Sports
FORMER GREEN EAGLES STAR PAUL OKOKU CRITICIZES AMAJU PINNICK’S FIFA COUNCIL TENURE, SAYS NIGERIAN FOOTBALL GAINED NOTHING
Former Green Eagles player and 1984 AFCON silver medalist, Paul Okoku, has expressed disappointment over Amaju Pinnick’s tenure in the FIFA Council, stating that Nigerian football gained nothing from his administration. Okoku’s comments come as mixed reactions trail Pinnick’s exit from the FIFA Council following his defeat in an election held in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday. Pinnick lost to candidates from Mauritania and Djibouti, Ahmed Yahya and Souleman Hassan Waberi, respectively.
Speaking from his base in the United States, Okoku emphasized that Pinnick’s exit should serve as a wake-up call for Nigerian football. He stressed that if Nigeria secures another FIFA Council seat in the future, it must be occupied by someone who prioritizes national interest over personal ambition. “This is not about celebrating anyone’s downfall,” Okoku told The Guardian. “Instead, Pinnick’s exit should serve as a wake-up call. If Nigeria ever secures another FIFA Council seat, it must go to someone who prioritizes national interest over personal ambition.”
Other stakeholders also criticized Pinnick’s tenure. Former Green Eagles winger Adegoke Adelabu questioned Pinnick’s impact, stating, “If Pinnick could not make any meaningful impact when he was in charge of NFF, what do you expect of him at such a highly professional office? His tenure speaks for itself.” Harrison Jalla, a former national team player, described Pinnick’s four years in the FIFA Council as a “complete disaster,” accusing him of personalizing his FIFA Council membership for self-aggrandizement.
Ahmed Shuaibu Gara-Gombe, former chairman of Gombe FC, attributed Pinnick’s failure to his own actions, stating that he denied others the opportunity to contest elections locally. “Amaju got what he planted. He denied many other people who desired to contest elections locally into the Board of the NFA and into some states football associations’ opportunity. The law of karma is real,” Gara-Gombe said.
Despite the criticism, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, praised Pinnick’s resilience. Olopade, who was in Cairo to support Pinnick alongside NSC Chairman Shehu Dikko, noted that Pinnick lost the election by a narrow margin. “I came to Egypt along with the Chairman of the NSC, Shehu Dikko, as directed by President Bola Tinubu to give Pinnick all the necessary support. And we saw first-hand how the politics of only serving Chairmen of Federations should and must emerge, but despite this, he lost narrowly by one vote,” Olopade said.
Following his defeat, Pinnick expressed gratitude to those who supported him and acknowledged the fierce nature of football politics. “I have only gratitude to give to the Almighty God, to those who have helped me one way or the other, and to all those I have met on my way. Football politics is fierce, but I am proud to have fought a good fight. I campaigned hard; travelled to more than 30 countries. Hours before the election, I was sure of close to 40 votes. But politics happened,” Pinnick said. The reactions to Pinnick’s exit highlight the need for accountability and effective leadership in Nigerian football.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi reached a remarkable milestone on Wednesday, scoring the 900th goal of his illustrious career, but it wasn’t enough to prevent Inter Miami from being eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup on away goals after a 1-1 draw with Nashville SC.
Messi, 38, opened the scoring just seven minutes into the second leg of the Round of 16 clash, giving Miami an early advantage in what was the club’s final game at their Chase Stadium home in Fort Lauderdale.
However, Nashville’s Cristian Espinoza equalized in the 74th minute, sending the visitors from Tennessee through to the quarter-finals under the away goals rule.
The goal marked Messi’s 81st in Major League Soccer since joining Inter Miami in 2023. Across his career, he has also scored 672 goals for Barcelona, 32 for Paris Saint-Germain, and 115 for the Argentina national team.
Goal number 900 comes 21 years after Messi’s senior debut goal for Barcelona in a 2-0 win over Albacete in 2005, when he was just 17. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, Messi still trails his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who currently has 965 career goals.
Speaking ahead of the milestone, Miami manager and former teammate Javier Mascherano described Messi’s goal record as “insane.” “I’ve been lucky to witness many of his goals up close, and that’s a privilege. The number we’re talking about is insane that’s why Leo is one of a kind,” Mascherano said.
Wednesday’s match was also a farewell to Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium, their home since entering Major League Soccer in 2020. The team is set to move to a new 26,700-seat facility next month.
Messi, who has already extended his Inter Miami contract through 2028, is expected to feature in his sixth World Cup later this year as Argentina defend their title in the expanded 48-team tournament across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Messi’s career has been defined by prolific scoring. He netted 672 times in 778 games for Barcelona, winning 35 trophies, then added 32 goals in 75 appearances for PSG, and 81 goals in 96 matches for Inter Miami, helping the team secure the 2023 Leagues Cup and the 2025 MLS Cup.
Internationally, he has scored 115 goals in 196 appearances, including two in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup final victory over France.
Despite Messi’s record-breaking achievement, Inter Miami will look ahead to the new season and their new home, while fans celebrate one of football’s greatest ever scorers.
Football
Atletico Edge Thriller, Knock Out Spurs 7–5 on Aggregate to Reach Champions League Quarter-Finals
Atletico Madrid survived a spirited comeback attempt from Tottenham Hotspur to book their place in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, despite a 3–2 defeat in the second leg in London.
Diego Simeone’s side advanced 7–5 on aggregate after a dramatic encounter at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the hosts pushed hard to overturn a heavy first-leg deficit.
Tottenham struck first through Randal Kolo Muani, who powered home a header in the 30th minute to ignite hopes of a comeback. But Julian Alvarez responded swiftly after the break, levelling for Atletico with a composed finish.
The hosts refused to back down, with Xavi Simons restoring their lead with a stunning strike from the edge of the box. However, Atletico hit back again as David Hancko headed home in the 75th minute to keep the Spanish side firmly in control of the tie.
Simons added a late penalty in stoppage time, but it proved too little, too late, as Atletico held on to progress.
Despite being under pressure for long spells, Atletico’s resilience ensured they avoided a historic collapse, having built a commanding advantage in the first leg.
They will now face Barcelona in the quarter-finals after the Catalan side’s dominant win over Newcastle.
For Tottenham, the defeat ends their European campaign and shifts focus back to their domestic struggles. Currently hovering just above the relegation zone in the Premier League, their fight for survival now takes centre stage.
While the result exposed Atletico’s defensive vulnerabilities, Simeone’s men remain in contention for European glory though sterner tests lie ahead.
Manchester United secured a convincing 3–1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday in a Premier League clash that saw captain Bruno Fernandes set a new club assist milestone.
The breakthrough came early in the match when Casemiro headed home from a corner delivered by Fernandes, giving United the lead. The hosts extended their advantage after Fernandes set up Matheus Cunha for the second goal.
Substitute Benjamin Šeško later sealed the victory with a late strike to ensure all three points for United.
Fernandes’ two assists in the match saw him surpass the long-standing club Premier League assist record previously held by former United star David Beckham. The Portuguese midfielder has now recorded 15 assists in the league this season and reached a total of 100 assists in all competitions for the club.
The win continues a strong run of form for United under manager Michael Carrick, with the team climbing from seventh to third in the league standings on 54 points. The gap between United and fifth-placed Liverpool FC now stands at nine points, boosting the club’s hopes of securing qualifications for the UEFA Champions League next season.
Fernandes later joked about his connection with Casemiro, saying the Brazilian “should give me a share of his goal bonuses,” while praising his teammate’s movement and timing in the box.
The result strengthens United’s push for a top-four finish as the Premier League season enters its decisive stage.