The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Amaju Pinnick

  • Rohr needs certainty over future – Pinnick

    Rohr needs certainty over future – Pinnick

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ), Amaju Pinnick, on Tuesday explained the federation’s motives in offering Super Eagles Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr a contract expansion.

    “The Federation leadership’s resolve to ensure there were no distractions of any size or complexion around Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup preparation and participation informed the offer of a fresh two-year contract to Rohr,’’ he said.

    Rohr was signed by the NFF in August 2016 and has met the first milestone of his contract, which is ensuring the Eagles qualify for a sixth FIFA World Cup finals.

    Nigeria thoroughly overhauled their opponents, spanking 2012 AFCON winners Zambia home and away.

    The Eagles also earned four points from home-and-away clashes with fellow 2014 World Cup finalists Cameroon and Algeria, leaving second-placed Zambia six points behind the Super Eagles.

    “We have decided to confront head-on any possible area of conflict or controversy, and fully resolve each and every possible friction point well ahead of the competition.

    Read also: I’m happy working with Super Eagles – Rohr

    “After signing the agreement on payment to the team from expected FIFA income, the next stage was to take care of the Technical Adviser.

    “He has done very well and does not need to go into the World Cup uncertain of his future,” Pinnick said in a statement released by the NFF on Tuesday.

    The 64-year old Rohr, a former Germany defender, flaunts a sterling record with the Eagles, winning seven of 12 matches and drawing four in his 15 months in charge so far.

    His only loss was the 0-2 reverse to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in a 2019 AFCON qualifier in Uyo in June 2017.

    Under him, the Eagles have beaten Tanzania, Zambia (twice), Algeria, Togo, Cameroon and two –time world champions Argentina, and drawn with Senegal, Corsica, Cameroon and Algeria.

    ROHR’S RECORD

    03/09/2016: Nigeria 1 Tanzania 0 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

    09/10/2017: Zambia 1 Nigeria 2 (WC Qualifier, Ndola)

    12/11/2016: Nigeria 3 Algeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    23/03/2017: Nigeria 1 Senegal 1 (Friendly, London)

    27/05/2017: Corsica 1 Nigeria 1 (Friendly, Ajaccio)

    01/06/2017: Nigeria 3 Togo 0 (Friendly, Paris)

    10/06/2017: Nigeria 0 South Africa 2 (AFCON Qualifier, Uyo)

    01/09/2017: Nigeria 4 Cameroon 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    04/09/2017: Cameroon 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Yaounde)

    07/10/2017: Nigeria 1 Zambia 0 (WC Qualifier, Uyo)

    10/11/2017: Algeria 1 Nigeria 1 (WC Qualifier, Constantine)

    14/11/2017: Argentina 2 Nigeria 4 (Friendly, Krasnodar)

    NAN

  • Nigerian-born Abraham gets first England call-up

    Nigerian-born Abraham gets first England call-up

    England on Thursday called up the uncapped Nigerian-born Tammy Abraham, Joe Gomez and Ruben Loftus-Cheek for their friendly matches against Germany and Brazil at Wembley this month.

    The Football Association (FA) in England listed them in the 25-man squad for the games against the World Cup holders on November 10 and Brazil four days later.

    Abraham and Loftus-Cheek, who are both Chelsea players out on loan at Swansea City and Crystal Palace respectively, have broken into the Gareth Southgate’s senior squad.

    This is on the back of some impressive performances in the Premier League.

    Striker Abraham who some weeks back caught the fancy of Amaju Pinnick, the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has scored four of Swansea’s seven league goals this season.

    He has since, in the light of Pinnick’s expressed desire to have him play for Nigeria, said he was not yet ready to make up his mind on his international future.

    Midfielder Loftus-Cheek has made six appearances for Crystal Palace in spite of missing some games with a thigh injury.

    Defender Gomez, who has rebounded well since returning from a 15-month layoff with a ligament injury in January, started seven league games for Liverpool this season.

