The Nation Newspaper

Tag: nff

  • NFF to continue Keshi investigation

    NFF to continue Keshi investigation

    • Denies PH was rejected

    • Reverts to Abuja for Olympic Qualifying match

    The Nigeria Football Federation’s Disciplinary Committee will continue its investigations of Nigeria coach, Stephen Keshi even though he has been dropped by the Ivorian Football Federation as one of their candidates to coach the Elephants of Cote D’ Ivoire.

    The 53-year old Keshi was listed by the Ivorian Football Federation as one of 59 ‘applicants’ for the vacant Cote d ‘ Ivoire coaching job, which prompted an investigation from their Nigerian counterparts, even though Keshi himself denied ever applying for the job.

    The Ivorian Football Federation has since pruned the list down to three, with Keshi’s name missing, but chairman of the NFF Disciplinary Committee, Christopher Green says they will continue their investigations on whether Keshi did apply for the Cote d ‘ Ivoire job.

    “We will continue our investigations,” Green said, “We’re not investigating why he didn’t make the final cut for the Ivoirians, but we’re investigating whether he really did apply for the job.

    “So their decision not to name him in their final list doesn’t affect our investigations, so we shall continue to investigate the matter,” Green added.

    It will be recalled that Keshi had been summoned to appear before the committee last week, where he reiterated his claim of never applying for the Cote d ‘Ivoire job.

    It remains to be seen what the NFF will do at the end of the investigation, but Vice Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, Iyke Igbokwe however said they would recommend Keshi’s sack if he’s found ‘guilty’.

    Meanwhile, as the Super Falcons prepare for their 2015 CAF Women’s Olympic Qualifying Tournament match against Equatorial Guinea later this month, scribe of the NFF, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has revealed that the team will no longer play the match in Port Harcourt.

    The scribe told www.footballlive.ng that logistics issues involved with CAF coming to inspect the stadium and granting approval have led them to reconsider the idea.

    He further revealed that the match venue will be relocated to Abuja, where the previous qualifying matches have been played.

    ” The venue for the Super Falcons game was not rejected but the inspectors have insisted on inspecting the facilities because its a new stadium and a few logistics issues were taken into consideration which made us opt for a return to Abuja.”

  • ‘NFF can’t discourage my love for football’

    The Founder of One Love Family, Satguru Maharaj Ji said he will not be discouraged by the non-recognition of his effort by the Nigeria Football Association (NFF). He has renewed his support for the body.

    Maharaj ji, who spoke after receiving a gold merit award from the Discovery Sports Federation (DSF) in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, said his support for the Super Eagles would continue.

    Despite the non-acknowledgement of his effort by the NFF.

    According to him, he had willingly donated the 2013 AFCON trophy to the Super Eagles as a spiritual leader, and a Nigerian resident in the country. Maharaj Ji said  he was initially sad over the way NFF heaped praises on someone else after he donated the trophy.

  • NFF, NPFL plan to storm Governors’ Forum

    NFF, NPFL plan to storm Governors’ Forum

    Chairman of the Nigeria Professional Football League Shehu Dikko has revealed that the Nigeria elite league led by the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation has concluded plans to storm the Governors Forum of Nigeria to make presentations to the governors in Nigeria how they can help the league and the clubs owned by the state governments.

    The elite league boss disclosed this in a joint parley with the NFF at a media briefing held at the Media Center of the Abuja National Stadium yesterday.

    “We have arrangement to make presentations to the Governor’s forum as a group because that is how to solve a lot of problems these clubs may be having (since majority of the clubs are owned by the states). We didn’t want to make it public until we have done it. ‘We already have consultations with some governors and they are eager to help. The question is not about the premier league clubs alone. If a state doesn’t have a club in the Nigeria Professional Football League such state will surely have a club in either the Nigeria National League or the Nigeria Nationwide League.

    Dikko assured that the discussions with the governors would be based on “the Nigeria Football Federation will have to make a presentation to the governors at the Forum based on these are the things we believe the clubs should do and this is how the clubs can go about it to achieve success. “We need to work as a group and it is a long plan to bring private sector to invest more in Nigerian leagues. We are going to do that. We will even bring along with us some clubs when we are going to the meeting with the Governors’ Forum so that they can explain the kind of problems they go through. If you know the kind of issues some clubs go through as club chairmen regardless of what you feel about them you will also give them some credits.

    “For instance if a state governor has not paid his workers for six to eight months so what will the club say and the clubs are owned by these states. Until when we get to a point in our leagues where we can do away the states (in involvement and sponsorships) we have no choice than to agree on some models. The state governments can provide some structures, get some interested companies within the states to invest in the clubs. They can do what will call club membership where fans pay fees to be members to help such club or clubs. A real lot could be done within a state. These are part of what will present and discuss with the governors”, Dikko.

