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Tag: nff

  • NFF paid Eagles $400 each in Egypt

    NFF paid Eagles $400 each in Egypt

    It has been revealed that each player of the Super Eagles received $400 as allowances from cash-strapped Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for their trip to Alexandria, Egypt.

    This was far short of $1,000 each player usually received as allowances for an away game.

    It was further gathered that for the 1-1 home draw in Kaduna, the players were paid in naira the equivalent of $2,500.

    This is a massive drop for some of these players who at the last World Cup in Brazil were on $10,000-a-man.

    “Most of the players were unhappy with how they were treated as everyone was for himself after the match in Egypt,” another source informed AfricanFootball.com.

  • NFF to inspect Ahmadu Bello Stadium again this weekend

    NFF to inspect Ahmadu Bello Stadium again this weekend

    Top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will this weekend again inspect the Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna for the second time this month to see if there have been repairs made to some of the areas earmarked for such during the initial inspection.

    The Super Eagles will face Egypt’s Pharaohs on March 25 in Kaduna and after the first inspection earlier this month some NFF officials have pointed out that the stadium needs to go through minor renovation to successfully host the national team to CAF’s taste.

    The Chairman of the NFF’s Technical and Development Sub Committee, Christopher Green told SportingLife that the Football House would send some delegates to the stadium again this weekend to take a cursory look at the level of work done regarding the renovation of the areas earmarked for that purpose.

    He said it is the wish of the NFF to ensure that the Eagles play on a good pitch with state of the art facilities which he said would enable the team to play at optimum level.

  • NFF BEGS FANS: Don’t come with weapons

    NFF BEGS FANS: Don’t come with weapons

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)has appealed to spectators coming to the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Friday to ensure they do not have  weapons  on them. NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, made the appeal in Abuja as the NFF continued the countdown to the big match.

    “We are specially appealing to our football fans not to come with any item that might be seen as a weapon, because security will be very tight . We also appeal passionately to the fans to co-operate fully with the security agents to make for hitch –free entry into the venue.

    “Similarly, we are appealing to the fans to come to the stadium wearing green and white colours. We want the venue proudly adorned in our national colours.”

    The Super Eagles clash with the Pharaohs of Egypt in a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on Friday, from 5pm, and both teams battle again in Alexandria on Tuesday, March 29.

  • Oliseh withdraws lawsuit against NFF

    Oliseh withdraws lawsuit against NFF

    • Says it is in the Interest of Nigeria

    Former Nigeria coach, Sunday Oliseh has withdrawn a lawsuit against the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), saying it is in the interest of the country.

    “I have instructed my lawyers to withdraw the lawsuit against the NFF; after speaking with well-meaning Nigerians whom I respect a lot, I also believe that it is useless joining issues with people who are bent on deceiving and misleading Nigerians and diverting attention from reality.

    “The reality is that I decided to resign on  February 25 because certain vested interest in the NFF put their own interest first before the interest of our country.

    “I also believe that Nigerians deserve to know the truth. I feel that it is important to know that my position as regards Nigeria coming first was a hindrance to the personal interest of certain vested interest in the NFF and for that reason anybody who is coming  in as Chief Coach and puts Nigeria first will always have problems; that is for sure.

    “This also explains why the importance of very necessary expenditure that are important for the progression of our country like wages of the players, benefits of players and coaches are always placed secondary whereas other expenditures that have little bearing to the progression of our country will always be  first.

    “For example trips that are not important for our national team to progress. I also feel that in order for Nigerians not to get the true picture and tarnish my credibility that is why they have come out with this story that they paid me and then I left.

    “I have attached underneath here-since I am not going ahead with the lawsuit- the statement of my account of my Zenith Bank-the bank the NFF have used in the few occasions I have been paid.

    “You can see from the month of February that there is no payment that was paid from the NFF to me up to the time I resigned on the 25th and even after that to the 29th, the month ending.

    “I asked the technical committee for materials to help us against Egypt, I asked them in July 2015 and as at the time I resigned on  February 25, 2016, there was no information for us even though I had reminded them on several occasions by email and there is proof of it so they dare not deny it.