    “We’re in a position now where we’ve qualified for the World Cup and we always wanted to look at the team and how we want it to evolve,” Southgate said in a statement.

    England team
    England team

     

    “This is an opportunity to look at new players and a different way of playing and I think the beauty of my position is that I know the young players in the system.”

    Manchester United’s Ashley Young, who last played for his country in September 2013, was recalled for his impressive run under Jose Mourinho at Manchester United.

    Full-back, Danny Rose and Jamie Vardy returned from injury, while Liverpool duo Daniel Sturridge and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Manchester United defender Chris Smalling were not included in the squad.

    2018: England squad against Russia

    Goalkeepers: Jack Butland (Stoke City), Joe Hart (West Ham United – loan from Manchester City), Jordan Pickford (Everton)

    Defenders: Ryan Bertrand (Southampton), Gary Cahill (Chelsea), Joe Gomez (Liverpool), Harry Maguire (Leicester City), John Stones (Manchester City)

    Kieran Trippier (Tottenham Hotspur), Phil Jones (Manchester United), Kyle Walker (Manchester City), Danny Rose (Tottenham)

    Midfielders: Dele Alli (Tottenham), Fabian Delph (Manchester City), Eric Dier (Tottenham), Jordan Henderson (Liverpool), Jesse Lingard (Manchester United)

    Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Crystal Palace – loan from Chelsea), Ashley Young (Manchester United), Harry Winks (Tottenham)

    Forwards: Tammy Abraham (Swansea City – loan from Chelsea), Harry Kane (Tottenham), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Raheem Sterling (Manchester City), Jamie Vardy (Leicester).

  • Nigeria Can Win 2018 World Cup in Russia – Pinnick

    Nigeria Can Win 2018 World Cup in Russia – Pinnick

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Pinnick, says Nigeria can lift the 2018 World Cup in Russia in the light of the preparations the association is putting in place.

    Pinnick expressed the optimism during the official opening of the Federation’s Annual General Assembly in Jos on Thursday.

    The NFF president said that the country was well positioned now after it had overcome the challenges that bedeviled the nation’s football, particularly the previous year.

    “Our highest achievement is the qualification for the World Cup. Secondly, the preparations for world cup have commenced in earnest as compared to the previous years.

    “With the kind of preparations we are putting in place, I think we can win the World Cup,” he said.

    On the financial aspect, Pinnick said that NFF had been given a clean bill of health, according to the report he received the previous night.

    The federation’s president commended the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Solomon Dalung, for his unflinching support to the football house.

    According to him, the minister makes sure that the federation meets all its needs during the Super Eagles’ qualification for the world cup.

    He said Dalung’s support also made the nation’s early qualification possible, with the Algeria’s match being a mere formality.

    Declaring the Assembly open, Gov. Simon Lalong of Plateau thanked NFF for choosing the state for the event in spite the recent violent incidents caused by unidentified gunmen.

    Lalong, who was represented by the state Commissioner of Sports, Mr. Danladi Mann, commended the football house’s efforts at improving the administration of the nation’s football.

    The governor expressed the hope that Plateau United, the reigning champion of Nigeria Professional Football League, would win the CAF Champions League in its first participation in the tournament.

    In his remarks, Mr. Shehu Dikko, 2nd Vice-President of NFF said that sponsorship for the nation’s football had improved remarkably.

    He said that more sponsors were willing to partner with NFF and traced the development to what he said the body was doing in the football administration.

    Read Also:World Cup to Gulp 50% of NFF’s Budget for 2018?

  • AITEO Cup win- ‘Our resilience to play continental football’

    AITEO Cup win- ‘Our resilience to play continental football’

    Akwa United goalkeeper, Olorunleke Ojo, on Tuesday said that the team’s drive to win AITEO Cup on Sunday was a result of their resilience to play continental football next season.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akwa United won the maiden edition of the AITEO Cup on Sunday at the Agege Township Stadium on Sunday 3-2 against Niger Tornadoes.

