The Nation Newspaper

Tag: nff

  • Keshi turns down NFF’s foreign ‘help’

    Keshi turns down NFF’s foreign ‘help’

    Nigeria head coach, Stephen Keshi, has refused to accept an offer of a foreign assistant ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil this June.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) had met with the current African Coach of the Year recently and proposed a foreign assistant to him which he turned down.

    The football federation even proposed to Keshi to pick any foreign assistant of his choice and it will foot the expenses including the salaries.

    Instead Keshi, 52, demanded that the Nigeria football house reinstate one of his former assistants and former teammates, Sylvanus Okpala, who was sacked after the Super Eagles won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    “Stephen Keshi was offered the chance to choose a foreign assistant, who will work under him but he made it clear he was fine with his current assistants and backroom staff. The federation did this because they felt Keshi needed additional assistant.

    “But Keshi said he wanted one of his assistants, Sylvanus Okpala, to be recalled. The federation told him that Okpala can’t be recalled because he was sacked for insubordination,” spokesman of the NFF Technical Committee, Paul Bassey revealed in an interview.

    Keshi is currently working with Daniel Amokachi, Ike Shorunmu and Valere Houandinou as his assistants.

  • Argentine Ambassador seeks closer ties with NFF

    Argentine Ambassador seeks closer ties with NFF

    The newly-appointed Ambassador of Argentina to Nigeria, His Excellency Gustavo Dzugala on Thursday paid a courtesy visit to the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, proposing that Nigeria and Argentina do much more together in the football sector.

    Dzugala, who is only a month old in Nigeria, after serving in the same capacity in Serbia, is seeking closer ties between Nigeria and Argentina National Teams as well as Clubs in both Nations.

    “Football is more than just a game; it is becoming a very potent political tool all over the world. Football makes the world go round beautifully, because it is the ‘beautiful game’.

    “Our two countries can definitely explore more ways of collaboration and friendship in football, because both are very strong, powerful nations in the game,” Dzugala observed.

    Responding, Maigari wished Dzugala well in his new role, saying the NFF and Nigeria football family as a whole are open to further collaboration between Nigeria and Argentina in the game.

    “A former Board Member of Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Chive Kaave, is the Ambassador of Nigeria to Argentina, and we have also discussed several ways of further collaboration. With your coming, we will activate most of the possible areas and bring them to fruition,” Maigari said.

    Nigeria play Argentina in Group F of the 20th FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil this summer, with tickets for the June 25 match in Porto Alegre long sold out.

    In a two-match friendly in 2011, Nigeria’s Super Eagles beat Argentina 4-1 in Abuja, with the Argentines winning the second leg 3-1 in Dhaka, Bangladesh.

  • Keshi rejects NFF’s foreign ‘help’

    Keshi rejects NFF’s foreign ‘help’

    Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has refused to accept an offer of a foreign assistant ahead of the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil starting in June, supersport.com reports.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) met with the current African Coach of the Year recently and proposed a foreign assistant to him which he turned down.

    The NFF even proposed to Keshi to pick any foreign assistant of his choice, saying it will foot the expenses including the salaries.

    Instead Keshi, 52, demanded that the Nigeria football house reinstate one of his former assistants and former teammates, Sylvanus Okpala, who was sacked after the Super Eagles won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.

    “Stephen Keshi was offered the chance to choose a foreign assistant, who will work under him but he made it clear he was fine with his current assistants and backroom staff. The federation did this because they felt Keshi needed additional assistant.

    “But Keshi said he wanted one of his assistants, Sylvanus Okpala, to be recalled. The federation told him Okpala can’t be recalled because he was sacked for insubordination,” supersport.com quoted spokesman of the NFF Technical Committee, Paul Bassey, as saying on a television programme on Wednesday.

     

     

  • NFF mourns Pa Ojidoh

    NFF mourns Pa Ojidoh

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) on Wednesday expressed sadness over the death of renowned sports administrator, Pa John Ojidoh, who passed on Monday night at the age of 87.

    NFF President, Aminu Maigari was shocked when told that the foremost referee, administrator and club owner had departed this world.

