The Nation Newspaper

Tag: nff

  • We made Keshi a new offer – Pinnick

    We made Keshi a new offer – Pinnick

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, has confirmed that they have begun contract talks with out-of-contract Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi.

    Keshi’s contract ended after Nigeria’s exit at the last World Cup in Brazil and even though he handled the team albeit on a temporary basis during Nigeria’s ill-fated Africa Cup of Nations 2015 qualifying campaign, the Glass House had yet to offer him fresh terms.

    However, weeks after confirming that Keshi would continue as the Super Eagles coach, Pinnick has now confirmed that they have started contract talks with the “Big Boss.”

    “We have a very peculiar nature in Nigeria and we don’t want a situation where we run into problems but we have made an offer to him and he says he doesn’t like it,” Pinnick told sl10.ng.

    “He has sent it back to us and it will go back to our legal department and they’ll look at the implications and we shall insert other clauses to see if he will accept them.

    “So to us, we want to be very thorough and that is why it is taking this long but I can assure you that very soon that everything about the technical crew will come to an end.”

    The Pinnick led NFF had earlier sacked Keshi after Nigeria defeated Sudan 3-1 during the 2015 AFCON qualifiers, but the board was forced to reinstate him after coming under serious pressure and now seem to be on the verge of re-signing the former Nigeria captain to what is believed to be a four year contract worth N84million.

  • Fayose, NFF endorse ‘Walk for Youths Development Through Sport’

    Fayose, NFF endorse ‘Walk for Youths Development Through Sport’

    Ekiti State governor, Peter Ayodele Fayose, and NFF Assistant Director (Technical), Siji Lagunju, and notable sports philanthropists in Ekiti State were some of the personalities who have lauded the efforts of the Fountain Youths Sports Club at promoting healthy living in the state.

    The declaration came at the ‘Walk for Youths Development Through Sports’ programme marking the fourth year anniversary of FYSC, when Fayose and General Manager Ekiti State Sports Council, Bejanmin Adewunmi, led thousands of others on a road walk at the weekend.

    The ‘Walk for Youths Development Through Sports’  was designed to create awareness and sensitise the populace and the government about the importance of sports in youths development.

    Also on hand to witness the exercise were former NFF board member, Taiwo Odebunmi, Oluwole Oloworemo (Ag. Chairman Ekiti FA), Ganiyu Mustapha Owolabi, Engineer Femi Fateru, former IICC star, Pastor Segun Adelakun, among many other dignitaries.

    Governor Fayose, while reminding the people of the need for regular exercise, said all members of the society should, on a weekly basis, take road walks, noting that the promotion of healthy living is for the generality of the populace.

    Ayodeji Desmond Alabi, who represented Fayose, said his government has highmark programmes for youths to be positively engaged and he is poised to reposition sports in Ekiti State.

    “The youths are the future of tomorrow, therefore it is the priority of my administration to empower them and help to fulfil their destiny. Productive engagement like walking is important, athletic culture and sporting activities are veritable tools of engagement for the youth,” Fayose said.

    Coach Lagunju, in his speech, commended FYSC for initiating such a laudable programme, saying he was amazed to see the large turn-out of people taking the five-kilometre walk.

    The NFF topshot said the ‘Walk for Youths Development Through Sports’ is to physically exercise ourselves, and to ensure that we stay healthy. He advised parents to allow their children to be involved actively in sports for Ekiti State to have more talents.

  • NFF to blacklist, prosecute erring referees

    NFF to blacklist, prosecute erring referees

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Melvin Amaju Pinnick has vowed to blacklist and prosecute erring referees when the country’s league season begins in March.

    Disclosing this ahead of the NFF’s fourth board meeting slated to hold in Abuja on January 8, Amaju said: “If, after the trips to the United Kingdom to see how things are being done and being engaged in practicals out there, and after our plan to boost their remuneration, we still find elite referees wanting, such persons will not only be blacklisted, they will also be prosecuted.”

    He reiterated that the capacity-enhancing programmes and exposure being given the elite referees now is to ultimately make them better arbiters, failing which they will be harshly dealt with.

