The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Chris Green

  • Maigari backs Eagles to defeat Bosnia

    Maigari backs Eagles to defeat Bosnia

    Nigeria Football Federation President, Aminu Maigari, has backed the Super Eagles to bounce back from the stalemate with Iran by beating Bosnia-Herzegovina on Saturday.

    Maigari made this disclosure when he paid a morale boosting visit to the team’s camp on Wednesday afternoon to assure the players of the Federation’s backing.

    He also told the players he is confident they will advance to the next round of the competition in spite of their slow start.

    Maigari reminded the team of how it struggled at the beginning of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, but later went on to win the competition.

    “We have heard the barrage of criticisms against you by the same people who say you are the best in the world only a few days ago,” kickOffNigeria.com quoted Maigari as saying to the players.

    “But we know that it was the same thing that happened at the Nations Cup and helped to rejuvenate the team.

    “I am certain that those who have criticized you today, will be the same people that will join to celebrate you in the coming weeks and it will be to the glory of God and the greatness of Nigeria,” he declared.

    In response, Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, said he was aware of the criticisms especially in the social media but declared that the team remains undaunted and will once again prove critics wrong in Saturday’s match.

    “We know the football family is behind us, we know the NFF is behind us and we will not let the nation down when the time comes for us to be counted among great football nations,” he said.

    The NFF President thereafter presented the papers of the landed properties given to the team by President Goodluck Jonathan after winning the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Maigari was accompanied on the visit by the Chairman of NFF Technical Committee, Barr. Chris Green, Chairman, Media and Publicity of the NFF, High Chief Emeka Inyama, Executive Committee member and Enyimba FC boss, Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu and the Assistant Director Media, NFF, Demola Olajire.

    Also with the NFF President were – former Super Eagles captain, Nwankwo Kanu and the Personal Assistant to the NFF President, Jubril Nasir.

     

  • No ‘bonus distractions’ in Eagles camp

    No ‘bonus distractions’ in Eagles camp

    Officials of the Nigeria Football Federation as well as members of the playing and coaching crew of the Super Eagles have debunked rumours of a row over appearance fees and bonuses by insisting the team is focused on Monday’s game against Iran.

    NFF’s Technical Committee Chairman, Chris Green, who is in Curitiba along with other officials of the Federation lamented the fact that mischief makers in some section of the media are still fueling a matter that has been resolved.

    “When the Senate President, David Mark ,came here to meet with us and the players, he was totally convinced at our sincerity with the players and what we have on board as the team progresses but some people are just hell bent on ensuring that they raise issues that don’t even exist,” kickOffNigeria.com quoted Green as saying on the issue.

    He further explained that the NFF has agreed with the players to pay $10,000 winning bonus for first round games, $12,500 for second round game, $15,000 for quarter final and $20,000 for semi-final. That will also increase marginally to $25,000 if the team wins the trophy.

    The percentage earnings from monies that may accrue to the players from what FIFA gives to the NFF was also put at 30 percent for the group stages, 40 for the second round, 50 for the quarter final, 60 for the semi-final and 70 percent for the final.

    “When we unveiled this before the President of the Senate who represented President Goodluck Jonathan, he was full of praises for us and promised that he will add a special bonus from government to the players and promised further surprises if the team goes far in the tourney.”

    Head Coach of the team, Stephen Keshi also warned against distracting the team from its set goals, declaring that his players are focused on the game against Iran and will not tolerate any form of distraction.

    “The players may have issues but I think they have been settled amicably, so let them allow us to play,” he said.

     

     

  • Eagles’ World Cup list was Keshi’s decision – NFF

    Eagles’ World Cup list was Keshi’s decision – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) technical committee has moved to absolve itself of blame in the controversy surrounding the provisional list of players to represent Nigeria at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi, named several unfit players and some who do not play regularly for their European clubs, attracting criticism from the media and fans alike.

    Members of the NFF’s technical committee were also criticized as Keshi had first submitted the list to them for “vetting” before it was made public.

    The Chairman of the NFF technical committee, Chris Green, has now declared that the body was not wrong in approving the list submitted by Keshi.

    “We (technical committee) fully relied on the position of the Chief coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi on the players he chose.

    “We relied on him to ascertain the fitness levels of the players. At the time he gave us this list, I am sure that by his findings, he was sure the players were fit.

    “If anything had happened after the list was submitted, I may not be aware,”supersport.com quoted Green as saying on Nigeria Info FM.

    He also noted that “there is no cause for alarm” as injured players in the list would ultimately be dropped.

    “There is no cause for alarm because what we have now is a 30-man list. Seven players will be dropped and the list will be pruned down to 23.

    “So in the case of any player in that list being injured, I am sure the coach knows what to do,” he said.

  • NFF proposes Portugal friendly

    NFF proposes Portugal friendly

    The Nigeria Football Federation has proposed a World Cup warm-up against Portugal, MTNFootball.com reports.

    The African champions had confirmed only next month’s friendly against Mexico as a warm-up game for Brazil 2014.

    However, Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Chris Green, has now said another match against Portugal could well be on the cards.

    However, Green said the match will be played if Portugal accepts the arrangement.

    “We are considering playing a friendly with Portugal, the team plays like Argentina and Bosnia-Hezegovina. But for the friendly to come to life, Portugal have to accept and be interested,” MTNFootball.com quoted Green as saying on Brila FM.

    Nigeria is also working on another test game against Croatia.

    Nigeria will play against Argentina, Iran and Bosnia-Herzegovina, while the Portuguese are pitched against Ghana, Germany and United States of America in the World Cup.

