The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Sallah: Ansar-Ud-Deen urges Tinubu to work on food sufficiency

    Sallah: Ansar-Ud-Deen urges Tinubu to work on food sufficiency

    The Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria has extends greetings to all Muslims across Nigeria and around the world on the occasion of Eid-il-Adha celebrations.

    The organisations enjoined Nigerians to reflect on the spirit of sacrifice and the teachings of Prophet Ibrahim, who demonstrated unwavering faith and obedience to Allah.

    A statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Muhammed Sola Hassan, called on the government to implement policies that support agriculture,, provide incentives for farmers, and ensure that food distribution systems are efficient and equitable. 

    Hassan said food security is a pressing issue that affects millions of Nigerians. 

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    He said: “The economic situation has placed significant strain on the livelihoods of many Nigerians. Inflation, unemployment, and a high cost of living are realities that cannot be ignored. It is a time for us to unite in seeking solutions and supporting one another. 

    “We urge the Federal Government to take the bull by the horn by intensified in the provision of mechanized farming across the geo-political zone of the country in order to have abundance of food sufficiency and thereby conquer food insecurity.”

  • Tinubu congratulates South Afica’s Ramaphosa on re-election

    Tinubu congratulates South Afica’s Ramaphosa on re-election

    President Bola Tinubu has congratulated President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa on his re-election to lead his country for another term in office. 

    In a statement on Saturday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the President also commended the people of South Africa for the peaceful and successful conduct of the general election. 

    He wished President Ramaphosa a successful term in office and called for strengthening bilateral ties between Nigeria and South Africa as strategic partners in Africa.

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    “President Bola Tinubu extends his warm congratulations to His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, on his re-election.

    “The President also congratulates the people of South Africa on the peaceful and successful conduct of the general election.

    “While wishing President Ramaphosa a successful term in office, President Tinubu calls for the strengthening of bilateral ties between Nigeria and South Africa as strategic partners in Africa for the overall advancement of the continent,” the statement reads. 

  • Ces’t  Fini-di :  NFF set to hire foreign  technical adviser for Super Eagles  

    Ces’t  Fini-di :  NFF set to hire foreign  technical adviser for Super Eagles  

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has resolved to hire an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the next few weeks  in order  to revive the country’s disappointing 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifying campaign .

    Nigeria sit fifth in the Group C of the World Cup campaign with three points from four games and are four points adrift of table topper, Rwanda.

    The NFF Executive Committee rose from an emergency meeting held in Abuja  on Wednesday  with the  resolve to hire a more capable hand  ahead of current head coach, Finidi George to ensure the country does not miss out on two consecutive World Cup editions having failed to qualify for the 2022 edition held in Qatar.

    The NFF said in the communique made available to NationSport that it apologized to Nigerians for the Eagles woeful start to the World Cup Qualifiers and that necessary measures have been put in place to ensure the country bounces back when the qualifiers resume again in March next year.

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    Though silent on the  fate of coach Finidi, it’s apparent that his  it’s all over (Ces’t fini as they say in the french language) for the embattled for Enyimba FC Coach  should the NFF  finally hire a foreign technical adviser.

    “The Executive Committee wholeheartedly apologized to Nigerians for the dismal output and subsequent very poor returns of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, in four out of 10 matches in the ongoing qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, and pledged to work assiduously and put necessary measures in place to ensure a better-prepared squad ahead of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in September this year and the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025,” the communique read.

    “Furthermore, the Executive Committee resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

    “The Committee resolved to beef up the NFF Technical Department with more qualitative hands. Equally, the Technical and Development Sub-Committee will be re-jigged with immediate effect.”

    The Super Eagles will face Rwandans’ Wasps on March 19th  in Kigali before the home tie with the Warriors of Zimbabwe a few days later.

  • Onigbinde, Uchegbulam berate  NFF on poor World Cup results

    Onigbinde, Uchegbulam berate  NFF on poor World Cup results

    Foremost  indigenous coach  Chief Adegboye Onigbinde and  respected  football administrator Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam  has berated the  leadership of  the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF)  over the  disastrous campaign  of the Super Eagles towards  the  2026 FIFA World Cup  to be held in the USA, Mexico and Canada.

    Against all expectations, the Super Eagles  are lying  second to the last in group C  with just  three points  from  their opening four matches  and  the coach Finidi George-led team  was  last  Monday beaten 2-1 by Republic of Benin thus plunged the World  Cup campaign into jeopardy.

    But Chief Onigbinde, the first  local coach  to lead  the national men’s soccer team to the World Cup at Korea/Japan 2002  said the  problem befuddling  the  Super Eagles was  beyond  the embattled coach George who  was only named as a substantive coach  in April.

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    “The major problem (of the Super Eagles) is administrative  and not technical,” the vastly experienced  coach  who  won  the AFCON Silver medal  with the then Green Eagles, said on Brila fm.

    “ But any time something like this happens, everybody focuses on  the coach and the players .

    “ But there is much more to say about this  and that is aside.

