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  • Anyansi hails NFF, LMC ruling

    Anyansi hails NFF, LMC ruling

    Enyimba Fc Chairman Chief Felix Anyansi Agwu has commended the Nigerian Football Federation(NFF) and the League Management company( LMC ) for their ruling to finally award 3 points and 3 goals to Enyimba after their Fracas against Kano Pillars in a week 31 NPFL game played in Kano.

    The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday reversed the decision of the League Management Company to replay the Kano Pillars vs Enyimba

    week 31 game in Lagos, handing maximum points and three goals to the Aba based outfit.

    The People’s elephant chairman in an interview with futaa.com expressed delight over the decision of the NFF disciplinary body.

    ”This is a good development in the league, the NFF and LMC really need to be commended, we deserved the points we finally got because we were molested in Kano, and the rule clearly states it clear.

    “We have always been peaceful whenever we play our matches, and its surprising that some clubs will support hooliganism and Fanaticism. Ayansi stated.

    Anyansi called on the NFF and LMC to device means of making the league more favourable.

    “Our league is an interesting one, and we can even make it better if all hands are on deck and if appropriate decisions are being taken. And that teams who play well should always get points even if they are playing away from home.

    Enyimba who now sit comfortably on top of the league table having received maximum points and three goals will take on relegation threatened 3SC this weekend in a week 35 NPFL fixture.

  • 2014 World Cup Play-Offs: NFF changes travelling arrangements

    2014 World Cup Play-Offs: NFF changes travelling arrangements

    • Eagles to arrive Addis Ababa Oct 11

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has announced changes in the travelling arrangement for the Super Eagles ahead of the World Cup playoff against the Walya Antelopes of Ethiopia.

    The NFF had initially contemplated with the idea of the team travelling a day before the game but latest official reports from the NFF in Abuja reveals the Eagles will leave for Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on October 11 for the game billed for October 13.

    The first leg of the playoffs holds at the Ydnekachew Tesema Stadium, Addis Ababa with the second leg fixed for November 16 at the UJ Esuene stadium, Calabar.

    President of the NFF, Aminu Maigari has revealed to supersport.com that the federation had two options but decided on flying the Nigeria squad to Addis Ababa a couple of days to the game.

    “Addis Ababa is at an altitude of 2,400 metres above sea level and when you are visiting such an environment, you either have to arrive there weeks before your game (for effective acclimatisation) or just immediately before the game. We don’t have the option of the former since most of the boys we invited to prosecute the match play their football in Europe so we had to adopt the second option,” Maigari told supersport.com on Thursday.

    Maigari said: “There would be no issues with the arrangement” following the success recorded with similar travel arrangements when Nigeria faced Ethiopia in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on June 5, 2011.

    “I still recall vividly our last visit to Addis Ababa in June 2011. We did something similar and the players did not have any issues because the game ended in an exciting 2-2 draw.

    “We have covered all our bases ahead of the game next month and I am sure there would be no issues with the arrangement,” he added.

    The general secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu also spoke about the tie against Ethiopia.

    Amadu, who described the pairing against the East Africans as the “best draw we could have hoped for,” however advised on the need to avoid complacency in the two games.

    ”There is no point denying that this was the best draw we could have hoped for.

    They (Ethiopia) are the least-ranked amongst the 10 nations that made it to the playoffs (25th in Africa and 93rd in the world).

    “It’s a good thing that we are playing the first leg away from home.It will be difficult because they have very passionate and vociferous fans but if we don’t underrate them, we should qualify after both legs,” he said.

    Nigeria and Ethiopia have met on nine occasions at senior international level. Only one of those encounters, on June 5, 2011 ended in a draw while Nigeria won seven of the games between both nations.

    Nigeria’s biggest win over the East Africans was recorded on July 24, 1993 when the Super Eagles thrashed the Walya Antelopes 6-0 with the late Rashidi Yekini helping himself to a hat-trick at the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

  • NFF’s Disciplinary Committee to meet next Thursday

    NFF’s Disciplinary Committee to meet next Thursday

    The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to meet next Thursday in Abuja to decide on the decisions of the League Management Company on abandoned matches, SportingLife can authoritatively report.

    The chairman of the Committee, Barrister Leye Adepoju confirmed this to SportingLife yesterday.

    LMC had ruled on various inconclusive matches involving clubs but all the decisions are still subject to Disciplinary Committee’s ratification.

    “This is LMC issues and we have to invite all the clubs through their State FAs. Our plan is to meet on the issues next week Thursday. We hope all materials will be available before then. We want to ensure that we receive all the parties’ information and give all the parties fair hearing,” Adepoju said.