  • COTE D’ IVOIRE JOB: NFF may drag Ivorien FA to FIFA, CAF

    COTE D’ IVOIRE JOB: NFF may drag Ivorien FA to FIFA, CAF

    • Over poaching of Eagles’ coach
    • Nigeria to demand proof on Keshi from FIFA

    THERE are strong indications that cheiftains of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are set to report their Ivoiren counterparts to the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) over the poaching of her national team’s chief coach, if it turns out that Stephen Keshi didn’t apply for the vacant Ivory Coast job.

    “The truth is that if we find out that Keshi didn’t actually apply for the job we might have to take immediate action – including taking them to CAF and possibly FIFA,” said the official.

    NFF will officially write the Federation Ivoirienne de Football (FIF) over Stephen Keshi being shortlisted for the vacant job of the Ivory Coast national team.

    Keshi was last week named in a 60-man shortlist released by the Ivorian football federation which has irked the NFF.

    Already Keshi has had to face the NFF Disciplinary Committee but the Nigerian FA, supersport.com has been informed, is still carrying out its inquest in unravelling if Keshi actually applied for the Ivorian job despite being in contract as Super Eagles’ head coach.

    “We will contact the Ivorian FA,” a top official told supersport.com on Thursday. “The process of investigation into the matter is still ongoing.”

    Keshi is currently into the second month of a two-year contract he signed with the Nigerian federation.

  • Oliseh: NFF shouldn’t query Enyeama

    Oliseh: NFF shouldn’t query Enyeama

    Former Nigeria captain, Sunday Oliseh, has frowned at the manner with which his country’s football governing body is handling the issue involving goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) this week summoned the Super Eagles captain and goalkeeper before a disciplinary committee for what it described as “unguard comments” to the media over its choice of the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna for their 2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Chad earlier this month.

    Enyeama did not turn up before the committee on the claims that he did not receive any official notification of such and did not respond to an earlier query given by the NFF. Reports in Nigeria now suggest that the LOSC Lille Metropole goalkeeper could be sanctioned.

    But Oliseh is of the view that Enyeama should be treated as a professional footballer and not a civil servant under the full employ of the football federation and can be issued a query.

    The former Juventus and Borussia Dortmund midfielder believes that Enyeama’s view as captain of the Nigerian men’s national team “should be respected.”

    “He is not a civil servant. Why are you querying him?” Oliseh asked in an interview with Brila FM on Friday.

    “He is a professional football player, the captain of the team and simply aired his opinion and I think that should be respected.

    Oliseh, 40, further said it was wrong to crucify Enyeama, who he regards as “one of the best goalkeeper in the world.”

  • COTE D’ IVOIRE SAGA: NFF writes Ivorien FA

    COTE D’ IVOIRE SAGA: NFF writes Ivorien FA

    •Keshi’s probe inconclusive
    •Panel meets again next week

    Sportinglife can disclose exclusively today that Tuesday afternoon’s interogatory meeting with Super Eagles chief coach Stephen Keshi over the presence of his name among 59 tacticians listed for the vacant Cote d’ Ivoire senior team job was inconclusive.

    SportingLife gathered further that the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF’s) chieftains have written to their Ivoiren counterparts for details on how Keshi, their employee’s name appeared on their shortlist for the Elephants’ coaching job.

    Consequently, the panel consitituted to unravel the circumstances surrounding the listing of Keshi’s name for the job, especially as he denied submitting any document to the Ivorien federation after clinching the Nigerian job, is reaching out for other documents for the matter to be concluded.

  • AJANI IBRAHIM’S TRANSFER: NFF orders 3SC to pay Sunshine N5m

    AJANI IBRAHIM’S TRANSFER: NFF orders 3SC to pay Sunshine N5m

    The Players’ Status Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has ordered Nigeria Professional Football League club, Shooting Stars of Ibadan, to pay the sum of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) to fellow elite division side, Sunshine Stars FC on or before July 19, concerning the case of player Ajani Ibrahim.

    At its meeting of Monday, June 15, in Abuja, the committee headed by NFF Executive Committee member Babagana Kalli found that Ajani Ibrahim, who has a valid contract with Sunshine Stars of Akure, absconded from the latter’s camp. Though the committee, at an earlier sitting of April 15, had advised Shooting Stars to open up negotiations with Sunshine Stars over the player, the negotiation/discussion was fruitless.

