The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FIFA

  • POOR OFFICIATING Cooreman to report League refs to FIFA

    POOR OFFICIATING Cooreman to report League refs to FIFA

    Gombe United head coach Maurice Cooreman has threatened to drag Nigerian match officials to FIFA if they do not curb bad officiating in the Premier League.

    Cooreman said poor officiating is giving Nigerian football a negative image among other nations hence the ned to ensure it is halted.

    He affirmed that through his connection, FIFA would beam its searchlight on the goings-on in Nigeria which he reckoned could give the country added bad publicity.

    Cooreman’s latest tirade came in the wake of his team’s 0-1 loss at Ilorin against ABS, a match which he alleged was badly officiated to ensure that the Saraki Boys got maximum points.

    He alleged that Kaduna United also lodged same complaint when they visited the Kwara State Stadium for their recent league match.

    “I am not happy with the officiating in the Nigerian league at all. Is it compulsory for the home team to win at all costs?

    “I am going to use my connection to report the bad officiating and other problems in the Nigerian league to FIFA.

    “FIFA can help us to put things in order. The spate of poor officiating is so very alarming. I have not witnessed such outside Nigeria.

    “We played against ABS last Sunday and the centre referee did everything possible to frustrate our game. It was daylight robbery at Ilorin.

    “We scored a good goal, it was also disallowed. FIFA must hear about all these anomalies so as to put an end to it,” Cooreman told SportingLife.

    Meanwhile, the Belgian tactician hinted that six of the players he registered for the Federation Cup were no longer eligible having been sold to other clubs.

    Star striker Sani Gidado is also ruled out of the contest after he failed to recover from the muscular complaint he had during the Round of 32 Federation Cup tie with Taraba United which they won 2-0 in Lafia.

    Cooreman however stressed that despite the hiccup, Gombe United would be ready for Kano Pillars when the game kicks off later today at the Rwang Pam Stadium, Jos.

    SportingLife recalls that Gombe United lost during the Group Stage of the 2012 edition at the Port Harcourt centre which had Heartland, Nasarawa United, Gombe United and Plateau United while Pillars were semi finalists after losing to Lobi Stars 4-5 on penalties.

  • FIFA lifts Cameroon’s suspension

    FIFA lifts Cameroon’s suspension

    The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has lifted its suspension of the Cameroonian Football Association (FECAFOOT), given that the conditions previously set have been met.

    A statement on the Website of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Tuesday read that FIFA took the decision on Monday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that FIFA had on July 4 suspended FECAFOOT with immediate effect over government’s interference.

    In view of this, FIFA’s Emergency Committee had set up a normalisation committee, to revise the FECAFOOT statutes and organise elections for new officials by March 31, 2014

    The statement added that the normalisation committee that was appointed has since resumed its duties at the FECAFOOT headquarters.

    It added that FECAFOOT’s clubs, officials and other representatives can immediately resume their activities, which had been interrupted

    “As requested by the FIFA Emergency Committee, the normalisation committee appointed on July 20, has taken up its duties on July 22 at the FECAFOOT headquarters, with FIFA and CAF observers present.

    “The lifting of the suspension means that FECAFOOT’s clubs, officials and other representatives can immediately resume their activities, which had been interrupted.

    “The same applies for the resumption of the courses and various programmes provided by FIFA, CAF and other member associations.

    “FIFA and CAF will continue to closely monitor the situation, particularly in relation to the revision of the FECAFOOT statutes,’’ the statement added.

  • NFF orders fresh MRI test for Eaglets

    Determined to ensure that false age declaration is eradicated in Nigerian football, the nation’s football federation has slammed a compulsory MRI test on the current U-17 national team players

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered a fresh Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) test for the current players of the current U-17 national team.
    Players who  featured at the last CAN Under-17 tournament in Morocco and  their counterparts picked from the screening exercise are  to undergo the mandatory test.
    The text will  be done before they report at the team’s Princeville Hotel Camp which opens on Monday (July 22) in Calabar.
    Emmanuel Ikpeme, the Federation’s Director Technical, informed that a repeat of the test was necessary to ascertain player’s current status.
    The MRI test has become a regular feature at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup since 2009 to help ascertain whether players are over age or not.
    Ikpeme said the NFF will follow the rule as stipulated by the world soccer ruling body, FIFA, to the letter.
    “We are conscious of the fact that only players within the stipulated age brackets would be allowed to compete at the FIFA World Cup,” he said. “As a result, we are equally extending the MRI test to some of the players that represented the country in Morocco.
    “We are taking every necessary step to avoid any untoward incident at the World Cup especially when we were informed by our medical team that the MRI scan deals with the rate of bone growth which cannot be determined on face value,” Ikpeme  explained.
    All the shortlisted 30 players and  numerous others on standby are due  in Abuja to undergo  the test.

  • Under-20 WORLD CUP FALLOUT FIFA rates Nigeria ‘99 among best attended

    •Rues low turnout in Turkey

    Fourteen years after Nigeria hosted the Under 20 World Cup,FIFA still ranks the Nigerian edition as one of the best attended in the history of the championship. The rating is coming on the heels of poor attendance recorded in this year’s edition which ends today in Turkey.