    Meanwhile, Kano Pillars chairman, Abba Yola has told SportingLife that the club has appealed the LMC decisions.

    LMC ordered the replay of the abandoned game involving Kano Pillars and Enyimba FC at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos while the Pyramid side banished to Kaduna for their home matches till the end of the season.

    Kano Pillars will face Warri Wolves in a week 33 League this weekend but Abba Yola told SportingLife that the club is confused on the home ground decision.

    “We are still in dilemma on where to play our home match against Warri Wolves this weekend. We don’t know whether we are going to play in Kano or Kaduna. We’ve appealed the LMC decisions and with NFF’s Disciplinary Committee meeting next week Thursday, we don’t know what to do now,” Yola told SportingLife.

    “Since we’ve sent our appeal letter to LMC they have not replied us and told us what to do whether to abide with the first decision or wait until Disciplinary Committee decision next week.”

    Abba Yola added: “We are still expecting good judgement from the Disciplinary Committee. Even in Ilorin, in the game between Kwara United and Warri Wolves, the referee was beaten and was admitted to the hospital and match abandoned at half time, still LMC ordered replay of the match in Ilorin.

    “In our own case, nobody was beaten, match was abandoned by Enyimba at the 88th minute despite calls from referee to come back and finish the match. We’ve already scored a goal at the 87th minute before fans invaded the pitch to celebrate a goal and they were cleared off the pitch. We want NFF’s Disciplinary Committee to look at this critically.”

    Other matches to be decided upon include the botched match between Kwara United and Warri Wolves at Ilorin Township Stadium and Sunshine Stars of Akure and Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan match which was abandoned at the Akure Township Stadium.

  • NFF’s O&D to decide on outstanding league matches Friday

    NFF’s O&D to decide on outstanding league matches Friday

    • Pillars vs Enyimba, Sunshine vs 3SC, Kwara United vs Warri Wolves top agenda

    The Organising and Disciplinary Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation will meet on Friday to make a decision on disputes arising from some abandoned Globacom Premier League matches decided recently, a top official of the LMC has said.

    Top on the bill of those to be decided include the botched tie between Sunshine Stars and 3SC which the LMC allegedly ruled in favour of the Akure Gunners despite the fact that there was reported case of crowd violence which forced the tie to be stalemated.

    The Oluyole Warriors’ Gbolahan Salami was allegedly told to pay a sum of N100,000 and was given a strong reprimand to be of good conduct. 3SC were also allegedly told that three points and three goals would be deducted from their points haul despite losing the botched match in the board room to Sunshine.

    The O&D will also give a definite judgement on the abandoned ties involving Kano Pillars and Enyimba and Kwara United versus Warri Wolves.

    The preliminary verdict of the LMC had fined Pillars a sum of N5 million and banished to Kaduna for their home matches for remainder of the league season. The Sai Masu Gida will also replay the encounter with the Peoples Elephant at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos on September 29th if the O&D upheld the verdict of the LMC.

    Kwara United and Warri Wolves’ tie was also ordered to be replayed under closed doors at the Kwara State Stadium, Ilorin also on the 29th September. All these cases and others scheduled for hearing are still subject to the ratification or otherwise of the O&D.

    The matchday 32 league old Globacom Premier League has been dodged with so many protests this season than in recent times which most of them bothering on crowd violence despite several assurances from football stakeholders to stem the tide.

  • Federation Cup final: NFF hails Gov Fashola

    Federation Cup final: NFF hails Gov Fashola

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has expressed appreciation to the Executive Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Raji Fashola on the successful hosting of this year’s Federation Cup competition finals.

    In a letter of appreciation signed by NFF President Aminu Maigari, the football-governing body heaped plaudits on Lagos State’s number one citizen for his sheer commitment and dedication to help the Federation Cup reclaim its old glory.

    “The NFF feels obliged to continue to praise Your Excellency’s keen interest and support for the Federation Cup, which has, as a result, reclaimed much of its glamour and glory.

    “Your Excellency remains firmly and surely in the leading category of few State Chief Executives in our country who continue to show genuine and abiding interest in the development of Nigerian football.

    “We commend Your Excellency for dignifying the occasion with your presence, coupled with the showcasing of Legends of the Cup and naming of the Media Tribune after departed legendary broadcasters Ishola Folorunsho and Ernest Okonkwo.

    “Surely, the Nigeria Football Federation is joyous at the long-time agreement with Lagos State on the Federation Cup, and will work with your administration to make the 2014 event even more grand,” read the letter.

    Last Sunday’s grand finale at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere took in, for the first time ever, the Women’s Final as well, with Rivers Angels hammering Nasarawa Amazons 3-0 to lift the trophy.