    “This is very sad news. I spoke with him over the telephone while we were in South Africa for the third African Nations Championship, and the General Secretary was always telling me that Pa Ojidoh called him also to wish the NFF and the team well in the competition. He was always sending text messages to me, advising on several areas.

    “I am in shock. He is one of the most respected former sports administrators in the country and everyone can testify to his integrity and dignified bearing. May his soul rest in peace,” Maigari said.

    Pa Ojidoh, a Justice of the Peace and highly revered traditional chief in his native Illah, Delta State, was a Chairman of the Old Bendel State Football Association and was fully involved in the emergence of top clubs like Bendel Insurance (1994 CAF Cup winners) and New Nigerian Bank FC.

    He was a retired FIFA referee and also served the NFF in various capacities, including heading the Disciplinary Committee.

    Pa Ojidoh remained in high relevance even in retirement, commentating on sporting issues and advocating for better ways and processes of doing things.

  • WOMEN LEAGUE CONGRESS: NFF drags stakeholders to Kogi

    WOMEN LEAGUE CONGRESS: NFF drags stakeholders to Kogi

    The 2013 Nigeria Women Football League Congress will hold today in Lokoja, Kogi State. The congress, which would herald the draws of the 2014 Nigeria Women Football Premier League, will be declared opened by Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada. The Congress was supposed to be held on February 1, but was shifted due to the participation of the Super Eagles in the 2014 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) in South Africa.

    According to the Chairman of the Nigeria Women Football League Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma, who spoke in Lokoja on Wednesday “all is now set for the Congress of the Nigeria Women Football League, which is the highest decision making body of the League, and the Congress is expected to ratify all our activities for the year new football season. We would also hold draws of the Nigeria Women Football Premier League which is the first in Africa. All the League clubs (24) of them are members of the Congress and they would expect us to give them comprehensive reports on how the League was run last football season, and the proposal for the new football season would also be approved. The Executive Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada is expected to declare the Congress open, and he would be accompanied by his wife. The chief host will be the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, who would lead members of the Executive Board of the Federation to the Congress. The day will be rounded up with Champion of Champions football match between Nasarawa Amazons of Lafia and Rivers Angels of Port Harcourt. The match would be played at the ultra modern Confluence Stadium in Lokoja”.

    Mrs. Onyedinma, who is an Executive Board member of the NFF said: “We would not stop to be appreciative to His Excellency, Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada for supporting us to hold the Congress in his state. This has really shown that his love for sports is all embracing. We thank him very much. I am optimistic that the New Year would be better for Women football in the country.

  • Brazil 2014 fifa wolrd cup: NFF reassures on Eagles, Mexico clash

    Brazil 2014 fifa wolrd cup: NFF reassures on Eagles, Mexico clash

    Ahead of summer’s FIFA World Cup in Brazil, first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Mike Okeke Umeh has revealed that the football house is working hard to have Nigeria tackle Mexico’s El tri next month.

    Umeh further disclosed that plans are equally underway to ensure that Nigeria play as many friendly matches as possible before the commencement of the mundial.

    “There are lots of friendly matches lined up and I can tell you that because we have surpassed that stage of having fire brigade preparation in any tournament, the world cup won’t be an exception.

    “In March, we are going to play against Mexico in the United States,” he confirmed.

    Umeh stated that the Federation has tailored its Calendar of event after the FIFA calendar just as the international friendly matches will hinge on FIFA free days.

    “We’re been guided by the window of the FIFA schedule; when we have a free window from FIFA then we can play good friendlies so that we can get the professionals ready for the world cup,” Umeh told Lagos-based Brila FM.

     

  • NFF assures Keshi of non-interference

    NFF assures Keshi of non-interference

    An executive member of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has assured that Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi will have the sole discretion to select players of his choice for the Brazil 2014 World Cup.

    Emeka Inyama, who is the head of the NFF’s Media and Publicity Committee, disclosed that the Federation has no plans to interfere with the players’ selection process.

    “Stephen Keshi is in charge. So he decides who to take to the World Cup,” the chairman of Abia Warriors said.

    Inyama, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL), went on to congratulate the Super Eagles for their achievements in the just concluded African Nations Championship (CHAN)

  • Annual Vacation: Keshi hits California weekend

    Annual Vacation: Keshi hits California weekend

    By Ejiro Femi-Babafemi

     

    NFF chiefs have approved the vacation of Super Eagles chief coach, Stephen Keshi to the United States of America saying it is in order.

