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Tag: Chris Green

  • Russia 2018: Nigeria deserves to be in the World Cup – Green

    Russia 2018: Nigeria deserves to be in the World Cup – Green

    Chris Green, member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), said on Monday that the Super Eagles worked hard and deserved to be at the Russia 2018 World Cup.

    Nigeria topped group b with 14 points to qualify for the World Cup. Other countries in the group, tagged the group of death are, Algeria, Cameroon, and Zambia.

    Green, the chairman, player’s status of the Federation, said this in Lagos that comments made by Stuart Baxter, Coach of the South African national team about Nigeria were unfair.

    Baxter, in a post-match reaction after losing 2-0 to Senegal, said that Nigeria and Senegal are not better than South Africa.

    “ Maybe, I am being blue-eyed, but I don`t think Senegal or even Nigeria were much better than us,” Baxter said.

    Green said that he sympathized with the South African coach for his inability to qualify the team for the World Cup.

    “ First of all, I sympathize with Stuart Baxter for his inability to qualify South Africa to play in the World Cup. He tried very much for his team, but, it did not work out.

    “ But as sportsmen, he cannot say that a team that qualified ahead of you, that you are better than that team,” he said.

    According to Green, there is no reason to say that South Africa is better than Nigeria when Nigeria qualified ahead of them.

    “ The World Cup is bigger than AFCON, CHAN, and so, it is the biggest stage and so, you cannot rightly say that you are better than Nigeria, that is not right, and that is not sportsmanly.

    “Much as one will want to respect the South African team, as one of the teams that are emerging in African football, it will not be right for anybody to say that his team is better than the other team,” he said.

    Green stressed the need for coaches to show respect to one another adding that he did not expect a coach like Baxter to make such comments.

    “ We should remember that Nigeria is the first in Africa to qualify for the World Cup,” he said.

    Read Also:  Nigeria 1-1 Algeria: Super Eagles Finish 2018 W/Cup Qualifiers Unbeaten

  • We must retain present Eagles for Zambia clash – Green

    We must retain present Eagles for Zambia clash – Green

    The Chairman of the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation, Chris Green, has called for the retention of present crop of Super Eagles for next month’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Zambia.

    Nigeria defeated Taifa Stars of Tanzania in last Saturday’s inconsequential Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

    Green, who told supersport.com that he was satisfied with the Eagles’ performance, lamented the state of the pitch which impeded the team during the encounter.

    “It was a good game generally. I saw the resilience of our team as usual. These days it’s not easy keeping on the pressure and bagging the three points. The Tanzanians came with a game plan to see how they can check us and catch us on the counter, but our boys were on top of their game,” Green told supersport.com.

    “Unfortunately the playing turf did not really help matters because it was stunted and very heavy to play on. We would have put the game to bed in the first half but for the poor state of the field, which robbed us of a minimum of three goals coming from the likes of Victor Moses, (Kelechi) Iheanacho and the rest of them.

    “It took the brilliance of one Kelechi Iheanacho, who we can say has been one of the successes from the U-17 to the U-20 and now playing at the ‘A’ level. That’s the national team A (the Super Eagles).

    “Generally the team played very well despite the fact we played on a field that was stunted, undulating and heavy to play on. These are all technical matters, but I was satisfied with their play and I believe if Super Eagles continue that way, we would go a long way.”

  • Super Eagles to get new technical adviser in August – NFF

    Super Eagles to get new technical adviser in August – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will appoint a technical adviser for the Super Eagles in August.

    The Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Chris Green, said this in a chat with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday.

    The NFF Executive Committee had given the committee seven days to name a technical adviser for the Super Eagles following the federation’s botched attempt to employ Frenchman Paul Le Guen as technical adviser earlier this month.

    “We are working to ensure that we finish with the other incidentals, because at the last time we didn’t do that.

    “We left it for the executive to do, which ordinarily should be their responsibility.

    “But when they now asked us to go and do it again, they told us to complete everything with the process and send recommendations.

    “And we are doing that now. We don’t want a situation where somebody will come out again and say this and that.

    “As I speak with you, we have made contacts, we have done interviews, we have asked questions and the rest of them – even verifying from every other person.

    “We have considered at a lot of people, but we have zeroed in on one person.

    “It may not be from the former list. It is a different exercise entirely, because as I speak to you, even when we have closed entries, some people are still applying,’’ Green told NAN.

  • NFF picks Amodu, Salisu as Super Eagles interim managers

    NFF picks Amodu, Salisu as Super Eagles interim managers

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Wednesday that Shaibu Amodu, the Technical Director of the NFF, and Salisu Yusuf would take charge of the Super Eagles on interim basis.

     

    This was part of the decisions taken after Wednesday’s meeting of the NFF Technical Committee which took place at the federation’s secretariat.

