Former Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, has received high praise from the Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, following his narrow loss in the FIFA Council elections.

In Wednesday's election, Pinnick garnered 28 votes, and finished seventh in the race for six-man African representatives for FIFA Council. 

Olopade, who was in Egypt alongside the NSC Chairman to support Pinnick on the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, commended him for his courage and dedication to Nigerian football.

"I am very proud of you, Amaju Melvin Pinnick. You fought where many Nigerians like you can only run their mouth. You had a stint in CAF and FIFA where you used your network to position so many Nigerians and did a good job for our country," Olopade stated.

Despite the political dynamics favoring only serving Federation Presidents, Pinnick contested until the early hours of the morning, ultimately losing by just one vote. Olopade emphasized how a canceled ballot could have changed the outcome.

"We saw firsthand how the politics of only serving Chairmen of Federation should and must emerge. Despite this, you soldiered on into the early hours of this morning. Despite it all, you lost only narrowly by one vote. I am sure if the canceled paper was counted, just maybe we could have seen a three-way 29 tie," he noted.

Olopade also lauded the efforts of those who backed Pinnick’s bid, acknowledging the role of President Tinubu, NFF President Ibrahim Musa, NFF General Secretary Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the NSC.

"I want to say how proud you should be of yourself and how thankful you should be to President Bola Tinubu, to NFF President Ibrahim Musa, the GS, Mallam Shehu Dikko, and the NSC. But above it all, you must count your blessings and say a huge thank you to God Almighty for all He has done for you all through your football career as an administrator, and more He shall do for you," Olopade stated.

Concluding his message, Olopade reaffirmed his personal support and admiration for Pinnick, calling him a true patriot of Nigerian football.

"My friend, my brother, and my compatriot, I love you, and I am proud of you," he said.

Pinnick, a former CAF Executive Committee member and FIFA Council representative, has played a crucial role in Nigerian and African football administration, leveraging his influence to position several Nigerians in key roles within international football bodies.