    A top source at the Federation’s Glasshouse told SportingLife that Keshi who led the home-based Eagles to a third place finish at the Africa Nations Championship deserves to see his family.

    “Haba! if it is you, would you not want to travel. The young man even though is in his fifties has a family who have really missed him. So when he told us that he was travelling, there was no way we could have stopped him,” said the source.

    “By the time he returns, it is the World Cup that we would be planning for,” he said.

    Keshi who is already in Abuja to meet with his employer to submit his post-CHAN report is expected to fly to California before the weekend.

    The coach’s last visit was in September before Nigeria’s World Cup qualifier against Ethiopia.

    He should return before the team regroups in three weeks time for the international friendly against Mexico.

    The match is scheduled for Miami, USA.

  • Keshi thanks NFF, players for bronze effort

    Keshi thanks NFF, players for bronze effort

    After a memorable six weeks with home-based Super Eagles players culminating in a bronze medal effort at the just-concluded South Africa 2014 CHAN African Nations Tourney, Head Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has anchored the success story of the team on the support he has received from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and by extension the Sports Ministry, the players and members of staff of the team.

    Addressing the team and its officials late Saturday night, Keshi said the NFF has been very supportive, the players have the opportunity to seek inclusion into Nigeria’s Brazil 2014 World Cup team and the staff of the team have been totally committed to the job of uplifting Nigerian football.

    From the players he singled out Ejike Uzoenyi, the Most Valuable Player of the CHAN 2014 for special mention, noting that at a point the player’s form dropped drastically but he listened to advice to improve, and today, he has become the MVP of a major championship in the world and particularly African football calendar. He thanked all his technical assistants for their invaluable advice.

    “From Amokachi to Shorunmu and Coach Valere, we spent hours together after dinner or games just strategising, and most times I come out to speak but they have been too supportive and I want to thank them.” Dayo Enebi Achor, the team’s administrator got the plaudits on the part of the staff, with Keshi insisting that but for the near perfect professionalism of the staff and their self denial for nearly two months, success, no matter how little, would never have been achieved.

    Keshi then made the following remarks: “It will be to my delight if four players from this team we have taken to CHAN can make it to the World Cup in Brazil, but you must be dedicated, respect your club coaches and make discipline your watchword”.

  • Maigari wants SA double dose

    Maigari wants SA double dose

    • Ladipo says support berekete

    NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari arrived Cape Town on Friday morning to join the Super Eagles party that is set to conquer North African foe, Morocco. But he is not thinking of the Eagles alone, the Super Falconets are also in town and on his mind.

    “We want double dose victory this weekend. Yes, the Falconets have won the first leg by 6-0, but we still want another victory over the South Africans and the girls have promised that they will give it,” Maigari declared through Technical Committee boss, Barr Chris Green, who was in the company of National Women Teams’ Coordinator Aisha Falode at the team’s Green Court, East Gate hotel in Johannesburg.

    Maigari told the players that he has been following them closely since the qualifiers for the Canada 2014 World Cup began and he was totally impressed at the output of the players and officials of the team so far.

    He promised a holistic approach to the preparations of the girls for the World Cup.

    ”This game is coming at a time our national team is also in action, you must ensure that you win and win well because the senior national team have already given indications that they will destroy the opposition,” he said.

    Later in the evening at the Green Point training ground of the Eagles, President General of the Nigerian and Other Sports Supporters Club, Dr Rauf Ladipo, along with some of his members kept a close eye on the Eagles build up to the game against Morocco and declared at the end of the training that he was impressed with what he saw. “I must commend the NFF, the technical crew and the players for the dedication that I have seen in training just now,” he declared.

    Ladipo also said he has a dual plan for supporters to be in Johannesburg and in Cape Town for the double dose victory that the teams expect. “Our people are already on ground in Johannesburg and we have another set here in Cape Town, there will be no let down in both games but I had thought the games will be shifted by a day, but we are ready for whatever is thrown at us. In short support for both Falconets and Super Eagles is berekete,” he said.