     

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the appointment would see the coaches lead the Eagles to the two international friendly matches against Mali and Luxembourg’s national teams on May 27 and June 1 respectively.

     

    Yusuf will take charge of the team, while Amodu will supervise, the meeting agreed.

     

    Imama Amapakabo, the coach of Rangers International FC of Enugu, and Kennedy Boboye, the coach of Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia, were appointed to assist, while Aloy Agu would remain the goalkeeper trainer.

     

    The match against Mali will take place at the Stade Robert Diochon in Rouen, France, while Luxembourg will host the Eagles in Luxembourg.

     

    Chris Green, Chairman, NFF Technical Committee, told NAN that the Super Falcons qualification and preparations for the 2016 Africa Women Cup of Nations (AWCN) and the Dream Team VI Olympics preparations were also discussed.

     

    Green, who failed to give further clarification on the meeting, said that he needed to get the permission of NFF President Amaju Pinnick to give full details of the meeting.

     

    “I have to get clearance; most likely, if you call me this evening after we have talked to ourselves, then I can release it.

     

    “It will not be right for me to release it without clearance; it is against our procedure.

     

    “What we do is for the board to see it first and then agrees or throws it away.

     

    “I will be speaking with Mr President, let him now coordinate his people and I will be able to release the outcome,’’ Green said.

  • NFF has outlived Oliseh’s saga – Green

    NFF has outlived Oliseh’s saga – Green

    The head of the Nigeria Football Federation technical committee, Chris Green, on Tuesday said the body has outlived the Sunday Oliseh saga and is 100 per cent focused on this month’s African Nations Cup (AFCON) qualifiers against Egypt.

    Oliseh quit his job as Super Eagles manager last week.

    However, the NFF has filled the void created by Oliseh’s exit by recalling former manager, Samson Siasia, Emmanuel Amuneke, Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu to prepare the team for the matches.

    Green said the committee will not allow itself to be distracted further by Oliseh’s resignation, but work towards defeating the North Africans in the upcoming matches.

    “Our focus right now is on the immediate two AFCON matches against Egypt as Sunday Oliseh is no more a distraction,” he told supersport.com.

    “At least, the people in office can continue to take care of any issues concerning coach Sunday Oliseh.

    “The technical committee has put behind us the Oliseh’s case. Ours is to put thing right to ensure we claim the desired results in the two matches.

    “I must tell you we are wiser right now and I believe we have learnt our lesson from Oliseh’s tenure.

    “I’m not making excuses for myself though I was not the chairman of technical then, but we jointly agreed to hire him. So we take responsibility.

    “I think it’s just fair and proper for people to allow the technical committee do what is right in their work.

    “First and foremost, Oliseh is the coach of the federation and cannot afford to insult or paint the body in bad light.

    “Oliseh was praised to high heaven upon appointment in good fate and equally nicknamed the ‘Pep Guardiola’ of Africa to challenge him achieve the feat of the coach.

    “Like I said everything was done in good fate. But we have work to do and we must work fast to ensure the work is well done.”

     

  • NFF faults Leroy’s ‘poor treatment’ claims

    NFF faults Leroy’s ‘poor treatment’ claims

    The Nigeria Football Federation has reacted with “shock and disappointment” to claims by Congo national team coach, Claude Leroy, that the country’s U-23 side was badly treated prior to Sunday’s Olympic qualifying game with Nigeria in Port Harcourt.

    The veteran French trainer was upset with what he termed “poor treatment” to his team before the Central Africans fell 1-2 to the Dream Team VI at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, supersport.com reports.

    “Nigeria is a big country and I do not think it is necessary to make us wait for more than one hour at the Airport.

    “We had to wait for an hour before the bus arrived at the airport to take us to the hotel.

    “The hotel was also not good enough and I don’t think Nigeria should show this kind of behaviour.

    “I know that the Nigerian team will be well-treated in Pointe-Noire so we obviously did not deserve this kind of treatment,”supersport.com quoted Leroy as saying while responding to a question at the post match press-conference.

    The Frenchman’s outburst did not go down well with the NFF with the federation’s executive committee member, Barr. Chris Green, describing the comments as “untrue.”

    “I must say that what Leroy said is untrue. I am receiving these declarations from such a highly-respected coach with shock and disappointment.

    “I can tell you without mincing words that the Congolese were treated like Kings upon arriving in Nigeria.

    “They were lodged at the five-star Hotel Presidential in Port Harcourt-the same hotel where the Nigerian team stayed without any complaints.

    “Even Leroy was kept in a special Presidential suite at the hotel and the Congolese team was never delayed at the Airport,” Green told supersport.com.

    The second leg of the Olympic qualifying tie between Nigeria and Congo will hold on August 2 in Pointe-Noire.

