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Tag: Maigari

  • Maigari orders technical committee to intervene in Keshi, Yobo row

    Maigari orders technical committee to intervene in Keshi, Yobo row

    Nigeria Football Association has ordered the Chairman of NFA Technical and Development Committee, Mr Chris Green, to intervene in the ongoing war of words between the Head Coach of the Super Eagles Stephen Keshi and Captain Joseph Yobo.

    Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the President of NFA, gave the order in a statement issued on Thursday by the NFA Assistant Media Director, Ademola Olajire, in Abuja.

    “Maigari ordered the Chairman of Technical and Development Committee, Barrister Chris Green and his committee members to, as a matter of urgency, intervene in the on-going war of words between Super Eagles’ Head Coach Stephen Keshi and Captain Joseph Yobo.’’

    It said an unhealthy exchange of words between the two principal characters in the Nigeria squad has dominated the media in the past few days.

    According to the statement, Yobo expressed unhappiness with the coach over his exclusion from last month’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kenya in Calabar.

    “This is a highly untoward development and the NFF and entire Nigeria football family are disturbed.

    “Less than two months ago, we lifted the Africa Cup of Nations in a blaze of glory, and this was made possible by the hard work and team work in an atmosphere of peace, unity and tranquility.

    “The recent exchange of words between Coach Keshi and Captain Yobo is worrisome, at a time that we have so many important matches and the FIFA Confederations Cup (Brazil 2013) ahead of us.

    “I have, therefore, ordered the Chairman of the Technical Committee and his members to immediately intervene and restore sanity,’’ Maigari said.

    The NFA president also cautioned the nation’s vibrant media against over-sensationalism with regards to the Keshi and Yobo issue.

    “Journalists remain important stakeholders in the game and we charge them to avoid over-playing such negative tendencies; such issues attack the fabric of the team and tend to destroy team spirit, which is key to achieving set goals and objectives,’’ he added.

    It said Nigeria had a tight and buy schedule of possibly, 10 matches in six weeks between the end of May and mid-July.

    “The Super Eagles take on CONCACAF champions, Mexico (rated 15th in the world), in a prestigious international friendly in Texas, USA on May 31.

    “They will travel to Kenya and Namibia for 2014 World Cup qualifiers within a fortnight.

    “The Super Eagles will also take part in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil, where they could play five matches if they progress beyond the group stages.

    “They will then proceed for a 2014 African Nations Championship two-legged fixture against Cote d’Ivoire.’

  • Maigari, Green: Eagles will whip Harambee

    Maigari, Green: Eagles will whip Harambee

    Keshi says it’s a wake-up call

     

    NFF President, Aminu Maigari and Chairman Technical Committee of the Federation, Christopher Green, say they have confidence that the Super Eagles will overhaul Kenya in the return of the World Cup qualifier in June in Nairobi.

    Maigari, who spoke immediately after the game in Calabar said it was a difficult game because the Kenyans came with a match plan to frustrate the African champions but were overwhelmed by the character of the Nigerian side. “It was always going to be a difficult game but the Kenyans came with a mind to frustrate the champions but we have a team that has character and at the end of the day they were surprised at the manner we held our own even when they were telling themselves that they have won the match,” he said.

    Maigari assured that the team will be better prepared for the return leg in Nairobi and urged Nigerians to be always supportive of the team through thick and thin.

    Green on his part said some of the players who did not put in their best should by now know what it takes to play for the Super Eagles because the team is not ready to relinquish the crown in the nearest future.

    “We have an abundance of talents across the world but we must be sure to make the right choices of players and that is why my committee is working closely with the coaches of the national teams to make sure that the best players are picked for action at all times. But if I must say, some of the players that were on parade did not come to the party on Saturday and they know themselves,” Green said.

    On his part, Head Coach Stephen Keshi, said the draw was a wake-up call to the players and his technical crew. Addressing the players and officials immediately after the encounter, Keshi said he was impressed by the players’ output but noted that the Kenyans came with a match plan to frustrate the Eagles. “From the airport in Lagos they were complaining and they came to Calabar with the same attitude but we still held our own against them. Being champions is not an easy thing and I think we now know how to play like champions when next we meet them in Nairobi,” he said.

    The former Togo and Mali Coach congratulated the players for the resolute desire not to lose the game in Calabar and called for more Kenya.

  • HARAMBEE ALLEGED REFEREE AID FALLOUT: Maigari: Kenyans were not robbed

    HARAMBEE ALLEGED REFEREE AID FALLOUT: Maigari: Kenyans were not robbed

    Says, Eagles will keep improving 

     

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president, Aminu Maigari believes all hope is not lost after Nigeria’s Super Eagles battled Kenya’s Harambee Stars to a 1-1 draw in Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifying match at the U.J.Esuene stadium Calabar.

    Maigari told SportingLife after the game that the Stephen Keshi tutored-side will keep improving with coming games, even as he dismissed claims by the East Africans that the match officials aided Nigeria’s comeback in the encounter.

