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  • Alleged Anti board Activities: NFF ban Green, Yusuf Ahmed

    Alleged Anti board Activities: NFF ban Green, Yusuf Ahmed

    • Yaya Kwande to be investigated

    The NFF executive committee have suspended two of their members, Chris Green and Yusuf Ahmed, while another exco, Sulaiman Yahaya-Kwande is to be probed.

    These decisions were taken after an executive committee meeting in Abuja yesterday.

    Yusuf Ahmed was suspended for a year for “glaring anti-board activities, including facilitating and participating in an unauthorised gathering in Abuja, as well as a case of forgery to unilaterally alter the decision of the Executive Committee on tenure of management staff”.

    Green was handed a six-month suspension also for anti-board activities and giving media interviews that tended to put the NFF and Nigeria football in bad light.

    Their bans are to be ratified by the general assembly.

    The case against Yahaya-Kwande is to be further investigated.

    Only recently, the executive committee also purportedly impeached president Aminu Maigari.

  • NFF Elections moved to September

    NFF Elections moved to September

    As expected, the election to usher in new members to the board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will not hold on August 26, SportingLife can confirm.

    This shift in the date has been in the pipeline owing to the controversy that has surrounded Nigerian football in recent times.

    SportingLife gathered from a top Glass House source yesterday, that the election has now been fixed for September.

    Our source revealed that those calling the shots as regards the planning and organization of the election have now seen the need to shift it by a month because of pending issues.

    Nigerian football has been in crisis since the former board of the NFF was sacked by a Jos High Court in July.

    “The issues are so weighty that we cannot ignore them. That is why we decided to move it (the elections ),” said the source.

    Only on Wednesday, the Sports Minister/ Chairman of the National Sports Commission  (NSC), Dr. Tammy Danagogo met with the interim leadership of the NFF to deliberate on some of the issues.

    One knotty case in point is the purchase of forms which some aspirants claimed was being hoarded by the electoral committee so as to prevent some of them from contesting.

    The NFF may have finally succumbed to the wishes of stakeholders as it is understood that another electoral committee may be sworn in in the coming days.

    “Since the NFF has agreed to give everybody a level playing field, it is important we do that,”” our source added.

    SportingLife understands that the football house will soon notify the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) of the development.

  • NFF suspends Chris Green

    NFF suspends Chris Green

    The Nigeria Football Federation executive committee has banned two of its members for indulging in anti-board activities after meeting on Thursday in Abuja, Goal reports.

    According to the communiqué released at the end of the meeting, Chris Green was handed a six-month ban for participating in glaring anti-board activities, including facilitating and participating in an unauthorized gathering in Abuja as well as granting media interviews that tended to put the NFF and Nigeria football in bad light.

    The suspension will keep him out of all football-related activities for the stipulated time frame pending the ratification of the general assembly.

    Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed, another NFF committee member was suspended for a year for participating in an unauthorized gathering in Abuja and for unilaterally altering the decision of the executive committee on tenure of management staff.

    These decisions were in line with Article 34 (m) and Article 37 (1 & 5) of the NFF Statutes.

    After receiving the report of the Effiong Johnson – led sub-committee set up to review lengthy bans on Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi, Chief Rumson Baribote, Barr. Olaleye Adepoju, Mr. Jarrett Tenebe, Mr. Harrison Jalla, Mr. Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara, Mr. Chikelue Iloanusi and Mr. Olajide Fashikun, the committee moved the decision to its next meeting.

    Also present at that meeting, which the NFF described as an “unauthorized gathering” was another executive member Suleiman Yahaya Kwande.

     

  • Keshi resumes next week

    Keshi resumes next week

    All things being equal, Stephen Keshi will resume as Super Eagles coach next week, according to the Nigeria Football Federation executive committee.

    “The executive committee has mandated the secretariat to reach out to Keshi and conclude the details of his contract,” africanFootball.com quoted NFF board spokesperson, Emeka Inyama, as saying on Thursday.

    “We expect that the signing would be next week so that he can resume work ahead of the fast approaching 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.”

    Also head of the three-man committee set up to discuss with Keshi, Deji Tinubu told africanFootball.com: “We will open talks with Keshi’s lawyer immediately to ensure that the process is concluded in time for him to resume work.”

    Nigeria hosts Rwanda in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on September 7.

    South Africa and Sudan are the other teams in this qualifying pool with the top two teams advancing to the tournament proper in Morocco in January.

  • FIFA seeks explanation for Maigari’s impeachment

    FIFA seeks explanation for Maigari’s impeachment

    World Soccer governing body, FIFA has asked the Nigeria Football Federation for full details of the circumstances and process leading to the removal of Aminu Maigari as president, kickOffNigeria.com reports.

    This comes on the heels of plans to move the elections into the board following complaints of disenfranchisement by aspirants.

