Pinnick leads African football’s billion-dollar infrastructural lifeline drive

President of Nigeria Football Federation and member of the CAF Emergency Committee, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, was the pivot of a crucial meeting in the Ivoirian capital, Abidjan on Tuesday as the Confederation of African Football (CAF) set into action the push for a $1 billion lifeline for wholesale revamp of football infrastructure on the continent.

The NFF supremo, recently elected into world football’s highest decision –making organ, FIFA Council, was in eminent company with president of world football –governing body, FIFA, Gianni Infantino and the President of CAF, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, as they paid a visit to the president of African Development Bank, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina in Abidjan.

“It was a very important meeting, as we started the push for our objective of raising $1 billion to change the face of football infrastructure in Africa. You will recall that the CAF president made a statement regarding the need to raise this money for the sake of football infrastructure on our continent some weeks back. This new CAF regime is a doing team, not just a talking one. So, we have set out to work.”

“The president of FIFA was there as solidarity for the steps we are taking. We had a very useful and positive meeting with the president of African Development Bank. Further talks are lined up. We are also going to meet with other institutions and individuals, who have the means and the willingness to help African football to realise its potentials and break into the big time,” Pinnick told thenff.com.

The meeting in the Ivoirian capital came only a few days after the CAF inspection team released a report stating categorically that 22 of the 54 countries in Africa have no football pitch that meets the standard to host international matches.

Also at the meeting were CAF General Secretary, Mr. Veron Mosengo-Omba and Ivoirian football legend, Didier Drogba.