By Samindra Kunti in Doha
December 21 – Nigerian football official Amaju Pinnick (pictured) has claimed that the finances of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are “a big mess”.
In a historic achievement, Morocco finished fourth at the World Cup, the best-ever result for an African country, but off the pitch the state of African football remains precarious, something Pinnick as well as a number of African FA presidents have voiced concern over.
Addressing CAF’s $50 million settlement payment to former commercial agency partner Lagardere, Pinnick told Insideworldfootball: “It of course affects what we are doing. But the new president; Patrice Motsepe, is doing everything. First, he is a success of his own. A great success. He is bringing that acumen to football administration. We have done very well. It’s a gradual process. We are in a very big mess. But it is going to untidy. It is going to unravel. We are working as a team.’
CAF is paying Lagardere in two installments, but questionmarks remain over the financial stability of the confederation as well as over the future funding of the African Super League which is supposed to kick off in 2023.
A staunch ally of Motsepe and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Pinnick said CAF is on the right track: “When you are coming from an untidy situation you are struggling a bit. But we are getting to the promised land. New tournaments, new things are coming up like the women’s Champions league. A lot of things are coming up.”
Today (Wednesday) CAF boss Motsepe will stage a press conference, but the South African has always provided scant detail on his organisation’s financial situation. Pinnick was one of the first influential African football officials to throw his weight behind Motsepe when he ran for the CAF presidency.
Controversial at home, Pinnick no longer runs football in Nigeria, having been succeeded by Ibrahim Gusau at the top of the Nigerian Football Federation.
Reflecting on his eight-year presidency, he said: “My aim was simple: take Nigeria from the point of zero funding to 80% funding which we were able to achieve. There is no harmonious relationship between the superintended Ministry and the Federation. It affects a lot of things. If we look at the intensity of bickering and infighting, it has been a reflection of the passion we have for football. Some go about it rightly; some go about it wrongly.
“Gusau played a very key role in my own administration. He understands the dynamics, the theatrics and I believe with the right mindset he can do a lot better than what we achieved,” he concluded.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734952451labto1734952451ofdlr1734952451owedi1734952451sni@n1734952451osloh1734952451cin.l1734952451uap1734952451