cup and delivered a memorable performance.
