Sports
Pinnick denies financial misconduct allegations over FIFA Goal project in Kebbi
Amaju Pinnick, the immediate past President of the Nigerian Football Federation, has dismissed allegations of financial impropriety concerning the FIFA Goal Project in Kebbi State, characterizing the situation as a misunderstanding.
His statement follows widespread criticism after FIFA posted an image on social media displaying the Kebbi Stadium under the FIFA Forward Programme.
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The photograph, captured in 2023, showed an incomplete facility and sparked outrage among Nigerians questioning how the allocated $1.2 million was utilized.
Recall earlier reported that the Chairman of the House Committee on Sports, Kabiru Amadu, clarified that the Federation of International Football Associations does not build or construct standard stadiums for nations, contrary to public expectations surrounding the controversial Kebbi Stadium project.
During an appearance on ARISE News on Wednesday, Pinnick maintained that the project was handled transparently, noting that FIFA’s rigorous financial oversight guarantees appropriate fund usage.
“If FIFA gives you their money, they audit their money, they know A to Z, and they have standards. So if the contract was about 1.1 million dollars, 1.1 million dollars in 2020, how much was it in naira? Less than 400 million naira. That’s what people don’t know.
“Everything went according to plan. And even in the contract, I can share it; it was stated clearly that there was no variation. COVID came, and after COVID, you started building your workers on site and COVID, and everybody had to go. There was no additional dime to the contract, no variation, even in spite of COVID. There was a time in Nigerian football, I said, listen, you can hate Amaju Pinnick but love Nigerian football. Love Nigerian football.”
Pinnick urged Nigerians to verify facts before making judgments, highlighting that his administration is committed to accountability and the growth of football in the country. “So I just want to appeal, let us get our facts right before we come out to the public and start saying things,” he added.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives decided on Tuesday to establish a special committee to examine FIFA and Confederation of African Football grants totaling $25 million that were provided to the NFF.
After a 20-trophy haul, including the 2022-23 season – his best – where he led the club to a historic Continental Treble: the Premier League, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League, Pep Guardiola indicated his intention to leave Manchester City at the end of the season.
Guardiola’s 20 trophy haul, within a 10-year period, included six Premier League titles and the club’s only Champions League, confirms his enviable place as a football manager, transcending Barcelona FC, Bayen Munich before berthing at the Etihad.
Beginning his highlight career at Barcelona in 2007, he had left the Catalonian Giants in June 2012 to berth at Allianz Arena, in Germany, in 2013 where he spent three years, enriching the club’s shelf with seven trophies before his exit in 2016 on his way to England.
Aston Villa’s visit to the Etihad on Sunday will be his final match in charge, although he is set to continue working for the City Football Group as a global ambassador.
“What a time we have had together!” Guardiola said in a club statement on Friday. Don’t ask me the reasons I’m leaving. There is no reason, but deep inside, I know it’s my time. Nothing is eternal; if it were, I would be here. Eternal will be the feeling, the people, the memories, the love I have for my Manchester City.”
News of the Catalans’ impending departure was first reported on Monday.
At that point, the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss was tight-lipped on his future as City missed out on the Premier League title to Arsenal 24 hours later.
Former Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who previously worked on Guardiola’s staff at City, has been widely reported as the man set to take over at the Etihad.
The 55-year-old’s trophy haul also included three FA Cups, five League Cups, the Club World Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, and three Community Shields.
Guardiola arrived in England as already one of Europe’s most decorated coaches.
His four-year spell at boyhood club Barcelona between 2008 and 2012 captured admirers across the globe, winning two Champions Leagues and three La Liga titles.
He added three more league titles in three seasons at Bayern.
A similarly short spell was expected when City lured him to the Premier League.
But his influence has transformed the English game at all levels over the past 10 years.
Backed by the deep pockets of Abu Dhabi royalty, City have stepped out of the shadow of local rivals Manchester United to become the dominant force in the Premier League.
Guardiola’s brand of passing football has been copied from grassroots through to the elite level.
Even City’s competitors have turned to his disciples to catch up.
Arsenal’s 22-year wait to win the Premier League was ended by another of his former assistants, Mikel Arteta.
Liverpool boss Arne Slot has said his coaching philosophy was shaped by watching the City boss’ Barcelona team, while new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso moved to Bayern in the final years of his playing career to gain the experience of working under Guardiola.
The timing of Guardiola’s exit comes with the outcome of an investigation into more than 100 alleged breaches by City of financial regulations still to be released.
First charged by the Premier League in February 2023, an independent commission hearing concluded in December 2024, with the case hanging over City’s achievements on the pitch ever since.
Manchester City, practically handed Arsenal its first Premier League title on Tuesday, ending a 22-year wait to lift the most prestigious silverware in English football with a 1-1 draw outing with Bournemouth.
As a result, the final march of The Gunners with Crystal Palace on Sunday would be a formality, given that they are five goals clear of City, who needed to win their match today to keep hope alive to lift the trophy once again should Arsenal drop a point.