    The team played under the watchful eyes of their number one supporter, Gov. Emmanuel Udom, who led other members of Akwa Ibom cabinet and his Lagos State counterpart, Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Other VIPs that graced the epic final were the CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad, with some CAF top hierarchy, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), President, Amaju Pinnick and the Vice-President, Seyi Akinwunmi.

    Ojo was, however, hero of the match at his last gap penalty save earned his team a 3-2 win over hard fighting Niger Tornadoes.

    The lanky goalkeeper adjudged the best goalkeeper of the tournament, told NAN on the sidelines of the match that the failure to clinch the last ticket in the just-concluded league propelled their victory.

    “Our last experience in the Nigeria Professional League (NPFL) where we lost the chance to secure the last spot of the continental ticket is a drive. We wanted to play in the continent.

    “We are a team with immense confidence and experience, so we are motivated to play in the continent with the backing of the state government.

    Read: 1st AITEO/CAF Award Holds January 4 In Accra

    “It is a collective effort, everybody is on the same page; we work for it, or let me say that we earn it through hard work on the part of the coach and players.

    “We have the facility, our stadium is one of the best in Africa, so we are super confident of a good representation in the CAF Confederation Cup,’’ he said.

    The Coach, Abdul Makaiba, said that he had a target of qualifying the team for the continental football.

    “First, the mandate is to try and win the NPFL, then, that failed; we thought another mission to qualify for the continental competition through the available spot which did not also materialise.

    “I almost see it as a failure, and then another opportunity came through this championship which I know will be a good opportunity to clinch the last ticket.

    “We played this tournament with all passion and determination because we know what we wanted to make something out of it.

    “I am grateful to the Akwa Ibom FA for believing in this project and also the state governor who is our number one supporter, it is great to have this kind of support from him,’’ he said.

  • NFF signs partnership agreements with TGI Group, PayPorte

    NFF signs partnership agreements with TGI Group, PayPorte

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has signed partnership agreements with two companies, Tropical General Investments (TGI) Group and PayPorte for the sponsorship of the Super Eagles.

    The partnership which will last three years will make TGI Group’s products, such as Big Bull Rice, Chivita, Hollandia Yoghurt and Renew Starch, the official food of the Super Eagles.

    The agreement with the PayPorte on the other hand will make the company the official online shop for sales of Eagles’ jerseys for the next three years.

    Signing the agreement on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, the Executive Director of TGI Group, Onyekachi Onubogu, noted that football is a unifying factor in Nigeria.

    Onubogu, who represented the TGI Group Managing Director, Rahul Savara, said: “We are enormously ecstatic to come on board as supporters of the Nigerian national football teams.

    “The sponsorship is a further demonstration of the commitment of our business to the development of Nigeria in all facets.

    “We strongly believe in our investments in the agricultural value chain and its impact on the socio-economic development of Nigeria.

    “And this new partnership we are starting with the NFF will allow us to expand our footprints to the development of football in the country.

    “We are resolutely committed to increasing our investments in the Nigerian economy, increasing employment and local content while supporting the communities we operate in.”

    The Chief Executive Officer of PayPorte, Eyo Bassey, said his company decided to partner with NFF as its own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) strategy.

    Bassey, who signed the agreement on behalf of his company, said his company intended to create an authentic and internationally accepted platform, where Nigerians can access sports merchandise.

    “This is a strategic partnership, as we are the preferred e-commerce company in this part of the world.

    “We have come to associate with NFF to reach out to our customers. We want to assist NFF to promote grassroots football in Nigeria,” Bassey said.

    The NFF president, Amaju Pinnick, signed the two agreements on behalf of NFF.

    Pinnick said the private sector partnership with NFF was borne out of the transparent ways his board members had handled football affairs so far.

    “The opportunity to have the support of TGI Group and the reward for the “Man of the Match” award will have a huge benefit for the team to achieve our goals.