    “What I feel they found more important to them was trying to influence who plays for Nigeria, who gets invited and obviously I refused because they are not coaches. I also feel that it is unfair to treat players the way they have been treated because it influences how the players perform and how they react.

    “So for that reason I have attached here also, of the food they are saying I didn’t buy in South Africa. I have attached it here for you to see. Where in the world does the national team coach buy food for the team to eat and we are the richest African nation, I leave it to judge yourself.

    “Since I didn’t want to be part of this, of putting Nigeria secondary and personal interest first, there was no way this could continue and I felt it was time to let it be. That was why I resigned. Nothing else.

    “On February 16 I wrote a demand letter to the NFF and I gave them an ultimatum for the 25th to settle issues dating way back to July 2015 and almost at midnight why that ultimatum was not met, I resigned.

    “No phone call was made, no email was made to try to address this demand letter and it was clear and when I resigned, I resigned by email and also by post mail and even afterwards the president and vice-president called me and we spoke about this till almost 2am and they tried to convince me not to do that but the decision has been taken.

    “Before even that I had contacted the Minister with due respect to Nigerians and to him before I even reigned I called him to tell him and alert him what I had decided as father of Nigerian sports.

    “So I don’t really think you need too much convincing because you have always known our federation, what they are like. But once again it was a pleasure to serve as Nigeria’s coach and long live Nigeria. Thank you.”

  • Resignation saga: NFF to demand N10m refund from Oliseh

    Resignation saga: NFF to demand N10m refund from Oliseh

    • N5m in lieu of his accommodation  • N5m in place of one month notice

     

    The last has not been heard of the raging war of words between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and ex-Eagles’ coach,Sunday Oliseh after the Belgium based coach released a video on Youtube yesterday to announce the withdrawal of the suit he instituted against his former employers.

    Not impressed with some of the allegations raised by Oliseh, chairman of  the NFF’s Technical and Development Committee, Chris Green revealed that the federation would soon write the former Eagles’ captain to demand a refund of the five million naira paid him in lieu of his accommodation in Nigeria, and the February 2016 salary (another five million naira) that should serve in lieu of his one –month notice of resignation.

    He also sneezed at Oliseh’s self-adulation in claiming that he put Nigeria first in his work. “How much he put Nigeria first in everything he did showed in the way he abandoned ship with only weeks to crucial games.

    “It is clear he wants to remain in the news for no other reason than to distract the NFF and the team from concentrating on these two crucial matches. It is very easy for people to grandstand and claim to be more patriotic and altruistic than others, but the true test remains what such people do when the chips are down.

    “Oliseh showed a lack of heart in the way he left. And he was purely grandstanding when claiming some persons spoke to him to drop a law suit, when he knew from the beginning that he had no case.”

    The NFF also rejected claims by Oliseh that its Technical and Development Committee tried to impose players on him. Green wondered when his committee made moves to impose players on the former trainer.

    “I can vouch for Felix Anyansi-Agwu, who was chairman of the committee before me, that he is not that type of person. I was made chairman on January 16 and travelled to Rwanda on January 17, when the team for the CHAN had been composed. The Super Eagles have not played any match since CHAN. So, when did we have time to try and impose players on him.

    “We are not in anyway moved by his vituperations. He claims we did not provide him information with regards to Egypt, but how come we have been able to provide Siasia with the same? He should respect himself and move on.”

    Green, a ranking member of the NFF Executive Committee, added: “We welcomed Oliseh with so much warmth and so much regard for his person. It is sad that he has failed to reciprocate, even at departure. He is simply full of too much talk.

    “He should stop leapfrogging into unfamiliar territories, such as his mention of capacity –building programme. That programme was fully sponsored by corporate bodies and was never at the expense of anyone’s benefits.”

  • NFF in talks with Enyeama, Emenike

    NFF in talks with Enyeama, Emenike

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it is in talks with Vincent Enyeama and Emmanuel Emenike, former goalkeeper and striker respectively, over possible return to Super Eagles.