    “They were not robbed. The officiating was okay and if they were anybody to complain it should be Nigeria not them. This is just the first time we are playing after the Nations Cup feat. I’m confident that the team will keep improving despite the result we had today,” the NFF president sounded-off.

     

  • Maigari: No hard feelings after CAF polls loss

    Maigari: No hard feelings after CAF polls loss

    NFF president Aminu Maigari has said he has no hard feelings after he lost a chance to be on the executive committee of CAF after a run-off.

    The Vice President of CAF’s West B zone and member of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, Maigari on Sunday gave his opponents a serious fight before losing to Beninoise official, Moucharafou Anjorin, in a second vote.

    However, while the Nigerian football boss said he is not bitter with his defeat, he maintained CAF should now strive to entrench a system that will allow the finest to emerge to run the game on the continent.

    “I wish to start by thanking the federal government and good people of Nigeria for backing me all the way in this election. I specially thank the Honourable Minister/Chairman of the NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi, NFF executive committee and management, the media and all those who supported the campaign,” Maigari said.

    “The poll was an experience and I have no hard feelings. That’s what life is all about. You learn every day. I am proud of the campaign we conducted. But it is time that African football begins to put in place a structure that will allow the best to emerge on to the CAF Executive Committee.

    “Nigeria football is big, not only because we are the current champions of Africa at both junior and senior levels, but also as a result of what we have achieved in the past, on and off-the-field. It is my considered view that Nigeria should always be considered for a seat on the Executive Committee.”

    At the General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football in the Moroccan city, the NFF President polled 17 votes in the first round as against 27 for Anjorin and only nine for Hima Souley, a former president of the Niger Football Federation.

    However, as CAF rules stipulated that simple majority would be 28 votes, Anjorin failed to emerge as outright winner in the first round and a run-off was called between himself and Maigari.

    A lot of serious politicking and horse-trading went on in the auditorium before the second round, which Maigari lost 19-35.

    Chairman of the NFF media and publicity committee, Emeka Inyama, who was also at the elections, said: “There should be a new way of conducting these polls. The best people should emerge. I really cannot understand why someone like Maigari, president of Nigeria FA, and Danny Jordaan of South Africa, who organised the best FIFA World Cup finals ever, should not win seats on the CAF executive committee.

    “We even have it on good authority that some Nigerians worked against the candidacy of Aminu Maigari, day and night. They did everything to sabotage his candidacy. It is unfortunate and unpatriotic.”

  • CAF Poll: No hard feelings after loss – Maigari

    CAF Poll: No hard feelings after loss – Maigari

    Nigeria Football Federation president, Aminu Maigari has said he has no hard feelings after he lost a chance to be on the Confederation of African Football executive committee.

    The Vice President of CAF’s West B zone and member of the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, Maigari on Sunday gave his opponents a serious fight before losing to Beninoise official, Moucharafou Anjorin, in a second vote.

    However, while the Nigerian football boss said he is not bitter with the defeat, saying that CAF should now strive to entrench a system that will allow the finest to emerge to run the game on the continent.

    “I wish to start by thanking the federal government and good people of Nigeria for backing me all the way in this election. I specially thank the Honourable Minister/Chairman of the NSC, Bolaji Abdullahi, NFF executive committee and management, the media and all those who supported the campaign,” MTNFootball.com quoted Maigari as saying on Monday.

    “The poll was an experience and I have no hard feelings. That’s what life is all about. You learn every day. I am proud of the campaign we conducted. But it is time that African football begins to put in place a structure that will allow the best to emerge on to the CAF Executive Committee.

    “Nigeria football is big, not only because we are the current champions of Africa at both junior and senior levels, but also as a result of what we have achieved in the past, on and off-the-field. It is my considered view that Nigeria should always be considered for a seat on the Executive Committee.”

     

  • Eagles target world’s top 10 spot – Maigari

    Eagles target world’s top 10 spot – Maigari

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, has said the Super Eagles will aim to be in the FIFA top 10 this year.

    Nigeria is currently ranked 30th in the world after the Super Eagles won a third African Nations Cup crown in South Africa last month.

    Nigeria’s best FIFA ranking was fifth in April 1994.

    “Like you know we have secured a friendly with the CONCACAF champions Mexico. It is part of our drive to ensure that we finish the year among the best 10 footballing nations in the world,” Maigari told MTNFootball.com.

    “We are in talks with the other soccer powers in the world and we hope to utilise every FIFA free window.”

    The Eagles will on May 31 in Houston, Texas, take on Mexico in a friendly preparatory to the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    In the meantime, the Nigerian government has thrown its weight behind Maigari ahead of his Confederation of African Football Zone 2 executive committee elections holding this weekend in Morocco.

    Maigari is up against his Benin and Niger Republic counterpart for the position vacated by Nigeria’s Amos Adamu.

