FIFA Council member and Nigeria Football Federation President, Amaju Pinnick has predicted total turnaround in football infrastructural development in Africa under the tenure of incumbent Confederation of African Football President, Patrice Motsepe.
Pinnick who made this disclosure when football bigwigs including FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, CAF president, Patrice Motsepe, Secretary General of CAF, Véron Mosengo-Omba and Chelsea Ivorian football legend, Didier Drogba went to Cote’d’Ivoire capital, Abidjan to see the Chairman, African Development Bank, Dr Akinwunmi Adeshina with the sole aim of discussing what can be done to improve football economy in Africa through the development of the continent’s infrastructure.
Pinnick noted that new CAF President, Motsepe has been scouring the entire continent and the world over to ensure that he seeks partnership that will help develop football infrastructure in Africa that will ensure that footballers in the continent target playing in Africa if they are unable to get clubs in the top six or seven leagues in Europe.
Pinnick said: “The vision of Patrick Motsepe for the continent of Africa is very clear. He wants massive infrastructural development as a pivot for football economy in the continent.
“He believes that Africa has abundant of talent and that if African players want to live and play in Europe they should only play in the six or seven best leagues in Europe and anything aside that they should play in Africa. Look at most of African players where they naturalised in France, Belgium and other places can equally come to Africa and help.
“But the clear way of doing that is to have massive infrastructural development. Since, he came on as President he has been working with FIFA very closely and with so many organizations including working with African Development Bank.
“It is the reason we paid a visit to the home of the President of the African Development Bank yesterday to start up discussion in that regard. It is a very clear vision. FIFA President, CAF President, myself, Didier Drogba, the Deputy General Secretary of FIFA, the General Secretary of CAF and it was a very fruitful discussion.
“I think I’m happy because there is going to be a turnaround in football economy in Africa under Patrick Motsepe. The vision is very clear on the continent.”