    Super Eagles Interim Coach Samson Siasia who said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday, said the aim was to ensure that the country assembles its best legs against Egypt.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the Super Eagles have crucial two-legged Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), qualifying matches against the Pharaohs of Egypt.

    The first leg encounter takes place in Kaduna on March 25, while the return leg match is scheduled for Cairo on March 29.

    Siasia said NFF was exploring every avenue capable of bringing success, adding that it had taken steps to facilitate the players’ return to the team.

    “We just finished talking with the NFF Technical Director, Shaibu Amadu; we are just putting the list of invited players together and after the NFF Technical Committee meeting on Thursday, the list should be released,’’ he said.

    “The Super Eagles’ Secretary, Dayo Enebi, will be contacting the invited players and he is talking with Enyeama and Emenike; we will talk with them when they are ready to talk.

    “We will be happy to see these players back in the team if they can help us to qualify for 2017 AFCON,’’ he said.

    The Olympic silver medal winning coach, however, said he was not under any pressure to win Egypt.

    “The job for me is tasking but we are here for challenges and, being a challenge does not mean that it is a mountain we cannot climb.

    “I am not feeling any pressure; all I want to do is to ensure we do well in the two games against Egypt.’’

    NAN reports that Siasia was appointed on Friday by the NFF as interim Super Eagles coach following the resignation of Sunday Oliseh.

    He is to be assisted by Flying Eagles’ coach Emmanuel Amuneke, Salisu Yusuf and Alloy Agu.

  • Eguavoen to NFF: Put your house in order

    Eguavoen to NFF: Put your house in order

    •Begs for payment of his, other coaches outstanding salaries

    Former Super Eagles  captain and coach of same team, Austin Eguavoen has beckoned on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to put their house in order and strive to correct the flaws that make successive coaches of the national teams to complain for the growth of football in the country.

    Eguavoen, who was reacting to the resignation of ex- Eagles boss, Sunday Oliseh regretted the inability of the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder to steer the team till the end of the 2017 AFCON qualifiers but warned that the NFF must correct what makes coaches to complain during preparation for major competitions.

    Despite the managerial change in the Eagles, Eguavoen exuded confidence that Nigeria will beat Egypt in Kaduna because the senior national team has been known to rise up to the occasion during big matches.

    Eguavoen told SportingLife in a brief chat: “It is a pity that Oliseh had to resign. He has his reasons because every mature person has a choice. But for me I thought he would have stayed back to see the AFCON qualifiers through and if we qualify or otherwise so be it. He has done his bit and he can move on. He has his own reasons maybe it was money problem only God knows. I am not saying Oliseh was at fault  and neither have I said the NFF too.

    “For the Egypt game in Nigeria, it is a game we can win convincingly but the approach to that game must be very businesslike. For instance Ikeme has been doing very well as a good goalkeeper but back up I am not comfortable. If Enyeama were still around it would have been fine. I am not trying to draw a team list. We have a team that can beat Egypt if the approach is right.

    “I will point a little finger at the NFF. The coaches are always complaining about things not properly taken care of, especially money-wise. If we have financial problem the NFF president should speak out because you want to keep your position does not mean that some principle actors have to suffer.”

    On the appointment of Siasia Eguavoen told SportingLife: “Congratulations to Siasia and we will support him and also wish him well. But remember that when he spoke out that his team was suffering when they went to Senegal what did he get? He got a query and also a serious warning and was even at the verge of losing his job because he spoke out. God was with us in Senegal because the boys fought for their lives and we were the African champions and we came back everyone is happy.  The same Siasia has been drafted into the Super Eagles. If he cries out tomorrow again of neglect by the NFF, what also happens? Two individuals are not the same. Oliseh has his own style and I have my own style too and as well as other past national team coaches with their own style and their way of operating in life.

    If something goes wrong and Siasia stays back doesn’t mean I am weak and he is stronger, it is the way we approach things. The NFF should sit up and do their own thing so that they can confidently say that they have put everything in place and that it is up to the coaches and players to go do their job. NFF should not let any complain come from anywhere and I so much believe that Nigeria will beat Egypt (here at home)and people will be very shocked but right there in Cairo that I don’t know. I am certain that Nigeria always rise up to big games.”

