The Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Imo State Chapter, Rev. Divine Eches has berated the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for Super Eagles failure to secure the ticket to the FIFA world cup in Qatar.
Rev. Eches, who is also a former Nations Cup winning chaplain with the Super Eagles in South Africa 2013, stated this following the poor outing against Ghana who held Nigeria to a 1-1 draw to qualify on the away goal rule.
He decried the self-centred leadership misdemeanor of Pinnick that led to the team’s downfall, noting that he prides himself above the job.
The chaplain added that previous NFF leadership had seek for his Spiritual opinion which led to tremendous success, but Pinnick failed to recognise all these which has led to damages of the Nigeria football fraternity.
He said: “The reason for our inability to qualify can be traced to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation, especially the President, Amaju Pinnick.
“He is a young man that is doing well as a person and he prides himself with his personal sucess, gains, contacts, wealth, connections and ability to meander to work through CAF and FIFA.
“But these successes of his is now robbing off on the very foundation that gave rise to all these his success and this directly got into his head that he seemed as the overall and that is why he cannot listen to advise.
“He wants to do whatever that is in his head and mind at all times. I know few times, I’ve reached out to him to see what we can do to provide Spiritual assistance to the team.
“One, during the World Cup in Russia, I wanted to help in my little way before they used to invite me during the time of Lulu, Uchegbulam, Maigari where all humble enough to look for probably assistance from all angle to ensure that all hands are on deck at least qualification for world cup and others.
“He is fool of himself that when you are making suggestions to him, he sees them as trash. Like yesterday, I saw terrible things about the match and what it will cost us like I did in our matches in South Africa where the NFF and Late Stephen Keshi insisted I must be around to assist the nation which I did without looking for monetary gain and the result is their for all .
He informed Wakawaka Sports Extra,
That he reached out to the Lulu led board when things where bad towards our qualifications for the world cup in Brazil and I know what we did then with the board, I reached out to Pinnick if I can speak with you. He said he was very busy.
“He has caused damage in the nation, our reputation in football is gone by this singular non qualification. These calamity would have been avoided if only he had listened to me.
“Football is supplying unity and happiness and can’t be allowed in the hands of one man whose success has taken over his head.”