    It can be recalled that 17 highly–qualified persons, including renowned coaches and former international players, will also be in the United Kindgom for a three –week match reading and backroom analysis capacity–enhancing programme in a few weeks.

    Pinnick warned that coaches and administrators who fail to identify swiftly with the new vision of doing things differently and in the interest of the nation’s football will be told in no uncertain terms to give way.

    “What we intend to achieve at the end of the day, is in the interest of the coaches, the National Teams, the administrators, the referees and the game generally.

    “Everyone who has the interest of the game at heart will easily key into these programmes. Those who will find it difficult are the people who have been used to impunity and have mortgaged the interest of our football for personal interest over the years. They will be thrown overboard without a second glance.

    “I use this opportunity to call on all the stakeholders of the Nigeria game, including our vibrant media, to support the NFF as we move to arrest the decline and work hard to put Nigerian football on the road to an enviable destination.”

  • NFF probes ‘shameful’ Eduok transfer mess

    NFF probes ‘shameful’ Eduok transfer mess

    NFF president Amaju Pinnick has declared the board will probe the controversies surrounding the transfer of Dolphins and Super Eagles’ striker Emem Eduok.

    “Look at the cloud of controversy over the transfer of one of our brightest stars, Emem Eduok. That is a shame and should not happen. We will investigate this matter and come up with recommendations. Whoever is found culpable will have questions to answer,” Amaju said.

    And as the controversy surrounding the future of Nigeria ‘B’ international Emem Eduok rages, he has come out to deny ever playing for a team called A and B Academy, who the Norwegian team Sarsborg 08 claimed they discussed the player’s transfer with.

    The Dolphins hitman, who netted 20 goals last season in the Nigeria league, told Laurasboxx.com that he signed initially for the Norwegian team, before he opted to sign for Esperance after he discovered the team failed to contact Dolphins.

    “I initially signed for Sarpsborg and I thought they had contacted Dolphin which they didn’t. I did not play for any academy called “A and B”,” he said.

    “I’m a Dolphins player. I have signed for Esperance of Tunisia and will be unveiled after my international duty with Nigeria.”

  • Sani Lulu: I want justice, not to be NFF President

    Sani Lulu: I want justice, not to be NFF President

    The former president of  Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Sani Lulu Abdullahi, has declared that he is no longer interested in returning as NFF president but that he is desirous of getting justice over his unlawful impeachment and protracted five-year-long court battle.

    Abdulllahi, who was impeached in 2010, is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside Amanze Uchegbulam, Bolaji Ojo-Oba and Taiwo Ogunjobi for offences bordering on conspiracy and breach of due process which is in contravention of the public procurement act over purchase of two buses.

    The former NFF top officials were accused by the EFCC to have breached due process in the purchase of two Marcopolo buses in a 10-count charge when they were first arraigned in October 2010.

    Lulu stated this while responding to questions at his home town, Idah after the finals of the 2015 FOSLA U-13 Cup about his future as regards to contesting for his former post as president of Nigeria’s top football governing body if there be fresh elections.

    “I must at this point appreciate everyone who has been standing by me in the face of my predicament since the injustice I suffered in 2010. I believe in justice and those who for their desperate interests to sabotage our efforts and truncated our passionate visions will meet their doom and know no peace,” Abdullahi told Goal.

    “However at this point, I wish to state categorically that I’m not interested in returning as NFF president. I have had the chance and never left anything at the Glass House. Though I was aggrieved with how I was illegally impeached by those who we trusted to have shared in the visions of developing the game.

    “Football is a game I love with passion and my achievements when I was the NFF president before I was forcefully impeached are still very visible for everyone to see. Nobody can disclaim the fact that we did revive the game from its dead state,” he said.

    “No hard feelings as I have since then moved on, but will continue to pray for justice to prevail. Justice delayed is not justice denied. No matter how long, I will wait for justice as I’m not guilty of any corruption charges.

    “Nobody is asking questions where the N2.8 billion I left in office was, but the unfounded charges about the two buses were duly bought for the Federation and still in use till date after five years,” he concluded.

  • NFF promises Flying Eagles adequate preparations

    NFF promises Flying Eagles adequate preparations

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has promised the Flying Eagles they will be fully prepared for the 2015 African Youth Championship in Senegal.

