Nigeria’s Super Eagles lost 2-1 to Ivory Coast in the just concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
Former Nigeria Football Association president Amaju Pinnick has shared his experience convincing some Nigerian players based in England to join the Nigeria national team, Soccernet.ng reported.
Nigeria’s FIFA Council member has revealed that convincing players like Ademola Lookman and Alex Iwobi to play for the Super Eagles was a tough task during his tenure.
Lookman, who previously represented England’s youth teams at various levels, moved to Nigeria in 2022 and has been an integral part of the team ever since, scoring five goals and providing four assists.
In an interview with ThisDay, Pinnick acknowledged the challenges involved in facilitating the movement of these players due to political complexities and family relationships.
“It is also true that I played a key role in bringing some players to Nigeria. For example, we were the ones who brought Ademola Lookman to Nigeria. It was hell for him. There was a lot of politics involved. There’s a lot of intrigue and family dynamics. The same goes for (Alex) Iwobi. But like I said earlier, football is a continuation. I won’t say I brought them because they are an asset to the Federation today. ,” Pinnick said.
Despite the difficulties, Mr. Pinnick emphasized the importance of these players to the Nigeria national team and highlighted their contribution to the team’s success.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles finished runners-up in the recently concluded 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, with British players such as Lookman, Iwobi and Calvin Bassey playing key roles in Nigeria’s success.
