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  • Pinnick reads riot act to national coaches, NFF staff

    Pinnick reads riot act to national coaches, NFF staff

    Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has directed the federation’s Legal Department to henceforth work closely with the Legal Committee for the enforcement of the Code of Conduct.

    Pinnick, who spoke on Wednesday in Abuja, said there was the need to ensure the enforcement of the code enshrined in the national coaches’ contracts.

    He also directed that a separate document be developed to be signed by the Head Coach and Team Administrator of every national team embarking on any assignment.

    “Henceforth, the NFF will visit any violation of the code with stiff sanctions as enshrined in the code and the coaches’ respective contracts.

    “People will as from now take responsibility for their actions, inactions, misconduct, negligence and downright ineptitude.

    “We cannot continue to go on this way. What happened was a major gaffe and we will no longer condone this level of indolence and lack of seriousness.

    “People must change their general attitude and their approach to work henceforth, or be ready to face sanctions,’’ the NFF president said.

    He spoke at a meeting with NFF management and staff in Abuja, against the background of the sanctions imposed on Nigeria by FIFA over Super Eagles’ use of an ineligible player.

    Pinnick also charged the heads of different departments and units in the federation to be much more alive to their responsibilities.

    He then directed that extant rules and regulations be fully enforced to deal with erring members of management and staff of NFF.

  • Nigeria to host FIFA Executive Summit

    Nigeria to host FIFA Executive Summit

     

    World football –ruling body, FIFA will hold its FIFA Executive Football Summit (EFS) meeting in Lagos, Nigeria in February next year, the Nigeria Football Federation has confirmed.

     

    “Nigeria has been selected as a Member Association to host one of the 12 FIFA Executive Football Summit meetings happening between November 2017 and March 2018, as part of FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s vision of ‘bringing FIFA back to football and football back to FIFA’,” NFF President Amaju Pinnick said on Monday.

     

    Already, the NFF has selected Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island as venue and hotel accommodation for the big event, slated for 20th February 2018.

     

    Pinnick added: “This is a very important event on the FIFA calendar. That Nigeria is deemed good enough to be among the 12 countries to host the FIFA Executive Football Summit meetings is no mean feat. It is another marker of our global acceptability, visibility and reckoning.

     

    “The NFF opted for Eko Hotels and Suites because FIFA officials are familiar with that facility and its services. It hosted FIFA teams during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship and the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup. Also important is the fact that the hotel has a new facility named The Signature, and which is of 5-Star quality and rating.

     

    “The entire project, including the expenses of all the participants, such as their accommodation, feeding and transportation and all other logistics having to do with the programme, will be bankrolled by FIFA. ”

     

    A FIFA official was in Lagos during the week to check out on accommodation and other facilities listed for the event.

  • 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

  • NFF to Take 100 Fans to World Cup to Cheer Super Eagles

    NFF to Take 100 Fans to World Cup to Cheer Super Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) will be one of the big spenders for next year’s world cup in Russia as plans have been mapped out to spend whooping dollars- worth billions of naira- to sponsor 100 Nigerians to Russia to cheer the Super Eagles.
    The plan, which has been described as a special arrangement, following the division among the Nigerian Football Supporters Club, has reached advance stage.
    Even if the leadership crisis in the Nigeria football supporters club is resolved before the July 2018 world cup, The Glass House as further gathered, would not drop its already worked out special arrangement to ensure a massive support for the football national team in Russia.
    Super Eagles’ Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye reportedly explained that the football federation was mindful of the situation with the Supporters Club, which is a private body, and hence have to ensure that the crisis would not in anyway affect Eagles in the world.
    Ibitoye said, “the details of the fans engagement programme will be unveiled by the NFF in the next few days…. the NFF and its sponsors want to take 100 fans to Russia.”
    The Nigerian Football Supporters Club has splited into two factions with Rev. Ikpea and Vincent Okumagba laying claims to the leadership of the body.
    The Ikpea faction is backed by a majority of the members, including Rafiu Ladipo, who is the president general of the body, while Okumagba is supported by the younger elements, who want change in leadership from Ladipo’s over 20 years of controlling the body.
    The club could not travel with the Super Eagles to Ndola where Zambia hosted Nigeria in the opening game of the Russia 2018 World Cup qualifiers, while the Ikpea-led group arrived in Cameroun by road on match day when the Indomitable Lions hosted the Super Eagles in Yaoundé.
    However, it was gathered that ‘elders’ of the body have been meeting to find a lasting solution to the Supporters Club’s leadership crisis.
    Meanwhile, Former Super Eagles goalkeeper, Emmanuel Babayaro has urged the National team handlers to reconsider giving a recall to former Captain, Vincent Enyeama.
    Speaking ahead of the World Cup draws coming up on the 1st of December spoke, Babayaro said,
    “World Cup requires a lot of experience if we will have any chance of scaling, and Enyeama’s experience will be vital at this point,” Babayaro said.
    The former goalkeeper was widely known as the older brother of former Chelsea and Newcastle full-back, Celestine.
    He noted that irrespective of how Enyeama is been viewed, he can still pass on knowledge to the team. Stressing that
    conditions should be attached to his return, to avoid any form of rancor within the team.
    Emmanuel was a keen central midfielder as a child, but his younger brother Celestine would force him to play in goal,
    hitting him until he gave in. It was in this position that he was noticed.
    Babayaro was also part of Nigeria’s gold medal-winning team at the 1996 Olympics, a side in which Celestine also appeared.
  • CHAN: Eagles up against Libya, Rwanda and Eq. Guinea