    “ If you crucify Finidi George , it won’t resolve the problem. You can’t get it right if you don’t do it right and that is my stand,” he added.

    But Mazi Uchegbulam , the immediate  past  chairman of Imo State Football Association who withdrew   from the  Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) elections that ushered in  the current board of Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau, was more forthcoming.

    “ What  do we expect? Our football has  long been damaged  because  we have so many impostors  around,”  the erstwhile Vice President of  NFF told NationSports.

    “There is so much incompetence in the system and  those who destroyed  Nigerian football  know themselves.

    “ But let us wait and see what the  current NFF leadership  would  come up with.”

  • NFF decries undisciplined conduct of Super Eagles

    NFF decries undisciplined conduct of Super Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed displeasure at the poor attitude of some Super Eagles players to national assignment and has resolved to scout for outstanding Nigeria-eligible players in the Diaspora to beef up the team.

    Though  it  regretted  the challenges posed by the nationwide industrial action before the Matchdays 3 and 4 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, the NFF noted that some members of the Eagles displayed flagrant nonchalant attitude towards the games  against south Africa and Rwanda which affected the team’s general outputs in both games.

    “Notwithstanding the challenges that attended the team’s preparations for the Day 3 and Day 4 games of the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, owing to a 38-hour nationwide industrial action, the Board expressed displeasure with the poor attitude of some of the players to the National Assignment, and unanimously decided in favour of a more robust scouting programme of outstanding Nigeria-eligible players from across the four corners of the universe, who can add tremendous value to the nation’s flagship team,” the NFF Executive Committee resolved.

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    Meanwhile,  the NFF has also agreed to hold a stakeholders forum to see to the amendments of the current NFF Statutes to align with that of the Federation International Football Association (FIFA)

    “The Executive Committee also resolved that a Stakeholders’ Forum be convened in a few weeks’ time, to deliberate on amendments to the current NFF Statutes, in conjunction with world football-governing body, FIFA.”

    In a related development, the NFF  has vowed to provide ‘robust support’ to the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to ensure that the Super Falcons have adequate preparations for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament holding in France from July 24th through August 11th.

    The Falcons staged a return to the Olympic Games for the first time in 16 years in April following a 1-0 aggregate victory over the Banyana Banyana of South Africa in the final Qualifying round and will face Spain, Japan and Brazil in a tough  Group C section.

    “While appreciating the fact that preparation of teams involved in the Olympic Games fall squarely within the purview of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the Executive Committee stated unequivocally that it will provide robust support, within the room allowed it, to the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, to adequately prepare for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, taking place in France 24th July – 11th August,” the NFF stated.

  • Dominican Republic 2024: Flamingos ready to rain goals on Liberia

    Dominican Republic 2024: Flamingos ready to rain goals on Liberia

    Head Coach Bankole Olowookere is confident that the Nigeria U17 girls, Flamingos, will not take their feet off the pedal when they take on their Liberian counterparts in a FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup final qualifying match in Abuja today.

     “We are battle-ready for the match on Friday. The girls are raring to go because they want to go to the World Cup. They are already dreaming of flying to the Dominican Republic.

     “There is so much excitement in camp, and they are self-assured. However, I have warned them that it is never over until it is over. There should be no display of over-confidence on the pitch. We must approach the match like the first leg was a drawn game.”

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    Nigeria won the first leg 4-1 in Monrovia on Sunday, with 11-goal qualifying series revelation Harmony Chidi, Shakirat Moshood, Peace Effiong and substitute Blessing Ifitezue banging in the goals for the Flamingos. The hosts got their consolation goal off a penalty awarded with five minutes left of the encounter at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville.

    The Flamingos will take part in the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup for the seventh time once they cross Friday’s hurdle.

    They featured at the inaugural edition in New Zealand in 2008, and subsequently at Trinidad and Tobago 2010, Azerbaijan 2012, Costa Rica 2014, Jordan 2016 and India 2022, where they won the bronze medals. 

  • Super Eagles know AFCON 2025 opponents July 4

    Super Eagles know AFCON 2025 opponents July 4

    In exactly three weeks’ time, the Super Eagles will know their opponents in the qualification race for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations .

    Next year’s finals, which will be the 35th  edition of Africa’s flagship football championship, will be staged by Morocco.

    Preliminary stage survivors Chad,  Eswatini, Liberia and South Sudan will join 44 others for the draw that will hold at the SuperSport studios in Johannesburg, South Africa in the afternoon of Thursday, 4th July.

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    The 48 countries will be drawn into 12 groups of four teams each, with the top two teams in each pool qualifying directly to the finals in Morocco.

    The first two games of the qualification series will take place in the FIFA window in September (2nd – 10th ), with two other matches in the window in October (7th  – 15th ) and the final two games in the November window (11th  – 19th ).

    Nigeria’s Super Eagles are the defending vice champions of the trophy.

