Nigeria can win 2018 World Cup – Pinnick

The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has declared that Nigeria can lift the 2018 World Cup in Russia given the quality preparations the NFF is putting in place, Extrasportsnigeria.com reports.

Pinnick expressed the optimism during the official opening of the Federation’s Annual General Assembly in Jos – in the North Central region of the country – on Thursday.

Pinnick said that the country was well positioned now after it had overcome the challenges that bedevilled the nation’s football, particularly the previous year.

He said, “Our highest achievement is the qualification for the World Cup. Secondly, the preparations for World Cup have commenced in earnest as compared to the previous years.

“With the kind of preparations we are putting in place, I think we can win the World Cup.”

Pinnick added that the NFF had been given a clean bill of health, according to the report he received the previous night.

Declaring the Assembly open, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau thanked NFF for choosing the state for the event in spite the recent violent incidents caused by unidentified gunmen.

Lalong, who was represented by the state Commissioner of Sports, Danladi Mann, commended the football house’s efforts at improving the administration of the nation’s football.

The governor expressed the hope that Plateau United, the reigning champion of Nigeria Professional Football League, would win the CAF Champions League in its first participation in the tournament.