     

  • Technical committee backs Yobo, Ike Uche return

    Technical committee backs Yobo, Ike Uche return

    •Says, it will bring strength, depth

    By Uchenna Ajah

    Ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Chairman, technical committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Barrister Chris Green, has given his backing for the possible return of out of favour Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo and striker, Ikechukwu Uche to the National team.

    Green revealed that both players are Nigerians and are eligible to play for the Super Eagles even as he noted that Keshi has always affirmed that Yobo remains the Captain of the team.

    “Really, I don’t have any qualms about that because those two players are Nigerian players, Keshi insists Yobo is the captain and once you’re a captain you are a member of the squad, in fact he is the head of the team.”

    The former Rivers state FA chairman further admitted that it will bring strength and depth to the team and there will be competition for shirts in the Super Eagles team.

    “It will be good to also invite Ike Uche back to the team; it will bring strength, it will bring competition and all I’m craving as the Chairman of the technical committee of the federation is to get our best legs to play at the world Cup,” Green was quoted as saying by Lagos-based Brila FM.

     

  • NFF picks Houston for World Cup

    NFF picks Houston for World Cup

    African champions Nigeria will train in Houston, United States, for the 2014 World Cup, top officials have announced.

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has proposed the team train in either Miami or Houston for the World Cup, but top Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) official, Chris Green, has now disclosed the country has settled for Houston.

    “Nigeria will train for the World Cup in Houston,” Green said.

    “We want to make a statement at our fifth World Cup and so we have to prepare adequately.”

    MTNFootball.com reports that Nigeria will open the training camp on May 25.

    Nigeria will also face Mexico in a World Cup warm-up in Houston on March 5.

    Green also said the team plans four other friendlies before playing Iran in the first match on June 16.

    Argentina and Bosnia-Herzegovina are the other teams in Group F.

     

  • NFF seeks World Cup base for Eagles

    NFF seeks World Cup base for Eagles

    Nigeria Football Federation officials are working on a plan for the African football champions to train in Colombia, Argentina or the United States for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.

    “We plan to camp the team in Colombia, Argentina or the United States of America,” supersport.com quoted Chris Green, the head of the NFF technical committee, as saying on Wednesday.

    “These countries share the same climatic conditions with Brazil. We will be inspecting many camp sites to finally decide where to camp the team.”

    Brazil 2014 will be Nigeria’s fifth World Cup appearance after debuting at the 1994 tournament in the U.S.

    The NFF is waiting for the outcome of Friday’s World Cup finals draw before deciding on the base.

     

  • Keshi to submit players list this week

    Keshi to submit players list this week

    From Tunde Liadi,Owerri NIGERIA’S preparation for the African Nations Championship(CHAN) will kick start any moment from this week after the Super Eagles’ head coach makes public the list of players he intends calling to camp.

    The home based Super Eagles qualified for their historic debut appearance when they pipped Cote d’ Ivoire 4-3 on aggregate to the ticket.

    The NFF’s Chairman, Technical Sub Committee , Chris Green informed SportingLife that Keshi would submit his list of invited players for the CHAN competition this week ahead of the players closed camping exercise.

    “We expect Keshi to submit the list of invited players for the CHAN competition this week. CHAN and the World Cup preparations are paramount on our agenda,” Green told SportingLife.

  • EMERGENCY COMMITTEE SLAMS 10-YEAR BAN ON ADEPOJU

    EMERGENCY COMMITTEE SLAMS 10-YEAR BAN ON ADEPOJU

    •Says Okenwa has case to answer

    The Emergency Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has upheld the recommendation of the investigative committee into the bribery allegation against a member of the Committee, Olaleye Adepoju, placing a 10-year ban from all football-related activities on the former chairman of NFF Disciplinary Committee.

    Following a meeting of the investigative committee headed by Chris Green at the NFF Secretariat in Abuja on Monday, the Emergency Committee was convened to look into its recommendations with a view to treating the matter with dispatch.

    Apart from Adepoju, the former Commissioner for Youth and Sports in Oyo State, Dapo Lam-Adesina, also bagged a 10-year ban. It was the unanimous position of the Emergency Committee that the case against Adepoju was proved beyond reasonable doubt.

    In a related development, the Emergency Committee also upheld the recommendation of the investigative committee into an allegation of impersonation against the Chairman of Enugu State Football Association, Chidi Ofo Okenwa, to the effect that Okenwa, indeed, has a case to answer.

    The committee has referred the case to the Inspector General of Police for full police investigation. In the meantime, Ofo Okenwa is to step aside as Chairman of Enugu State Football Association pending conclusion of the police investigation.

    Present at the meeting were NFF President, Aminu Maigari, Vice President, Mike Umeh and other members, Emeka Inyama, Muazu Suleyman, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh and Ahmad Muazu Kawu.

  • NFF promises more ‘big games’ for Eagles

    NFF promises more ‘big games’ for Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced that more “Grade A” friendly matches will be lined up for the Super Eagles ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

    Nigeria and Italy battled to a 2-2 draw in the Super Eagles’ latest preparatory game for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the NFF has now revealed that more high profile games will be arranged for the team.

    The Chairman of the NFF Technical Committee, Barrister Chris Green, told supersport.com that the federation has set its sights on nations in the top ten places in the latest FIFA rankings.

    “We have a duty to make sure the Super Eagles are well prepared for the World Cup and friendly matches are one of the key things needed to do in that regard. We are looking at organising even more friendly games for the team with emphasis on the teams in the top 10 places in the FIFA rankings,” Green told supersport.com.