    Maigari was impeached at an executive committee meeting last month, but the process was clouded by a member of the executive committee claiming his signature was forged, and FIFA has now stepped in to demand an explanation.

    A Congress scheduled to ratify Maigari’s impeachment was called off due to unforeseen circumstances.

    A day later, 30 of the 46 voting members of Congress issued a press statement distancing themselves from the impeachment process.

    The NFF executive committee is now expected to meet on Thursday morning with one item on the agenda being to call a Congress that would move the elections from August 26.

    Prospective candidates for election into the board had complained that they were unable to collect nomination forms, let alone submit them by Monday’s deadline because the electoral committee was hoarding the forms while making themselves scarce.

    The committee could also be reconstituted in the wake of these allegations.

  • 2015 Africa Cup of Nations: NO COACH FOR EAGLES

    2015 Africa Cup of Nations: NO COACH FOR EAGLES

    • Keshi’s negotiations may continue till September – NFF
    • May opts for plan B; Amodu, Chukwu, others mentioned

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has admitted that contract negotiations with Stephen Keshi may drag on till September, when the Super Eagles begin their qualifiers for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

    SL10 had earlier reported that contract negotiations with the ‘Big Boss’, as Keshi is called and the NFF may linger, given the list of demands that Keshi has, if he’s to continue as coach of the Africa champions. Sl10 also reported that the NFF may be having alternate plans – which includes but not restricted to Keshi taking temporary charge of the Eagles for their first qualifier against the Bees of Rwanda on September 5, if contract talks are not settled before then.

    And now, an executive member of the NFF, ‘Deji Tinubu has admitted that talks between them and Keshi could stretch into when the qualifiers will begin.

    “It’s possible that our discussions with Keshi could stretch into when we play our first qualifier, but we have made plans for such eventuality,” he told Hot FM.

    “We have a plan B, if negotiations with Keshi are not completed before the qualifiers. There is a plan in place to take care of that, and if it does happen that we didn’t conclude negotiations with him, then we’ll put the other plan in motion,” he said.

    Tinubu also confirmed that they have sent a draft of the new contract terms to Keshi, who’s presently in the USA, for consideration and to either send a counter-draft or agreement but posited that they expect a counter-draft with Keshi’s own demands.

    “We received a letter of acceptance from him on Monday, after we sent him a letter of intent last week. So now we have sent him a draft of the contract terms from our view, and we expect him to send either a counter-draft or an agreement notice.

    “But the truth is, at this stage of negotiations, we are expecting a counter-draft as he’s expected to give us his terms before we finally come to an agreement,” he said.

    Part of Keshi’s demands, it is believed, is a 100% increment on his N5million monthly salary which should see him earn N10million monthly. Also for one of his trusted comrades, Sylvanus Okpala to be returned as one of his assistants, and the salary of Valere Houandonou to be paid for by the NFF. The ‘Big Boss’ had been paying the Togolese out of his own pocket.

    Keshi is also expected to demand for a free hand to lead the Super Eagles, without the ‘interference’ of the technical committee and also for travel tickets to and from for when he’s on leave or holiday to see his family in the USA.

    But reports has it that the NFF are willing to agree to those terms, bar the salary increment. The NFF are understood to be offering an increment of N2million, which means Keshi should earn N7million and not the N10million he’s expected to ask for.

     

  • NFF to meet Ogunjobi, Baribote Tuesday

    NFF to meet Ogunjobi, Baribote Tuesday

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) will on Tuesday, August 5, meet with all ‘banned persons’ in Nigerian football, in the first step towards up-turning the earlier verdicts which placed huge suspensions on certain individuals within the Nigerian football circle.

    According to Christian Emeruwa, secretary of the NFF committee to investigate the bans : “All the involved parties will be invited to the Glass House on Tuesday and will meet with the committee members as we look into their cased,” he told SL10.

    The NFF under the leadership of Aminu Maigari had last year handed huge suspensions to three top-ranking members in Nigerian football circle.

    Former Vice President, Victor Rumson-Baribote was handed a 15-year ban, former General Secretary, Taiwo Ogunjobi was banned for 10-years, and then executive board member Leye Adepoju was banned for five years.

    Immediately after Maigari was impeached, the NFF announced that a committee would be set up to look into the issues and why the mentioned persons were given such huge suspensions.

    “We will set up a committee to look into the issue of those banned, in the spirit of reconciliation,” executive board member of the NFF Emeka Inyama had told SL10.

    And as it stands, the committee will officially commence its duty on Monday, August 4, and this has been confirmed by Emeruwa.

    “The committee will start its work on Monday and will interface with those affected by the suspensions,” he said.

    Meanwhile, sl10 have reliably gathered that the suspensions will be upturned, and some of the affected persons may contest for positions during the next election into the board of the NFF which holds on August 26.