    “I have been meeting with Aminu Maigari on the CAF elections. We know the importance of having a Nigerian on the executive committee of CAF and as such the Federal government is giving him all the backing he needs to win this election,” the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, told MTNFootball.com.

     

  • My sack letter was ready in October – Keshi

    My sack letter was ready in October – Keshi

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has revealed that his sack letter was ready by October and it was not from the Nigeria Football Federation.

    Keshi said on Supersport Monday Night Football programme his dismissal letter was already prepared after his team thumped Liberia 6-1 and qualified for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.

    “I know for sure the letter was there, the letter was waiting before Nations Cup after we won 6-1 against Liberia in Calabar,” MTNFootball.com quoted Keshi as saying on the live television programme.

    “It wasn’t from my president, not from the board of the federation, but from one or two other people.

    “We were not told directly but the speculations were all over the place for some time.

    “I kept hearing the same thing at the Nations Cup.

    “But we said we are not bothered by this. Let them give us the sack letter and we leave. But for now there is no sack letter, let’s move on. Our job is hire today, fire tomorrow.”

    Speculations were rife that he could well have been replaced by Zambia coach Herve Renard, who was first contacted for the Nigeria top post after the 2010 AFCON in Angola.

    Keshi maintained he enjoys a good working relationship with the NFF led by Aminu Maigari.

    “For now, I have a wonderful relationship with my president, apart from one or two individuals (at the NFF),” he said.

    “If I’m tired of staying here, if I don’t enjoy what I’m doing, I walk.

    “It’s not the end of the world, coaching Nigeria is not the end of the world. But you have to give me the respect, the freedom to do my job.”

     

  • AFCON: Jonathan charges Eagles to beat Mali

    AFCON: Jonathan charges Eagles to beat Mali

    President Goodluck Jonathan has charged the Super Eagles to beat Mali and qualify for the final of this year’s African Nations Cup in South Africa.

    Nigeria battle Mali in Wednesday’s semi-final in Durban.

    President Jonathan has promised to be at the final this weekend if Nigeria qualifies.

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, said the Super Eagles are ready to fulfill President Jonathan’s desire to travel to South Africa for the championship game.

    “I have just spoken to the head coach (Stephen Keshi) and the captain (Joseph Yobo), and they have assured me that they will fulfill Mr. President’s desire. It is rare to have this kind of support from a Head of State,” MTNFootball.com quoted Maigari as saying on Tuesday.

    “On our part, the NFF has motivated the team enough to do Mr. President and the nation proud by not only winning on Wednesday, but lifting the trophy on Sunday.”

    The team arrived in Durban, venue of Wednesday’s semi final against Mali, to a glorious welcome by the people of Durban (Nigerian residents and other nationals) who desire to be compensated for the disappointment of Super Eagles’ group stage elimination from the FIFA World Cup finals 32 months ago.

    Needing only a win to reach the knock-out phase of Africa’s first FIFA World Cup, and backed by a vociferous full house at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, the Eagles played a 2-2 draw with Korea Republic and exit the tournament.

     

  • CAF exco post Maigari seeks to replace Adamu

    CAF exco post Maigari seeks to replace Adamu

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Aminu Maigari will contest for a place on the CAF executive committee next year.

    According to CAF, Maigari is one of three candidates who will seek to replace outgoing Amos Adamu at next year’s ordinary general assembly. The other candidates to contest against Maigari are Benin FA boss Anjorin Moucharafou and his Niger counterpart, Hima Souley.

    Maigari is on his second-term on the executive committee of the NFF. The vacancy is for West Africa B, which has Benin, Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo, Burkina Faso and Niger.

    CAF president Issa Hayatou is the only candidate for his position at the next general assembly, while South Africa’s Danny Jordan will again attempt to get on the CAF board after he failed to do so previously.

    Hayatou was first elected CAF boss in 1988.

     

  • AWC FALLOUT: FALCONS’ OUSTER UNFORTUNATE -MAIGARI

    AWC FALLOUT: FALCONS’ OUSTER UNFORTUNATE -MAIGARI

    NFF President Aminu Maigari has bemoaned the woeful performance of the senior women national team, Super Falcons at the just concluded African Women Championship held in Equatorial Guinea.

    Speaking to SportingLife on his way to Miami, Florida, USA on Sunday, the former Bauchi State FA Chairman said: “This is the worst assemblage of senior women team Nigeria has ever had. The annoying aspect of it is that the girls were well motivated, and they were given whatever they requested for, I never knew what went wrong.

    “We would have to wait for the technical report from the Head Coach before we would know the next line of action. The annoying aspect is that this debacle is coming when our junior teams excelled at the world level.

    “We had expected the senior team to capitalized on that to rule Africa again, but all that has now become mere wishes. It is very unfotunate, and unbelievable.” Maigari led Super Eagles delegation to friendly against Venezuela.