    The Nigerian edition which was won by Spain had a total attendance of 624,400 averaging 12,007 with 38,000 attending the final between Spain and Japan.

    In contrast however, FIFA noted that Turkey 2013 has averaged only 5,230 spectators over 50 matches, describing it as by far the lowest figure in the 36-year history of the competition.

    FIFA added that the record-low attendance at the Under-20 World Cup could hurt Turkey’s chances of hosting major tournaments, including the 2020 Olympics and the 2024 European Championship.

    Chairman of the FIFA tournament organizing committee, Jim Boyce Friday, described the empty seats syndrome in the Turkey edition as “one negative point.”

    Boyce added that Turkey has “proved that they can organize very smoothly from all other aspects of a major competition so I honestly hope that it does not have an adverse effect on the future. But it is still disappointing. “

    Africa’s surviving flag bearers, Ghana, clinched the third position in Istanbul on Saturday after beating Iraq 3-0. Recall that Nigeria led by Coach John Obuh crashed out in the round of 16 after losing 2-1 to Uruguay.

  • Yusuf Mohammed drags Al-Hilal to FIFA

    Out-of-favour Super Eagles defender Yusuf Mohammed has dragged his former Sudanese club, Al Hilal SC to the FIFA court over their inability to pay his entitlement, the player has informed SportingLife.

    Mohammed played for Nigeria at the 2010 AFCON but sustained an injury during the competition. The injury would later ruled him out of the South Africa 2010 FIFA World Cup.

    Explaining why he left Hilal after six years of his services and heading for FIFA court, Mohammed said that the genesis of his problem with the Omdurman based club was when the club got a new president(Mohammed Al-Birair) because the former one(Salah Idris) left the post to concentrate on his political ambition.

    Mohammed narrated that the new president Al-Birair on his assumption of office started making life uncomfortable to all the experienced players in the team by denying them what was due to them.

    “This move made most of the top players to leave the club. The captain who joined the club 17 years ago left so also the Zimbabwean hitman, Edward Sadomba among others. The irony of it all is that he refused to pay us our entitlement.

    “When I noticed what was going on, I had to contact my lawyer who made the necessary step to contact FIFA. It was when I heard that FIFA would soon serve them letter on my case that I left the club for Nigeria because I don’t know what they may do next.

    “I’m in the country now studying other offers before me before taking the next step. But I will like FIFA to wade in into the crisis between me and Al Hilal so that all what I worked for won’t just go down the drain like that. My wife and my daughter are with me in the country now as we contemplate what next for me and my career,” Mohammed, who will turn 30 on November 5th, stated.

    He has been capped 5 times by the Super Eagles including participation at the AFCON in Angola in 2010.

  • FIFA wants Argentina, Uruguay to host Centenary World Cup

    FIFA wants the centenary World Cup in 2030 to be jointly staged by Uruguay and Argentina, who met in the final of the inaugural tournament, Argentine Football Association President, Julio Grondona, said on Thursday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that in 1930, Uruguay, the then double Olympic champions, beat Argentina 4-2 in the showpiece match at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo in front of more than 80,000 enthusiastic soccer fans.

    “FIFA wishes to celebrate the World Cup’s 100 years in Argentina and Uruguay, I can confirm that,” said Grondona, the Senior Vice-President of world soccer’s governing body.

    “An agreement has been signed by the two associations (AFA and Uruguay’s AUF). What will we do? We’ll see but surely something of quality,” Grondona told Argentina’s Radio 10.

    The only co-hosted World Cup finals so far were organised by Japan and South Korea in 2002.

    Any future joint bid must have one organising committee, unlike the 2002 Asian World Cup which had separate Japanese and Korean committees.

    The 2014 FIFA World Cup will take place in Brazil.

    Russia won the vote for the 2018 tournament and Qatar, a tiny nation with no soccer pedigree and extremely high temperatures in mid-year, was controversially chosen to stage the 2022 tournament.

    A joint Argentine-Uruguayan bid for 2030 is backed by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL).

    Uruguay’s Tourism and Sports Ministry formally approached FIFA’s President Sepp Blatter at the start of the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa to propose the joint bid.

    Blatter has since said on several occasions, especially during visits to Latin America, that he liked the idea of the centenary tournament being held by Uruguay and Argentina.

    However, the voting system has changed since controversy surrounded the decision to award the finals to Russia and Qatar.

    The 24-man executive committee had voted on bids until last year but now the 209-member FIFA Congress will decide which countries host future World Cup tournaments.

  • FIFA U20 World Cup 10-man Nigeria falls to Uruguay

    FIFA U20 World Cup 10-man Nigeria falls to Uruguay

    Uruguay beat Nigeria U-20 team in the round of 16 to end the dream of the African lads to reach the last eight of the competition.

    A Nicholas Lopez brace was all the South Americans needed to defeat their Nigeria counterparts.