    “We also talk a lot about creating memories and no doubt working with TGI Group will create some fantastic memories,” Pinnick said.

    NAN

  • Pinnick inspects Agege Stadium

    Pinnick inspects Agege Stadium

    Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation led by the President,  Amaju Melvin Pinnick, were at the Agege Stadium, Lagos on Sunday on a first inspection ahead of the grand finale of this year’s AITEO Cup competition.

    Pinnick was joined by 1st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi, 2nd Vice President/LMC chairman, Mr. Shehu Dikko, Executive Committee members Sharif Rabiu Inuwa and Aisha Falode, President of the Nigeria Referees Association, Tade Azeez, NFF’s Director of Communications Ademola Olajire and CAF Assistant General Coordinator Samson Adamu.

    The inspection team checked out several areas of the facility, nicknamed The Temple, and which has been slated to host the men’s grand finale of the AITEO Cup competition on Sunday, 15th October 2017.

    Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman of the AITEO Cup Organizing Committee, told thenff.com after the inspection: “There are a few things we have to put right but, generally, we have a good facility here.

    “From Monday (2nd October), work will begin on the few areas that we must put right and the other make –shift facilities that we would have to put up to achieve what we are determined to achieve.”

  • WAFU Cup: Dalung leads Pinnick, Rohr, others to Ghana

    WAFU Cup: Dalung leads Pinnick, Rohr, others to Ghana

    The Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalung, will lead a delegation of top officials to cheer the Super Eagles in Sunday’s WAFU Cup of Nations final against the Black Stars of Ghana.

    A statement issued on Saturday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Dalung would be accompanied on the trip by the NFF president, Amaju Pinnick.

    The statement reads: “Also in the delegation to the Cape Coast Stadium is NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, who arrived in the Ghanaian capital on Friday.

    “Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, also flew into Accra on Saturday and will be in the stands.

    “Head Coach of Super Eagles B, Salisu Yusuf, is Chief Coach of the A team where Rohr is technical adviser.”

    The statement noted that Dalung has been ever-present in Super Eagles matches in the last one year.

    “He undisputedly brings a rich vein of fortune around the team with the Eagles now only one win away from a sixth appearance in the FIFA World Cup finals,’’ it added.

    NAN

     

     

  • NFF: Mischief makers at work

    NFF: Mischief makers at work

    The attention of the Nigeria Football Federation has been drawn to a video being circulated by some persons who claim the said slide showed a couple of players of the Super Eagles refusing to shake hands with NFF President

    Amaju Pinnick as the Nigerian delegation arrived Yaounde, Cameroon on Sunday, 3rd September 2017 for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Cameroon.

    The said players, Ahmed Musa and Victor Moses, (and Alloy Agu) never  showed disrespect to the NFF President, as can be attested to by the comments of Moses and Musa in the aftermath.

    Perhaps, the objective of the said video was to create disaffection between the NFF President and the said players, but this fell flat on its face as the players afterwards met with the NFF President and laughed the whole thing off as ridiculous.

    The truth is that by his position, the NFF President is father to players of all the National Teams. In reality, the present crop of players in the Super Eagles sees and takes Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick as a big brother, and holds him in very high esteem.

    Nothing has happened to change that perception. The NFF President came down from the Bombadier CRJ 1000 jet on landing and opted to stay by the aircraft to appreciate the players and officials on arrival. The said players, and even goalkeepers’ trainer Alloy Agu, obviously did not know that the NFF President, having flown with the delegation on the same aircraft, would still be waiting by the aircraft to shake hands with them.

    Nothing was planned. He stood there simply appreciating the troops that had decimated African champions Cameroon in Uyo and were determined to do a double over the Cameroonians in Yaounde.

