By John Egbokhan

It was his first real national assignment after climbing to the top of football administration in Nigeria.

The venue was the Abuja National Stadium. The day was October 15. The match, a 2015 AFCON qualifying fixture against Sudan, ordinarily should pass for an easy tie for the Super Eagles but the setting was different as the African champions were languishing in third position in Group A, comprising Congo and South Africa.

It was a must-win game for the Eagles, who were staring at a shock elimination from next year’s tournament. And quite rightly, Amaju Pinnick, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) was in no mood for any messy game.

Aware of the passion that Nigerians attach to football, Amaju knew the consequences of not qualifying for next year’s AFCON. Fans came in their thousands to see this encounter. Their darling team, who for the record, are the defending champions of the tournament, have been stuttering since the qualifying campaign started on September 6 in Calabar.

They had lost to an unfancied Congolese side 3-2 at the U.J Esuene Stadium, much to the disbelief of fans. They followed that result up with a barren draw with South Africa some five days after in Cape Town, before suffering an unlikely 1-0 capitulation to Sudan in Khartoun last Saturday.

That game sent shock waves round Nigeria. It seemed like the god of football had deserted Nigeria.

Pinnick had inherited a huge liability and was facing fans disenchantment with the whole set up of the technical crew. Calls for Keshi’s sack grew with loud proportions.

It was these cocktail of problems that greeted Pinnick at his first official assignment when Eagles hosted Sudan in the reverse fixture of the AFCON qualification campaign on Wednesday.

Few moments after sauntering into the stadium decked in his ash-coloured blazer, Pinnick was confronted with chants for the sack of Keshi by agitated fans, who chorused in one unison that “all we are saying, Keshi must go”. They continued pressing home their demand for the sack of the former Togo and Mali gaffer, much to the surprise of Pinnick.

For the period the match lasted, he did not stay in one position for more than five minutes, at times, gesticulating, holding his head, clenching his fists and in another breadth, throwing his legs out.

For most part of the game, he came out of the state box to express his frustrations at chances missed by the Eagles.

Pinnick’s animations reminded one of former Flying Eagles coach, Godwin Uwua, who is remembered for his uncontrolled animations during matches.

But for Pinnick, who even at times,hit his right foot on the ground repeatedly in obvious reaction to missed chances, his passion for the game was truly evident in the way he remonstrated during the game against Sudan.

When Eagles took the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, Pinnick leapt for joy to celebrate but was soon cursing his luck when Sudan equalised.

He suddenly started shouting hoarse at no one in particular, oblivious of the people around him. He was simply in a world of his own. His emotions ran riot as he was consumed with the unfolding drama. But Eagles pressed hard for the second goal and deservedly scored, as Pinnick got jumpy in celebration. He sent his hands into the air and beckoned on the Director of Technical, Emmanuel Ikpeme to come for a chat, which was quickly completed in few minutes as the latter jogged back to his standing position.

A miss by Emmanuel Emenike sent Pinnick into another state of animation as emotions boiled over with sighs of ehh renting the cold night.

But when Ahmed Musa scored the third goal, Pinnick flung his hands into the fading night to enjoy the moment, after many panicky moments. Though still feeling tensed, he was somewhat relieved that Eagles won to keep hopes alive of reaching next year’s AFCON.

And speaking to Saturday Vanguard Sport, Pinnick said he was simply engulfed in the match.

“Thank God that we won. Victory was important today. During the course of the match, I received over 300 text messages from Nigerians, who were following the action on television. Nigerians are so passionate and religious about football and we just have to do our best to make them happy”, said Pinnick.