    The five-man committee to review the issue of bans are expected to report back to the executive board within three days. The committee, which was inaugurated by the Acting President,  Mike Umeh, is headed by Effiong Johnson and has Shehu Adamu, Ayodeji Tinubu, Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma and  Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande as members.

  • NFF election: Aspirants raise the alarm

    NFF election: Aspirants raise the alarm

    The Nigeria Football Federation Electoral Committee chairman, Amoni Bambo, has been accused of being biased and acting the script of certain people.

    Some aspirants who have been denied rights to obtain nomination forms to participate in the upcoming elections into the Executive Committee of the NFF pointed the accusing fingers at the Electoral Body Chairman, Bambo.

    They have therefore threatened a showdown should they be excluded from participating in the elections slated for Tuesday, 26th August, 2014.

    If the release of guidelines for elections by the NFF spokesperson, Ademola Olajire, on Thursday, is anything to go by, the sale of nomination forms has been technically closed and many aspirants now stand denied rights to contest.

    Those who have indicated interest in contesting the elections but may have been denied buying forms are Abba Yola , Ganiyu Majekodunmi , Ishola Busari, Domnic Iorfa, Joe Anene, Lucky Gospel-Ewa, Ebel Ehige amongst many others.

    Bambo is said to be using an official of the NFF to technically exclude some aspirants from participating in the elections by either not allowing them to pick nomination form or using other means that could knock them out from the race.

    It was gathered that while many could not get the nomination form, the same form that is being hidden was sold to the Chairman of Kogi FA, Adams Yahaya on Thursday but without receipt.

    Another aspirant who pleaded anonymity, said he has also picked the nomination form but without receipt, wondering: “Is this not a technical way of pushing me out of the race?

    “I am asking because the receipt is the only proof that I have the genuine form because I am aware there are some fake nomination forms out there.

    “But when I asked for receipt, the officer that sold it, Banabas Joro, said it would be sorted out later.

    “I think the Electoral Committee as it is presently constituted is biased and something must be done urgently.”

    The aggrieved aspirants are alleging that the NFF General Secretary, Musa Amadu, Electoral Committee Chairman, Bambo, may be acting the script of Chris Giwa, owner of Giwa FC who is said to be eyeing the NFF Presidency and dropping the Minister of Sports’ name to manipulate the Electoral body.

    “The NFF Executive Committee must act urgently otherwise the crisis that will follow the elections will be unimaginable for our football because some of us will head to court and damn the consequence,” an aggrieved aspirant said on Friday.

  • NFF to lift bans on Baribote, Ogunjobi

    NFF to lift bans on Baribote, Ogunjobi

    The Nigeria Football Federation is set to lift the bans placed on Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi and former Premier League boss Victor Baribote.

    Both Ogunjobi and Baribote were banned from all football activities for 10-years and 15-years respectively by an investigative committee set-up by the NFF’s Executive Committee last October, kickOffNigeria.com reports.

    But a recent statement from the Federation revealed that arrangements are being made by the new administrators of the NFF to lift the bans placed on the duo following the removal of Aminu Maigari as NFF president.

    To this effect, the Federation’s executive committee has constituted a five-man panel to review the issue of bans on persons within the Nigeria football family and report back to the body within three days.

    The committee, which was immediately inaugurated by the Acting President, Chief Mike Umeh, is headed by Chief Effiong Johnson and has Hon. Shehu Adamu, Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedinma and Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande as members.

    Dr. Christian Emeruwa will serve as Secretary.

  • I have unfinished business with Nigeria – Keshi

    I have unfinished business with Nigeria – Keshi

    Super Eagles Coach, Stephen Keshi, has expressed his desire to extend his contract with Nigeria.

    The AFCON-winning coach in a chat with africanFootball.com from his base in the United States said:”Yes, I met with Deji Tinubu in Lagos before heading out for America to see my family.

    “It’s my country, I am ready to serve. I have started something I would love to finish.”

    However, Keshi quickly added the working conditions for his new deal have to be better than what he had previously.

    “But I cannot work the way I worked last time. It’s not possible! All my staff, no!no!!no!! We have to be professional, everybody has to do what they are supposed to do,” he stated.

    “I cannot be paying another staff salary, when I am not the Nigeria Football Federation. We will see how it goes. If the conditions are met, we will be there, no wahala.”

    In the meantime, the NFF has disclosed to africanFootball.com that it will forward a letter of intent for contract renewal this week to the former Super Eagles captain.

    Tinubu, the Head of a three-man committee for Keshi’s contract renewal, said: “We have made tremendous progress.

    “We will first send a letter of our intent for a renewal of his contract and expect a reply from him as quickly as possible.

    “This would allow us to start working on the terms of contract. We would have our terms and we know he would have his terms. But we would be working in such a way that we would arrive at an agreeable term that would suit both parties and then hopefully he signs.

    “We can’t put a time limit on this, but we hope we are done with it as quick as possible considering that we have a game in September,” Tinubu stated.