    As the NFF and the Super Eagles unite to stay on the same page and prepare adequately for the MUST-WIN 2018 World Cup qualifying match against Zambia in Uyo next month, we appeal to all genuine stakeholders of Nigerian Football and friends of Nigeria elsewhere to focus on the many positives from the qualifying campaign so far, encourage both the Federation and the team to continue to give its best and appreciate that together, each will always achieve more. No scheme fashioned by anyone can bring schisms within the Super Eagles camp or between the NFF and the squad.

  • NFF pays Eagles full bonus, prepares for Zambia

    NFF pays Eagles full bonus, prepares for Zambia

    The Nigeria Football Federation has opted to pay players and officials of the Super Eagles the full match bonus for Monday’s crunchy 2018 FIFA World Cup encounter against the Lions of Cameroon in Yaounde, even though the tie ended in a draw.

    NFF President Amaju Pinnick disclosed this to the team on board the ARIK aircraft that flew the Nigerian delegation back from Yaounde on Tuesday morning.

    Excited players and officials applauded as Pinnick insisted it was just reward for a masterclass output by the Nigerian squad over the two legs of the most anticipated fixture of Group B.

    “When the draw was made last year, people said ours was the Group of Death. But you have stayed very much alive with scintillating performances and done the nation very proud.”

    The Member of CAF Executive Committee also disclosed on Tuesday morning that preparations for next month’s big encounter against the Chipolopolo of Zambia, at which the Super Eagles are highly expected to pick the World Cup ticket, has started in earnest.

    “Even before the conclusion of this second match against Cameroon in Yaounde, we had started the arrangements for the match against Zambia. The Chairman of Organizing Committee (NFF 1st VP, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi) will travel to Uyo this week to see Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State and they will go through the check –list together.

    “Nothing will be left to chance. It is a very big match, and the way things have turned out against Cameroon, it is now an even bigger match than the ones we played against Cameroon. There must be no room for error.”

  • Eagles play passionately- Pinnick

    Eagles play passionately- Pinnick

    Amaju Pinnick, President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has charged the Super Eagles to approach the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against the Lions of Cameroon in Uyo with a never-say-die mentality.

    The match comes up on Friday at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo.

    Pinnick, in a statement released by Demola Olajire, Head of Communication, NFF, on Thursday, urged the team to commit heart, soul and spirit to the match.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Super Eagles are topping Group B with six points, from two matches.

    Nigeria is four points ahead of second-placed Cameroon, who have also played two matches.

    Pinnick said: “The much-respected Nigerian spirit that conquers so many adversities will see the three-time African champions through.

    “ But the Eagles must approach the game with a never-say-die mentality at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium.

    “This is a very crucial match and the players know so.

    “The Cameroonians are not coming here to simply appraise the serenity and beauty of the city of Uyo; they are coming to contest the three points.

    “The Super Eagles must throw everything – their body, heart and spirit – into the game.

    “Those three points are very important to our FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, and I am confident we will get them,” he said.

    Meanwhile, Super Eagles Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr has announced former junior international Ikechukwu Ezenwa and two other former junior international goalkeepers, Dele Ajiboye and Dele Alampasu, as part of the team.

    Mikel John Obi, Victor Moses, Oghenekaro Etebo and John Ogu, Odion Ighalo, Anthony Nwakaeme and Aaron Samuel are in Uyo ready for the match.

    Germany-based Leon Balogun, who missed the clash with South Africa is back and is likely to pair Olympic bronze medallist, William Ekong, in central defence.

    Another Olympic bronze medallist, Abdullahi Shehu, as well as Elderson Echiejile, Tyronne Ebuehi, Uche Agbo and Chidozie Awaziem also available to fortify the defence.

    England-based Wilfred Ndidi and Turkey-based duo of Ogenyi Onazi and Mikel Agu are also available in the midfield, while Ahmed Musa, Moses Simon and Kelechi Iheanacho, are attackers in the team.

    Olajire said that Friday’s match would kick off at 5p.m.

    The return leg is scheduled to hold on Sept. 4, at Stade Omnisports Ahmadou Ahidjo in Yaounde, Cameroun.