  • NFF  maps out strategies for  Falconets, Flamingos WC campaigns

    NFF  maps out strategies for  Falconets, Flamingos WC campaigns

    The  Nigeria Football  Federation(NFF)  said it would ensure that the Falconets and the Flamingos have good plans for the FIFA Under 20 Women’s World Cup and the FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup Qualifier with Liberia respectively.

    The board approved a month camping exercise in Nigeria and an additional two weeks in Colombia- the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup host nation before the start of hostilities to ensure the Falconets have a good tournament.

    The board also urged on the Flamingos to complete the job they started in Monrovia, Liberia today in Abuja in the return leg of the final round of the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup Qualifier against Liberia and has mandated the Football House Secretariat to offer the necessary support to make the ladies at ease ahead of the game.

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    “In order to ensure an impressive performance of the U20 Women National Team, Falconets, at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia, 31st August – 22nd September, the Executive Committee mandated its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to diligently and swiftly consider the programme submitted by the Head Coach for the team’s preparation. The Board approved a two-phase camping for the team, with a four-week camping in Nigeria to be followed by a two-week final camping programme in Colombia before the commencement of the tournament,” the NFF Executive Committee said.

    “Impressed by the performance of the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, so far in their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup African qualification series, the Executive Committee charged the Secretariat to ensure total readiness of the team for its final round, final leg encounter against their Liberian counterparts, scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, 14th  June 2024.”

  • NPFL : Bayelsa United may shoot down 3SC’s continental dream

    NPFL : Bayelsa United may shoot down 3SC’s continental dream

    Relegation-threatened Bayelsa United will host Shooting Stars in a 2pm kick-off live on StarTimes this Sunday, June 16.

    Both teams have everything to play for, with Bayelsa United just one point away from the drop and Shooting Stars aiming for a top-three finish and a continental ticket.

    The match will air on StarTimes Beta Sports Channel 244.

    Bayelsa United are sitting dangerously with just one point above the relegation zone, a victory is vital to secure their NPFL status next season.

    Shooting Stars, with aspirations for a top-three finish, are in pursuit of a continental ticket, making this match equally critical for their ambitions.

    Bayelsa United’s recent form has been a mix of highs and lows, with a crucial win against Plateau United but also a heavy defeat to Enugu Rangers. The inconsistency underscores their vulnerability, but also their potential for an upset. Their last match saw The Restoration Boys picking a point away to Enyimba.

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    Shooting Stars, on the other hand, are riding a wave of momentum after their stunning victory against league leaders Rangers International. This win has reignited their hopes for a top-three finish and a ticket to continental competition. The Oluyole Warriors will be relying on their in-form striker, Christian Pyagbara, who scored the decisive goal against Rangers, to lead the charge.

    In the earlier game this season, Shooting Stars defeated Bayelsa United 1 – 0.

    For Bayelsa United, their home advantage could be a crucial factor, but they must address their defensive flaws, having conceded the second-most goals in the league this season.

    Shooting Stars will expectedly play with confidence and take the game to Bayelsa United. Their recent defensive resilience, not conceding more than one goal in their last three games, will be key to their success. They will look to control possession and create chances for their in-form attackers.

    If Bayelsa United can contain the likes of Pyagbara and exploit any defensive lapses, they have a chance to secure a vital win. However, if Shooting Stars can maintain their defensive composure and capitalize on their attacking momentum, they could emerge victorious and take a giant step towards continental qualification.

    Bayelsa United are likely to adopt a cautious approach while Shooting Stars are expected to leverage their recent form and look to control the game, applying pressure on Bayelsa United’s defence.

    Bayelsa United have shown they can score at home but need to tighten up defensively, having conceded the second most goals in the NPFL this season.

    Shooting Stars have been strong defensively, not conceding more than one goal in their last three games.

    With both teams battling for survival and qualification respectively, this Sunday afternoon’s clash on StarTimes Beta Sports Channel 244 promises to be a thrilling football feast.

  • Minister urges NFF to fix shaky 2026 World Cup campaign

    Minister urges NFF to fix shaky 2026 World Cup campaign

    Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh has demanded that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) urgently put in place the necessary framework to ensure Nigeria qualifies for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in addition to addressing issues that have hindered high performances and growth of Nigerian football.

    The meeting held  yesterday at the Minister’s office in Abuja, touched on various areas including the current coach of the national team, the competence of both the NFF Technical Committee and Technical Department, discipline of players in the national team camp.

    The Minister and the NFF also deliberated on the introduction of new crop of Nigerian players wherever they can be found, to ensure the best legs represent the country at every given time.

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    Furthermore, the meeting delved into other more substantive matters said to be holding down our football development, including the expansion of the present membership of the NFF Congress, so as to make for more inclusive and greater representation.

    The team of NFF officials and its technical team were given not more than one week to present its comprehensive position indicating the positive progressive steps that have been taken to get the team ready for the next round of competitive matches.

    Expressing the disappointment of Nigerians and the Government over the poor results in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, Senator Enoh highlighted the country is in a critical situation being placed second from bottom, with just three points from four games out of a possible twelve; a situation he considered out rightly unacceptable.