    CHAN: Eagles up against Libya, Rwanda and Eq. Guinea

     

    Nigeria will tackle 2014 champions Libya, Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage at the 5th African Nations Championship taking place in Morocco, 13th January – 4th February 2018. The matches of Group C will be played in Tangier.

     

    Libya shocked the African football family by winning the 2014 edition in South Africa at the expense of Ghana, despite the North African nation being embroiled in political turmoil at the time. Nigeria finished third at the same competition.

     

    Rwanda was the last team to qualify for the finals, after edging Ethiopia 3-2 on aggregate in a play –off that was necessitated by Egypt’s decision to forfeit her slot at the championship.

     

    Equatorial Guinea qualified for the finals following the withdrawal of Gabon, and a miffed CAF hierarchy has made it clear the Gabonese (as well as Djibouti that also withdrew after playing the first leg against Ethiopia) would not be part of the qualifying campaign for the 2020 finals.

     

    The Draw Ceremony held at the Hotel Sofitel Rabat on Friday evening also housed hosts Morocco, Guinea, Sudan and Mauritania in Group A, in the event pitting the Atlas Lions against Mauritania in the opening match of the competition, at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca on 13th January.

     

    Hosts of the inaugural edition of the competition in 2009, Cote d’Ivoire head Group B that will be based in Marrakech, and have Zambia, Uganda and Namibia as group mates.

     

    Group D, based in Agadir, has 2011 runners-up Angola, Cameroon, Congo and Burkina Faso.

     

    GROUP A (CASABLANCA)

    Morocco

    Guinea

    Sudan

    Mauritania

     

    GROUP B (MARRAKECH)

    Cote d’Ivoire

    Zambia

    Uganda

    Namibia

     

    GROUP C (TANGIER)

    Libya

    Nigeria

    Rwanda

    Equatorial Guinea

     

    GROUP D (AGADIR)

    Angola

    Cameroon

    Congo

    Burkina Faso

  • World Cup Qualification: Brian Idowu Joins Team

    World Cup Qualification: Brian Idowu Joins Team

    .As Rohr Commends NFF
    Russia –based Bryan Idowu has joined up with the rest of the Super Eagles squad after they arrived in Krasnodar, Russia. He told thenff.com: “It’s a big privilege for him to be part of this great squad. I will definitely give my best in order to remain a part of this team.
    “It’s a big honor for me to be called into the Super Eagles. I will give this opportunity my very best shot so I can stay here for a long time. I believe this team will put smiles on the faces of Nigerians at the World Cup next year,” he added.

    Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser Gernot Rohr is full of encomiums for the Nigeria Football Federation for the “professional and committed manner” it handled the Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign.

    Not only were the three –time African champions unbeaten in what was styled ‘Group of Death’, the Eagles picked the ultimate prize in that group with a game to spare, becoming Africa’s first candidate for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia in the process.

    The man that led the team to achieving this feat believes the professional approach to the team’s preparations by the NFF for all the six qualifiers played a pivotal role in the team’s success.

    “For sure, we must commend the NFF for the role they played right from that game in Ndola against Zambia to last Friday’s game in Constantine, Algeria.

    “Apart from putting together excellent arrangements for our games at home, they ensured we travelled in comfort to all our away games and the fact that our away travels were always direct on chartered flights made sure we had very good recovery period between games. This also helped to manage the few days we usually have because of the congested and very small number of the FIFA international days,” Rohr said.

    Nigeria won four games and drew two to finish top of the eminent pile with 14 points, six ahead of second –placed Zambia. In both drawn games away from home, they were pegged back by late penalties to the hosts in dying minutes, underlying the Super Eagles’ praiseworthy performance through out the campaign.