    Lopez opened the scoring in the 65th minute when he fired in from close range after goalkeeper Samuel Okani spilled a free-kick.

    The turning point of the game was the red card given to Nigeria right back Abdulahi Shehu in the 41st minute for a second bookable offence in interval of two minutes.

    Despite playing one man down for the entire second half, Nigeria gave a good account of themselves and fought back with Kayode Olanrewaju getting an equalizer in the 69th minute with a solo effort.

    Lopez completed his brace in the 84th minute when he converted a penalty after Ndidi brought down an Uruguayan player inside the penalty area.

    Nigeria came close twice towards the end of the game when Ndidi’s long range effort was saved by Uruguay keeper in 91st minute before Madu’s shot missed by a whisker.

    Uruguay will now meet Spain in the quarter final.

  • WYC: Flying Eagles will pick 2nd round ticket – NFF

    WYC: Flying Eagles will pick 2nd round ticket – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation scribe, Musa Amadu, has expressed confidence in the ability of the Flying Eagles to pick a second round ticket after last round of matches on Thursday.
    Amadu, who spoke exclusively to The Nationsports said the boys have overcome the initial setback against Portugal in their first match and with the 3-0 victory over the Cubans, the John Obuh tutored team is ready to make Nigeria proud at the tourney.
    “I am confident that the Flying Eagles will get the second round ticket after today’s match. I have been in touch with the boys and they are in a very good frame of mind. They have restored their confidence after losing the first match to Portugal.
    “Their victory over Cuba is the propelling factor for them. I don’t see the Koreans withstanding their fireworks in their last match on Thursday.
    I want Nigerians to continue to pray for them, and not relenting in giving their unflinching support to the team. The players are determined to do us proud,” he added.

  • Our strikers let us down – Keshi

    Our strikers let us down – Keshi

    Super Eagles head coach, Stephen Keshi , has launched a thinly-veiled attack on the strikers he picked for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    Nigeria crashed out of the competition after a 0-3 defeat to world and European champions, Spain in Fortaleza on Sunday, Supersport.com reports.

    The African champions scored seven goals in the tournament but six of those came against minnows, Tahiti, a side that shipped in 10 goals against Spain and eight against Uruguay.

    Four of the strikers selected by Keshi, Brown Ideye, Anthony Ujah, Joseph Akpala and Gambo Mohammed all failed to score in Brazil despite getting decent game time under their belt.

    After managing just one goal in their final two games against Uruguay and Spain, Keshi declared in a thinly-veiled remark that the strikers he selected for the “tournament of champions” are not good enough.

    “I can’t imagine that my top striker Emmanuel Emenike would miss some of the goals that we missed (at the tournament),” Keshi revealed in an astonishing post-match tirade in Fortaleza on Sunday.

    Nigeria suffered a spate of late withdrawals with several top stars sitting out the tournament due to injuries.

    Keshi believes his side would have performed better in Brazil if the absent players had not pulled out of the squad.

    “Ogenyi Onazi was sorely missed. Victor Moses would have ruined any team here and of course several other players that should have been here could not make it due to injuries. Among them United States-based Bright Dike,” Keshi said.

    Nigeria finished as the fifth best side at the tournament.

     

  • FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Mark speaks with Eagles

    FIFA CONFEDERATIONS CUP: Mark speaks with Eagles

    •Senate President reassures players
    •On prompt bonus payment

     

    Senate President, David Mark (GCON) spoke with each player of the senior national team before its opening FIFA Confederations Cup game against Tahiti on Monday assuring them of the government’s support. The Nigeria side are in the competition as Africa Champions.

    A National Assembly source revealed to SportingLife that the decision to contact the team in Brazil was as a result of the bonus dispute that nearly threatened its participation.

    Mark is disturbed that the players can boycott their matches if promises earlier made about the payment of their bonuses are not redeemed.

    “The Senate President called Chief Coach, Stephen Keshi yesterday afternoon to tell the players of his decision to take over the matter,” said the source.

    The team’s murmurings and bickering reached the ears of the senate president through the Chairman, Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Ibrahim Gumba and his counterpart at the lower house, Honourable Godfrey Gaiya.

    “They were the ones who informed Mark because they witnessed the entire drama in Kenya and Namibia. Consequently, Mark in his official capacity as the number three citizen briefed President, Godluck Jonathan (GCFR) ,” said our source.

    “Immediately the President called the Sports Minister, Bolaji Abdullahi for further briefing on the budget constraints that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have been crying about. But one issue that they all faulted NFF for was the fact that they did not carry them along when they decided to rationalise the backroom staff and also slash bonuses of both players and officials.

    ” Do not forget that it was Mark that made the U.S. Embassy issue visas to the team ahead of their friendly game against Venezuela last year,” added the source.

    It was also Mark that intervened after Keshi threw in his resignation letter immediately after Nigeria won the Nations Cup in January in South Africa. In a national daily yesterday, stand-in Super Eagles captain, Vincent Enyeama reminded Nigerians that the bonus issue was not over. The players have insisted on NFF reverting to the 10,000 dollars win-in bonus and not 5,000 dollars.