    NFF director of competitions, Sanusi Mohammed, assured the team of adequate preparations when he visited them on New Year’s day at their African Continental Hotel training camp in Kaduna.

    “We plan to ensure you get top quality friendly matches before the AYC and thereafter you proceed on a training tour of a country with a similar weather condition to that of Senegal,” declared Sanusi.

    “We believe in this team and are very much encouraged by the unity and sense of purpose you have displayed all this while.”

    It is believed that NFF are now exploring the possibilities of getting the country’s U-20 team to train for at least a month in Gambia before they hit Senegal of the AYC.

    They are drawn against hosts Senegal, Cote d’Ivoire and Congo in Group A of the competition, which kicks off on March 8 in Dakar.

  • NFF lines up six friendlies for Eagles in 2015

    NFF lines up six friendlies for Eagles in 2015

    The Nigeria Football Federation has proposed six “Grade A” friendly matches for the Super Eagles in the New Year, AfricanFootball.com reports.

    The matches include the much-advertised Brazil friendly in Uyo billed for March.

    There will be five other matches one of which will also be played in Nigeria.

    The NFF leadership has promised to make use of all the FIFA friendly windows in 2015 as the African champions rebuild after the failure to qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea.

    The other FIFA windows are – June 8-16, August 31 to September 8, October 5-13 and November 9-17.

    These matches are outside the two AFCON warm-ups against Cote d’Ivoire and Sudan in Abu Dhabi early next month, which will be played by players from the domestic league.

  • Four remanded for alleged forgery, cultism

    Four remanded for alleged forgery, cultism

    Four men have been remanded in prison custody by an Evboriaria Magistrate’s Court for alleged forgery and cultism.

    The accused – Ekomoba Abu, Ononiwu Samuel, Ehibor Austine and Nkwocha Emeka – were arraigned on a five-count of forgery, unlawful possession of firearms, being members of Black Axe and Advance Fee Fraud (419) scam.

    They were alleged to have forged the sign-up letters of the Nigeria Entertainment Music Board, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Visionaries Football Club of Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State.

    The accused were allegedly engaged in unlawful secret cult and shooting to cause panic among the public.

    Their pleas were not taken.

    The Chief Magistrate A. A. Ihenyen remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the matter till January 30.

    He ordered the court registrar to duplicate the case file and send copies to the Directorate of Public Prosecutor (DPP) for legal advice.

  • NFF gives Eagles Tuesday deadline

    NFF gives Eagles Tuesday deadline

    All the invited home-based stars for the now altered January 12 and 17 friendlies against Cote D’Ivoire and Sudan, have been told that they must report to the Bolton White Apartment, Zone 7, Abuja  on Tuesday, December 30, 2014.

    Assistant Coach, Dan ‘the Bull’ Amokachi is expected to be in charge of the two friendlies with goalkeeper Ike Shorunmu. Team Administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, said he was making the clarifications as some of the players were still thinking that the team will converge on December 28.

    “We have effected a release from the NFF to that effect but we must again re-emphasise that the team will come together by December  30th and all players and officials must take note,”he said.

  • Taribo West tasks NFF on Eagles

    Taribo West tasks NFF on Eagles

    Former Super Eagles defender, Taribo West has charged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to ensure Nigeria never fails to qualify for any major international competition in the future, as the reality of the Super Eagles’ failure to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) begins to set in, and as the New Year approaches.

    The former Inter Milan defender believes a lot went wrong during Nigeria’s ill-fated qualification campaign, and says efforts must be made to ensure the same level of failure is never recorded again.

    “The New Year is almost here and the Nations Cup will start, but we will not be there and this is a bad thing for our football. I believe a lot went wrong during the qualifiers and these are the things the NFF board must ensure never happens again. We cannot afford not to qualify for major tournaments and it is a shame that we will not be in Equatorial Guinea,” said West.

    The Atlanta ’96 Olympic Gold medal winner also believes that with the Super Eagles out of action, the Dream Team VI must be the primary focus of the NFF.

    “The Dream Team must be their main focus now, since we will not be at the Nations Cup. Siasia should be given all the support he needs to succeed,” Taribo posited.