President of the
Confederation of African Football (CAF), Alhaji (Dr) Issa Hayatou has affirmed
that failure to qualify for the 30th Africa Cup of Nations has not
diminished the importance of Nigeria to the entire structure of African
football.
In a chat with
President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick after the
Draw Ceremony for the championship in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea on Wednesday,
Hayatou admitted that the entire African football family will miss the Super Eagles at next year’s finals.
“The whole of
Africa will miss Nigeria in Equatorial Guinea. But the absence will not in any
way diminish your stature as a very big and influential nation in the African
game.
“It would have
been good to have the defending champions here. Nigeria brings so much value to
the Africa Cup of Nations. However, we know that you will come back much
stronger, as you did in winning the Cup in South Africa last year after missing
out of the 2012 championship.”
Africa’s football
supremo also celebrated the vitality and enterprise that the youthful Amaju
Pinnick will bring to Nigeria’s football administration,
while formally welcoming him to the African football family.
“I am happy to see someone like you take charge of
Nigeria football. I have always known you right from Nigeria ’99 World Youth
Championship to the African Women Championship finals in Delta State in 2002
and 2006. I know your dynamism and capacity and I believe you will deliver for Nigeria football. There is so much promise for the
future.”
Pinnick was the
youngest head of National Association at the Draw Ceremony held in Malabo on
Wednesday.
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