Nigeria will win FIFA World Cup one day – Pinnick

The President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has expressed the hope that Nigeria’s Super Eagles will one day win the FIFA World Cup

Pinnick expressed the hope on Friday in Uyo after playing in the maiden novelty match between SWAN Selected team and Akwa Ibom Sports Arena team.

The NFF president said he decided to honour the  invitation to play in the match having in mind that if he failed to do so it could be taken as if he got hamstring injury or simply refused to participate.

Pinnick, who played in the colours of SWAN Selected side throughout the second half of the match, described sports journalists as  critical elements in Nigerian football reportage.

“We believe in working together. It has been an amazing support from sports journalists. One day we will win the World Cup.

Also, Paul Bassey, the Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Udom Emmanuel on sports, congratulated SWAN Selected on their victory over the Akwa Ibom team.

“Football knows no home turf. If you are a good team and on a good pitch, you can win anywhere.

“What you do today is exemplary, I wish we had started it earlier than now

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“I promise that whenever we have a home game and we are on a  training pitch and there is flood light, we will always do it again and again.’’

He said that sports writing remains his “ medium’’ which he could return to at the end of his assignment

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that in the match played under flood light Friday night at the Training Pitch, Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, SWAN Selected defeated their host s3-1.

Sports journalists led 2-0 in the first half of the novelty match before the homers which had Nse Essien, a state legislator representing Onna State Constituency, reduced the tally.

The SWAN Selected added the third goal to lift the maiden trophy.

The match was organised ahead of Saturday’s  Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier (Match Day 3) between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Mediterranean Knights of Libya.