CAF election: Sports Minister charges Pinnick to protect Nigeria’s interest News

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CAF election: Sports Minister charges Pinnick to protect Nigeria’s interest

By Daily Sports on March 8, 2017

Nigeria’s Sports Minister Solomon Dalung has advised the President of the Nigerian football Federation, Amaju Pinnick to ensure he votes for the candidate who will best serve Nigeria’s football interest in the CAF presidential election.

Speaking on Tuesday, Dalung says Nigeria will only support the candidate who will aid the growth of Nigerian Football.

He said: “Nigeria is a major player in international relations and international politics and every major decision Nigeria takes, it must consider national interest.

“National interest is very, very paramount. Our national interest here, in this election is the World cup qualifier because anything that will affect our world cup campaign will be against national interest of Nigeria.”

The 2017 CAF elections are between incumbent Issa Hayatou and the President of the Madagascar Football Association Ahmad Ahmad.

Hayatou is seeking an 8th term in office while Ahmad is seeking to become the first man to defeat the Cameroonian since 1988.

Pinnick has already voiced his support for Ahmad but his decision has been severely criticised.

The Nigerian Division of the executive committee of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) on its part has thrown its weight behind Hayatou.

In a statement, the Nigerian Division of the CAF executive committee says Pinnick’s decision was a personal opinion and does not reflect the view of the Nigerian football Federation or Nigerians.

The members pledged their ‘unalloyed support’ to Issa Hayatou ad praised the Cameroonian for developing African football. (TV360 Nigeria)

•Photo shows Sports Minister Solomon Dalung.

Source Daily Sports

Posted March 8, 2017