  • I have no problem with Keshi – Green

    I have no problem with Keshi – Green

    Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Committee,  Barr. Christopher Green, has rubbished claims that he has an axe to grind with Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

    He also disclosed that the case before his committee which has to do with indiscipline involving captain Vincent Enyeama and Keshi is an internal issue that would be treated as such, blaming the media for blowing the matter out of proportion.

    “We have done the first case [concerning Super Eagles Captain Vincent Enyeama]. We have sent the first case back to the Nigeria Football Federation. It’s an internal matter that is happening internally. The NFF has the internal mechanism to deal with such matters,” Green told Goal.

    “The other matter [on Keshi] is before me so I can’t speak on it for now.

    “This is not a personal matter, it is a Federation matter. So those people saying I have an axe to grind with Keshi doesn’t really know what they are saying.

    “What axe to grind I ask? What has he done to me? If I have an axe to grind with him we won’t hear it. He has not done anything wrong with me now. So it is unfounded.

    “I have not quarreled with him. I have a good relationship with him. He is our coach and he remains our coach and I want him to be our coach. I am one of those who endorsed him as our coach so what else are we saying?

    “Like I told you the Vincent Enyeama issue is an internal matter. It’s the press that is blowing the case out of proportion,” he added.

    But Goal gathered from a competent source in the Federation that the leadership of the NFF has soft-pedaled on the matter because of the negative feedback coming from the public.

     

  • Reps summon security chiefs over Maigari’s detention

    Reps summon security chiefs over Maigari’s detention

    Nigeria’s top security chiefs have been asked by the House of Representatives to explain why Nigeria Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari was detained without any charges brought against him.

    Maigari’s detention stopped him from presiding over the NFF general assembly on Tuesday, africanFootball.com reports.

    However, the NFF president has said he would not to take any legal action for his unlawful arrest, saying God will remain his refuge.

    Several football stakeholders in Nigeria spoke at a Friday public hearing called by the House of Representatives to address the crisis.

    The chairman of the NFF technical committee, Chris Green, gave a graphic account of their harrowing experience at the anti-robbery squad cells in Abuja, where he and Maigari were kept on Tuesday.

    “It was a most dehumanising ordeal,” said Green, whose narration caused several of those attending the hearing to weep.

    Chairman of Nigeria Coaches’ Association, Bitrus Bewarang, equally produced a Plateau State White paper which indicted Chris Giwa.

    He closed his presentation by warning this revelation would put his life in danger.

  • Maigari, Green released

    Maigari, Green released

    The detained Nigeria Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari, was released on Wednesday along with fellow executive committee member, Chris Green, an aide told africanFootball.com

    “Maigari has been released by the security operatives. He was released in the morning by the special anti-robbery squad after he was handed to them by the Directorate of State Security Service.

    “No charges were pressed against him, neither was he or Green questioned on anything. It was clearly to prevent them from attending the Tuesday general assembly, which FIFA insisted should be presided by Maigari,” an aide of the NFF boss told africanFootball.com.

    It was also gathered that the NFF president was detained on orders of the controversial former Rivers State police commissioner, Joseph Mbu, who is now an Assistant Inspector General of Police.

    Incidentally, Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, who was a former commissioner in Rivers State, personally came to the DSS office on Tuesday to pick the General Secretary, Musa Amadu, for what later was termed “an elective congress,” which produced Chris Giwa as new NFF president.

    Giwa moved into the NFF office Wednesday morning and thereafter addressed some staff, assuring them of improved welfare in his tenure as NFF president.

    FIFA is expected to rule on the unfolding drama in Nigeria soon.

  • NFF suspends Chris Green

    NFF suspends Chris Green

    The Nigeria Football Federation executive committee has banned two of its members for indulging in anti-board activities after meeting on Thursday in Abuja, Goal reports.

    According to the communiqué released at the end of the meeting, Chris Green was handed a six-month ban for participating in glaring anti-board activities, including facilitating and participating in an unauthorized gathering in Abuja as well as granting media interviews that tended to put the NFF and Nigeria football in bad light.

    The suspension will keep him out of all football-related activities for the stipulated time frame pending the ratification of the general assembly.

    Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed, another NFF committee member was suspended for a year for participating in an unauthorized gathering in Abuja and for unilaterally altering the decision of the executive committee on tenure of management staff.

    These decisions were in line with Article 34 (m) and Article 37 (1 & 5) of the NFF Statutes.

    After receiving the report of the Effiong Johnson – led sub-committee set up to review lengthy bans on Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Chief Rumson Baribote, Barr. Olaleye Adepoju, Mr. Jarrett Tenebe, Mr. Harrison Jalla, Mr. Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara, Mr. Chikelue Iloanusi and Mr. Olajide Fashikun, the committee moved the decision to its next meeting.

    Also present at that meeting, which the NFF described as an “unauthorized gathering” was another executive member Suleiman Yahaya Kwande.