    In its ruling, the committee ordered that the said sum of Five Million Naira (N5,000,000) as transfer fee on the player, should be paid to an account to be made available by the Akure –based club. It also ruled that Sunshine Stars shall be entitled to 20 per cent of future sale of the player Ajani Ibrahim, or the sum of Three Million Naira (N3,000,000) as buy-out clause in lieu of the 20 per cent future sale.

    Shooting Stars Sports Club must also, by Monday next week, pay the sum of Five Hundred Thousand Naira (N500,000) to the Players’ Status Committee for the illegal approach on Ajani Ibrahim, and the player himself must by the same date, pay the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira (N100,000) to the committee for absconding from Sunshine Stars FC camp.

    A request for an appeal of this decision must be sent to the General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation within 10 days of Shooting Stars FC receiving notification of the decision, otherwise it becomes binding and final.

    Other members of the committee are Jude Anyadufu, Dahiru Sadi and Austin Popo. Nasiru Jibril is secretary and Joshua Onoja the assistant secretary.

  • FIFA Women’s World Cup: NFF gives Falcons second round target

    FIFA Women’s World Cup: NFF gives Falcons second round target

    As The Super Falcons will be kicking off their quest for World Cup glory in Canada this weekend, scribe of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme, has revealed that the players are injury-free and in a competitive mood ahead of the tournament.

    Speaking with www.footballlive.ng, Ikpeme stressed that the team’s top priority as spelt out by the football Federation is for the Edwin Okon-tutored side to advance beyond the group stage.

    “It’s been good. They’re going there as African champions, they’ve had a wonderful pre-competition preparation. They were here at home and went to Canada to further prepare, we thank God there’s no injury. Secondly, the training is progressing well.

    “Thirdly, the players themselves are in a very good, competitive mood, it was good we gave them that friendly against Canada. At least they have an idea of their likely opponents and what’s expected of them.

    “I want to be very realistic here, over time the Super Falcons always qualified for the World Cup but they’ve never gone beyond the group stage, perhaps just once and it was a long time ago. So, between them and the Federation we have said that they must go beyond, at least the group stage,” Dr Ikpeme disclosed.

     

  • NFF Scribe confident of Flying Eagles

    •As team jets to New Zealand

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed confidence in the the Flying Eagles’ readiness to take the world by storm in New Zealand during the U- 20 World Cup.

    The Scribe of the NFF, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed, told SportingLife from London yesterday that the Flying Eagles left Germany for New Zealand with high hopes of doing well in the FIFA U- 20 World Cup that kicks off this Saturday.

    Hear him: “I have seen through the departure of the Flying Eagles to New Zealand this evening and I can tell you that the players and their coaches are battle-ready for the task ahead.

    “What impressed me most is the determination and desperation of the players and the technical crew to perform well in New Zealand. They told me that they were going to the tournament to win not to make up the number. By the expression on their faces I realised the fact that they meant every word they spoke.”

  • NFF adopts new strategy for U-17 team building

    NFF adopts new strategy for U-17 team building

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has adopted a new strategy for building the country’s future U-17 teams, according to the chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu.

    Anyansi-Agwu, a ranking member of the NFF Executive Committee and chairman of two–time African champions Enyimba FC, told thenff.com on Sunday that the new measure is pragmatic and cost-effective, and will enable the building of a strong squad within a short period of time.

    “I have already discussed the new approach with the present technical crew of the U-17 team led by Emmanuel Amuneke, and they love the idea. We decided on this new approach because it will save us time and funds in the long run.”

    He explained: “Instead of doing the MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) examination for all manner of players with potential, we just look at those that have potential from the beginning and create a pool of between 60 and 70 players for whom we will conduct the examination. That way, we can drop those who fail the test quickly and run with those who pass and are therefore eligible.”

    The Technical and Development Committee chairman believes conducting the test after identifying players with promise (as was done in the past) was actually putting the cart before the horse.

    “There is no point conducting open screening for players and discovering 100 players with some promise, and then you go for the test and 80 of them fail the test. You are back to square one, or at best compelled to make do with the remaining meagre pool, which may be populated by mediocre or average players. If you don’t like what you have, you return to the screening ground and take more players and move them to the laboratory, then probably find out that they also are ineligible. That approach is very long–winding, time-consuming and capital–intensive.

    “That was one factor that worked against our U-17 team at the African Championship in Niger Republic earlier this year.”

    The Golden Eaglets finished in fourth place at the African U-17 Championship in Niger, picking the last African ticket to the FIFA U-17 World Cup scheduled for Chile later this year.

    “We believe the new approach we have adopted is much better and pragmatic, and will enable us to raise a much stronger team for the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, and in good time as well.”