    This, the Franco –German tactician believes, was down to paying attention to little details.

    “From the time the draw was made for the group series of the qualifiers, we know that in a difficult group like the one we were in, the difference between success and failure could be down to little things that most people would take for granted, but I am happy that the NFF were very professional, passionate and committed to the cause. Their great planning and arrangements made the players to focus on the football only, so we got the best out of them.

    “Now we cannot rest on our oars because there is a bigger challenge ahead of us. We have to prepare better and focus even more as we get set for the World Cup next year,” Rohr concluded

  • 2018 World Cup Qualifiers: Agu joins list of injured players

    2018 World Cup Qualifiers: Agu joins list of injured players

    Turkey-based midfielder Mikel Agu has joined the growing list of injured Super Eagles players ahead of Nigeria’s clash with Algeria in their final match of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Eagles are presently in Rabat, Morocco preparing for Friday’s game in Constantine.

    A statement on the Super Eagles’ official Twitter handle on Wednesday indicated that Agu was out of the team’s game against Algeria, as well as Tuesday’s friendly with Argentina.

    The 24-year-old who has been touted as a replacement for Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has made four appearances for the three-time African champions but has struggled to impress.

    Agu, one of the earliest arrivals in the Super Eagles camp, had made his international debut for Nigeria in the friendly win against Togo in June.

    The midfielder’s injury adds to team head coach Gernot Rohr’s major headache, as he is also missing five other players due to various injuries.

    Already, Victor Moses, Elderson Echiejile, Odion Ighalo and Moses Simon have all pulled out due to injuries, while defender Leon Balogun is also reportedly short of match fitness.

    Rohr however said he was not worried by the spate of injuries ahead of the two games, adding that it was a blessing in disguise as it would afford him the opportunity to try out other players.

    “Already, we have six injured players, so we have to make six changes. It will be an opportunity to see players who didn’t play so much and it will be very interesting to play Algeria in these conditions.

    “They have changed their coach and have not won a game at home yet in the qualifiers and so they will be very aggressive.

    “I know this team. They have some of the best players, like Mahrez, Brahimi, Silimani, among others.

    “So, it will be very interesting to see our players perform against their North African counterparts as it will be a first experience for some of them, especially the new players arriving,” Rohr said in a video posted on the NFF official Twitter page.

    Rohr added that the Super Eagles’ second game would be an even more interesting one as some other players may have returned from injury before then.

    “We only have three days to prepare for Algeria because the game is taking place on Friday, but we have the opportunity in the second game to see everybody.

    “So, the second game will be an even more fantastic game also, because Argentina is one of the best teams in the world and perhaps boast of the best players in the world.

    “So, we will see what we can do with such a big South American team. It is very important because I think we will have at least one South American team in our group after the draw is made.

    “It will also be an opportunity for us to see Russia, to feel what the atmosphere is like over there and also to see our base camp.

    “So, it’s already a big preparation ahead of the World Cup for us,” he said.

    The Super Eagles, with the Russia 2018 World Cup ticket already in the bag, will depart Rabat for Constantine, where they face the Fennecs on Friday.

    The match is at the Stade Mohamed Hamlaoui, and will hold from 8.30 p.m. Algeria time.

    The team will then on Saturday move to Krasnodar, the Russian city that will host Tuesday’s international friendly against Argentina.

  • Super Eagles handlers should focus on players’ psyche – Omokaro

    Super Eagles handlers should focus on players’ psyche – Omokaro

    Ex-international Bright Omokaro has advised Super Eagles handlers to ensure that the players are psychologically prepared for their encounter with Argentina on Nov. 14 in Russia.

    He gave the advice in an interview in Lagos on Monday.

    Omokaro said that playing a friendly against great teams like the Argentines would boost the morale and improve the confidence of Super Eagles players.

    While commending the team’s current form, Omokaro, who won silver for Nigeria at the 1988 Morocco African Cup of Nations competition, said the team needed lots of motivational advice for the World Cup matches in Russia in 2018.

    “This is not just a friendly match; it will test our players’ tenacity. The match will give our players all the confidence they need before the World Cup kicks off.

    ‘’It will boost the morale of the players, if they perform well because of the status of the country involved. Psychologically it will prepare them towards what to expect in Russia.

    “And it is also important for the handlers of the team to constantly charge these players mentally so that they will be prepared and understand that they are no second fiddle to the Argentines.

    “This match will improve our profile if we ensure that we give our team all the needed support to hold their ground in Russia,’’ Omokaro said.

    As part of the preparation for the 2018 World Cup, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had organised a friendly with Argentina in Russia.

