President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council aspirant Amaju Pinnick says Nigeria is the most successful footballing nation in Africa.

Pinnick stated this when he appeared as a guest on Sunrise Daily, a Channels' Television Program Thursday where he discussed why he withdrew from CAF Presidency race. 

The former CAF first vice president had expressed ambition to contest for CAF presidency at the expiration of his tenure as the NFF boss but opted out in support of South Africa's businessman and owner of football club, Mamelodi Sundowns, Patrice Motsepe. 

Stating why he decided to contest at first, Pinnick said; "the issue was the former president was meant to do 12 years or 8 years and we were meant to come for the FIFA council. But, when they started doing things that they did and they didn't renew our tenure, we decided at that point let us take the bull by the horn, let us try and effect a change. It's not about Amaju Pinnick, it's about the continent of Africa."

The NFF boss further revealed reasons for his decision to back down but throw support on Motsepe to win the CAF President election scheduled for March 2021 in Rabat, Morocco.

"We have a team that we're working [with]", Pinnick began. "At the end of the day, we look at the team, we consulted. I consulted with the government. I consulted with every critical football stakeholder in Africa and even global. At the end of the day we decided that we needed somebody with an image so untainted, somebody that has blazed the trail in terms of business because football is all about business and at that point we decided to support Patrice Motsepe. He was part of our team."

Highlighting the personality of Motsepe, Pinnick added, "Patrice Mosepe is the biggest miner on the continent. He's one of the biggest club critical stakeholder in football. He owns Mamelodi Sundowns and they won the champions league in 2016. In all modesty, when you see someone you cannot stand shoulder to shoulder with in any ramification all you need to do is to queue behind him, wait for your time and pray to God to give you your time. We have our structure and we're working for him because if he gets there, the perception, the narrative everything about CAF will change."

In a statement issued in November titled “My Journey, My Passion, My Intention", Pinnick had explained that "Following consultations far and wide and within the broad spectrum of continental and global footballing interests and concerns, I have decided to be a candidate for the FIFA Council at the next Elective Congress of the Confederation of African Football scheduled for 21st March 2021 in Rabat, Morocco."

When stating the importance of the FIFA council seat and its benefit for Nigeria, the CAF executive committee member described Nigeria as the most Successful footballing nation in Africa. 

"The FIFA council is as important as even the CAF presidency", he stated. "Every benefit, every privilege that the CAF president has the same [is applicable to members of] the FIFA council. FIFA council is the biggest, the most important football decision making body in the world. I'm a member of the organizing committee for FIFA competitions at the moment. Everything we do, we recommend to the FIFA council and they take the decision. Only two Nigerians have been opportune to be in that council, Dr. Amos Adamu (2006 to 2010)  and Oyo Orok Oyo(1980 to 1988) and Nigeria being the most successful footballing nation in the continent, in all modesty I just believe we should have a place in that council."

Nigeria has won the Africa Cup Of Nations (AFCON) thrice, recent victory coming in 2013 Led by Late Stephen Okechukwu Keshi. At the AFCON in Egypt last year, Nigeria could only Manage a third place finish under the Tutelage of the current Super Eagles Coach Gernot Rohr.

Only one Nigerian Club has won the CAF Champions league, Enyimba, back to back in 2003 and 2004 but none could boast of CAF Confederation cup trophy.