But that was not the case as Man City did not make it past the Cherries, who fought to extend their unbeaten streak to 17 league games, a run which has secured European football for the first time in the club’s history.
After finishing second for the past three seasons, Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have finally made it over the line to end a six-year trophy drought.
Arsenal edged to the brink of the title with an unconvincing 1-0 win over already relegated Burnley on Monday, which took them five points clear of City.
The Gunners, who have set the pace for most of the season, have bounced back impressively since losing to City last month, winning four straight league matches without conceding a goal.
On Monday, just 48 hours after completing a domestic cup double with victory over Chelsea in the FA Cup final, City were rocked by widespread reports that manager Pep Guardiola will depart after a decade in charge at the end of the season.
Victory at Wembley on Saturday secured a 20th trophy of Guardiola’s glorious reign.
But he cannot add to his six Premier League titles when Aston Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday for what is expected to be his final match in charge.
Guardiola had warned that fatigue could cost City against a highly motivated Bournemouth, who still have Champions League qualification in their sights for next season.
As it stands, Bournemouth will be in the Europa League after ensuring they will finish no lower than seventh.
Sixth could be good enough for a place in the Champions League if Aston Villa finish fifth and win Wednesday’s Europa League final.
City fans forlornly chanted “One more year, Guardiola” in the early stages at the Vitality Stadium in a bid to convince their decorated coach to see out the final season of his contract.
But if the travelling fans hoped City’s players would be inspired to give Guardiola a glorious goodbye, they were left sorely disappointed.
Antoine Semenyo had the ball in the net on his return to Bournemouth but was flagged offside in City’s best moment of a flat first half.
The home side suddenly sprang to life to open the scoring in the 39th minute.
Eli Junior Kroupi curled a brilliant strike into the top corner to set a new record of 13 goals in a debut Premier League season for a teenager.
Nico O’Reilly wasted City’s best chance of a lifeline when he was denied by Djordje Petrovic just seconds into the second half.
Guardiola watched on pensively as his side’s title challenge fizzled out with a whimper.
After winning what was billed a title decider against Arsenal last month, City put the destiny of the title back in their rivals’ hands by drawing 3-3 at Everton.
Guardiola looks set to depart having failed to win the league for two consecutive seasons for the first time in his coaching career.
Rayan and David Brooks hit the post as Bournemouth should have secured victory in Andoni Iraola’s final home game in charge.
Erling Haaland’s equaliser deep into stoppage time came too little, too late to save City’s title challenge.
But it was a big goal for Liverpool, who now have a three-point cushion over Bournemouth and a goal difference advantage of six heading into the final day battle to secure a top-five finish and Champions League football.
A goal from Kai Harvetz got Arsenal within a touching distance of the first Premier League trophy as it was enough to hand them a 1-0 victory over Burnley on Monday to open up a five-point lead at the top.
But it all depends on the club not dropping a point that would allow Manchester City closing the five-point gap and lifting the trophy on a goal-difference advantage, which will upscale the parched throat of management and supporters craving for a silverware over the years.
On a day Havertz headed in the only goal but was also lucky to avoid a second-half red card that could swung the title race back in Manchester City’s favour the gunners are waiting the outcome of Tuesday clash between City and Bournemouth to see if the trophy would be arriving the Emirates earlier or wait for Sunday, when they would be in a position to decide their fate on their own.
A win against Crystal Palace on Sunday would bring the trophy to Emirates regardless the result of City against the Cherries,’ still enjoying a 16-game unbeaten run and beat Aston Villa.
However, the narrow margin of victory against a Burnley side that have long since been relegated does offer City hope.
An Arsenal draw at Selhurst Park would allow City to snatch the title on goal difference if Pep Guardiola’s team win their final two matches.
To add extra intrigue to the final days of the season, reports on Monday suggest Guardiola will leave City after a decorated decade in charge after Villa visit the Etihad on Sunday.
Roared on by an expectant capacity crowd in their final home game of the season, Arsenal were tipped to put the Clarets to the sword with ease.
Burnley have taken just two points from their last 10 matches but made Mikel Arteta’s men work for the three points on another nervy night at the Emirates.
Leandro Trossard struck the post from the edge of the area before Bukayo Saka saw a penalty appeal waived away as he attempted to turn in Havertz’s low cross.
Arsenal were forced to rely on their set piece threat once more to prise Burnley open.
Havertz rose highest to power in Saka’s delivery on 37 minutes as they scored from a corner for the 18th time in the league this season.
Yet the floodgates did not open and Arsenal were very fortunate not to have to defend their lead with 10 men for the final quarter.
Havertz raked his studs down the calf of Lesley Ugochukwu in a mistimed challenge.
Despite a VAR review, the original decision of a yellow card was not upgraded to red.
Havertz was quickly replaced by Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede’s arrival failed to kickstart Arsenal as an attacking force.
But their rock solid defensive record again edged them closer to the title.
Since losing to City last month, Arsenal have not conceded in their last four league games.
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