President of the Nigeria Football Federation and FIFA Council Member, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick has sent a message of congratulations to Super Eagles’ midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Kelechi Iheanacho on the duo’s triumph with Leicester City over much –fancied Chelsea FC in Saturday’s FA Cup final in England.
Both players featured in the encounter at Wembley and at the end celebrated enthusiastically with a Nigeria flag as they joined a list of only seven other Nigerian players to have lifted England’s most glamorous diadem.
“I am very happy for both Ndidi and Iheanacho. They worked very hard for Leicester City throughout the campaign and themselves and the Club deserve the honour. I believe this triumph will serve as a major psychological boost for the two players ahead of our friendly games this summer and FIFA World Cup qualifiers starting in September.
Read Also: UPDATE: Ndidi, Iheanacho Help Leicester Clinch First-Ever FA Cup Title After Shocking Chelsea
“I am also very happy seeing the two players celebrating with the Nigerian flag at the end of it all. That was awesome.”
Ndidi and Iheanacho became only the second pair of Nigerians to have celebrated The FA Cup win in England, after Nwankwo Kanu and John Utaka triumphed with Portsmouth against Cardiff in 2008.
Before then, Daniel Amokachi had won with Everton in 1995; Celestine Babayaro with Chelsea in 2000; Kanu with Arsenal in 2002 and 2003 and John Mikel Obi with Chelsea in 2007. After the Kanu/Utaka feat in 2008, John Mikel Obi won again with Chelsea in 2009, 2010 and 2012; Alex Iwobi won with Arsenal in 2017 and; Victor Moses won with Chelsea in 2018.
4 Comments
It was a deep honor seeing the Nigerian flag flying. Am a Chelsea fan but deeply wanted my brothers to have the cup. Blood they say is thicker than water. Congratulations senior man and @Indidi D-ROCK of leister
PLEASE OGA PINNICK WORK quickly ON THE CHANGE OF NATIONALITY OF ADEMOLA LOOKMAN, EJARIA AND IKE UGBO AND STOP PLAYING POLITICS WITH THIS IDEA. IT TOOK SPAIN AND OTHER EUROPIAN COUNTRIES LESS MONTHS TO CHANGE NATIONALITY OF THEIR PLAYERS; WHY IS OUR OWN TAKING MORE THAN TWO YEARS FOR ONLY CHANGE OF NATIONALITY OF THESE PLAYERS AND YOU ARE ONE OF FIFA EXECUTIVES? PLEASE NOTE MR. MELVIN PINNICK IF ALL THESE PLAYERS WHO HAVE INDICATED THEIR WILLINGLESS TO PLAY FOR NIGERIA. IF THESE PLAYERS FAIL TO PLAY FOR US BECAUSE OF YOUR NEGLIGENCE AND LAZY ATTITUDES , NIGERIAN KNOWS WHOM TO HOLD HEAVILY RESPONSIBLE CALLED MR. MELVIN PINNICK PERIOD.
It was beautiful to see Nigeria Flag been carried by two Nigerians players. It was seen around the World. Group of my Church goers were curious and wanted to know my views about the match yesterday in my Church this morning. Everybody saw the joy in my face and were happy for Nigerians. I live in South West Florida, far away from my Homeland yet, l felt honored and extremely proud for our Ndidi and Iheanacho for what they have done for themselves and the Nigeria Nation yesterday. their names shall be written in Gold in Leicester City long after they have left the field of play. Congratulations guys.
Congrats for both of them and congrats to Leicester fc