    Nonetheless, Eguavoen has beckoned on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to pay him and other coaches owed salaries for handling the national teams many years ago after their entreaties and appeals have not been honoured.

    “I want to beg the NFF to pay us our salaries. It has been too long and it is the reason why I said I don’t want to speak about the NFF because anytime I do, I get upset. They always complain of lack of money but they are paying everybody. I have spoken to past presidents and present president of the NFF and nobody has come out to say anything. To serve Nigeria is it a crime? When somebody works please pay them. I am not the only one, Alloy Agu, Ben Iroha and I are also appealing on behalf of other coaches that are owed by them that they should pay them up,” he said.

  • NFF snub Kanu, Okocha as Eagles coaches

    NFF snub Kanu, Okocha as Eagles coaches

    Former Nigeria international skippers, Nwankwo Kanu and Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha were among the names brought before the NFF technical committee for consideration as part of the Super Eagles coaching crew in the wake of Sunday Oliseh’s shock resignation.

    However, they were not considered because they do not have any coaching badges.

    Okocha, for one, pushed hard to be named assistant Eagles coach when Sunday Oliseh was named in July 2015. But again, the one-time mercurial playmaker of PSG was overlooked.

    Interestingly, ‘Jay Jay’ has often maintained he does not wish to be a coach until his recent u-turn.

  • ‘Oliseh’s resignation a blessing to Nigerian football’

    ‘Oliseh’s resignation a blessing to Nigerian football’

    Isa Matori, the Chairman of Wikki Tourists Football Club of Bauchi, says the resignation of Sunday Oliseh as Chief Coach of Super Eagles is a blessing to Nigerian football.

    Matori told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Bauchi that the coach should not have been employed in the first place by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    “I expected his resignation a long time ago, because I believe that it was a mistake in the first place for the NFF to have appointed him to take care of the team.

    “He may have the qualifications, no doubt about it, but he does not have the requisite experience, the exposure and courage to lead our team to success,” he said.

    “He has also been looking for a way out of it. You will understand this when you look at his actions, such as when he had problems with the team captain (Vincent Enyeama) who has dedicated so much commitment to the nation in the area of football.

    “He should have sympathised with him when he lost his mother. Even when he (Enyeama) was able to turn up in camp, Oliseh’s reaction was bad.

    “So, he has been looking for a way to leave the job, and it is a blessing for us as far as I am concerned, because Sunday Oliseh cannot take us anywhere,” the club chairman said.

    Also, Umar Said, a Bauchi-based football commentator, supported Matori’s position, describing Oliseh’s resignation as a welcome development in Nigerian football.

    Said noted that the unending controversies between Oliseh and NFF was the result of the fact that due process was not followed during his engagement.

    He pointed out that unlike the appointments of Shuaibu Amodu, Stephen Keshi and foreign coaches, where due process, such as screening, was followed before engagement, Oliseh’s appointment “came through the back door’’.

    “In the case of Oliseh, he was smuggled in through the back door and this has caused the country a lot in the field of football,’’ the former state Chairman of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) said.

    He then called for the engagement of a Grade ‘A’ coach for the team, to enable it forge ahead.

  • We’ve paid Oliseh all his salaries – NFF

    We’ve paid Oliseh all his salaries – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have announced they have cleared all the outstanding salaries of Sunday Oliseh, who on Thursday quit as Nigeria coach.

    In an official statement, the NFF disclosed: “Contrary to claims by Oliseh that he was being owed wages and did not receive support from the NFF, top officials confirmed that he was this week paid the sum of N20 million, being salaries for three months (December 2015, January 2016 and February 2016) and half-year rent for July-December 2015. He was signed on July 2015.

    “The only money he is owed is the bonus for the World Cup qualifier against Swaziland in Port Harcourt in November 2015, which the NFF had promised to pay players and officials on resumption of camping for the matches against Egypt.”