    Omokaro, a former 3SC of Ibadan defender, said that the choice of Russia as location for the friendly was appropriate.

    “At least they get to stay a few days in Russia which will help them acclimatise at the World Cup proper; the NFF has really out-done itself, kudos to them.’’

    NAN

  • Senator Adeyeye Boosts Falconet Camp with $1000

    Senator Adeyeye Boosts Falconet Camp with $1000

    The Chief Whip of the Senate of the Federal Republic, Senator Olusola Adeyeye on Thursday boosted the morale of Nigeria’s U20 girls, Falconets, with the sum of $1000 when he met with the ladies at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

     

    Senator Adeyeye, who represents Osun Central in Nigeria’s highest legislative body, met with the two –time FIFA World Cup silver medallists while they were on their way to Lagos to connect a flight to Morocco for a 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying match.

     

    “I am delighted to see you ladies here. I am told you are going to Morocco. Go there and do the country proud as you have been doing. I believe you all possess the typical Nigerian spirit that will make you overpower your opponents,” Senator Adeyeye said.

     

    Team captain Oluwakemi Famuditi thanked the lawmaker for his generosity and promised that the Nigeria U20 girls will go for goals and eventual victory in Morocco on Sunday.

     

    The Falconets landed in Casablanca on Friday morning and immediately connected another flight to Sale, the city where they clash with the Moroccan U20 girls on Sunday. The match is the first leg of a 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup African second round qualifying fixture, with the return leg in Benin City, Nigeria on November 18. 

  • Hubris setting in on NFF?

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), under Amaju Pinnick, has set a record in Nigeria’s FIFA World Cup quest.  Unlike in the past when the last round of qualifying matches equated severe heartaches, and even grimmer permutation in the anxiety-gripped Nigerian mind, this season is easy does it.

    Nigeria has already landed in Russia.  Whatever happens in November in Algeria — win, lose or draw — is absolutely of no significance.  Nigeria could go in for the highest possible qualification haul; with it hoping to land an easier opening group at the Mundial.  Algeria too might want to save some national pride.  But beyond these, absolutely no issue.

    Which might be why, it would appear, Christopher Greene, NFF Technical Committee chairman,  is talking like a greenhorn, flexing muscles over nothing when he ought to focus his minds on the substance, and creating what may yet become a useless controversy over Vincent Enyeama.  According to  Sporting Life (the sports paper in The Nation stable),  Mr. Greene threatened Gernot Rohr with sack, should he continue with his come-back talk with Enyeama, former Eagles skipper and number 1 goalkeeper, before he retired — or more accurately, forced into retirement — by former manager, Sunday Oliseh.

    To be sure, Oliseh was a lethal weapon of mass destruction, the way he in no time destroyed the team the late Stephen Keshi left behind, forcing many senior team members to quit (Enyeama’s case was particularly instructive, for it came from disputes over permission or not to attend to a domestic issue and demotion as captain), en route to running the team aground.

    Perhaps struck by the gargoyle he had created, Oliseh himself fled, leaving the team in the lurch, on the virtual eve of crucial World Cup and AFCON qualifying matches.  But thank God: Rohr came and, with his team of near-rookies, he walked through the virtual shadows of death unscathed —  and qualified in style.

    Which makes Greene’s threat of we-sack-you-should-you-again- talk-to-Enyeama as rather amusing, if not outright ludicrous, in more senses than one.

    For starters, who so easily dismisses a coach that would appear on the way to building a formidable team out of almost nothing?

    Then, who sacks a coach, not because he didn’t deliver on his contractual mandate but because of the pettiness of talking or not talking to a player he may be convinced is crucial to the success of his assignment — and in a milieu where the same NFF blares “giving Rohr a free hand” as some newfound NFF national anthem?

    Greene and co — if he has any sympathizer in house — should stop playing God.  Rohr has been diligent in his work.  Yes, Rohr wouldn’t have been possible but for the astuteness of the NFF Board.  That is  marvellous — even then, that is a management function, which should stay at the NFF Boardroom.

    But it was also a saving grace — the same NFF board that invited Oliseh to rout the team has brilliantly made thing good with Rohr.

    Still, to come into the open and threaten the manager on such inanity, which reeks with pettiness?  Absolute balderdash!

    Let Rohr be free to talk to and pick any player he feels is central to his plans.  He will stand or fall by his choice of players.  It would appear reassuring though that the NFF secretary-general has disowned the Greene comment, saying the NFF didn’t know about it.

    That is the direction to go.  We can’t because of the hubris of a few create a distraction that could plague the team in Russia.