    Enyimba FC of Aba won the men’s title for the third time, edging Warri Wolves 5-4 in a pulsating penalty shoot-out that followed a 2-2 draw in regulation time.

  • ‘Eagles in Brazil already’

    ‘Eagles in Brazil already’

    Former international Benedict Iroha has said that Nigeria have a great chance of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup after being pitched against the Walias Antelopes of Ethiopia.

    Iroha said that the draw was good to the Eagles and that a way has been opened to them to qualify for next year’s World Cup if the players, coaches and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) do not display complacency and tardiness in their build up to both legs.

    He charged the Eagles to live up to their names as African Champions by beating Ethiopia if possible in both legs to confirm that Nigeria’s senior national team renaissance that started during the last AFCON quarter-final duel with Ivory Coast was still intact.

    “To be frank with you, this is a very good draw for us. We can’t ask for any easier draw than the one we have been offered. Though Ethiopia are a good side but the Eagles should just do enough to beat them to qualify for the World Cup.”

  • OPERATION CRUSH ETHIOPIA: No friendly for Eagles

    OPERATION CRUSH ETHIOPIA: No friendly for Eagles

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary Musa Amadu has stated that there is likely not going to be any form of friendly match for the Super Eagles before their first leg away tie against Ethiopia in the final play-offs of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers.

    According to Monday’s draws held in Egypt, the Africa Champions are to travel to Ethiopia within October 15 and 19 for the first leg clash before playing the decisive leg a month later.

    “I don’t think they can play any friendly within that period, the NFF scribe said while answering questions from reporters as regards the draw.”

    Amadu admitted that Nigeria was the luckiest amongst the countries jostling for one of the tickets to represent Africa at next year’s Mundial having been pitched against the lowest ranked team left in the qualification run.

    “I must say we had a very good draw, what is left for us now is to put our house in order and face the two matches with all the seriousness they deserve,” the NFF big gun concluded.

    Nigeria’s last friendly game was against a second string Burkina Faso team in Kaduna.

  • 2014 World Cup Qualifiers Super Eagles 100 per cent sure—NFF

    2014 World Cup Qualifiers Super Eagles 100 per cent sure—NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) said it was confident the Super Eagles have a 100 per cent chance of beating Ethiopia to qualify for the 2014 World Cup finals.

    NFF’s Assistant Technical Director, James Peters, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja he was sure the team would be in Brazil in 2014 after overcoming Ethiopia.

    Peters was reacting to the draws of the final play-off held on Monday at CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt.

    At the draws, the Nigerian senior men football side was pitched against the East Africans in the final qualifying round. The Super Eagles will visit Ethiopia for the first leg between Oct. 11 and Oct. 15, while they will be hosting the Black Lions between Nov. 15 and Nov. 19

    “We have a 100 per cent chance of advancing and qualifying, because in Africa today no team can overcome or subdue us. It may be in another five years to come, but certainly not now. But between now and five years, there is no African country that can bring us down,’’ Peters said.

    The former Super Falcons’ handler said he was confident the Ethiopians will not be a match for the Super Eagles, even though there are no longer minnows in football.

    “Yes, there are teams that you will want to face and say anything can happen. But, with Ethiopia, nothing can happen. We will just advance, because there is no upset with Ethiopia,’’ he said.

    Peters, however, advised the Super Eagles’ technical crew to avoid distractions at this stage of the race to 2014, which he referred to as the most delicate and dangerous.

    “Though the technical crew has been doing what it ought to do very well. What it just needs to do now is to concentrate and make sure it doesn’t get distracted at this stage. This is because the last stage is always the most fragile stage when the chances we have can just slip away from our fingers,’’ he said.

     

     

     

    Peters, who was once an assistant coach with the Super Eagles, further advised the NFA to give more support to the team for it to be motivated to perform well.

    On the other pairings, the coach described the match-up of Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire as a dangerous one which would rekindle the two teams’ rivalry.

    NAN reports that Senegal was paired with Cote d’Ivoire, while Egypt was paired with Ghana, Cameroon with Tunisia and Burkina Faso with Algeria.

    “The pairing of Senegal and Cote d’Ivoire is a dangerous one, because it was during one of the qualifying series that mayhem was let loose in Senegal. The problem started when Cote d’Ivoire scored against the Senegalese in their home in Dakar to equalise. Now again, they have been paired together. I do know that this will rekindle and re-ignite the fire between the two teams,’’ Peters said.

    He noted that the Egypt/Ghana pairing would be an old rivalry because North and West Africa had always been involved in a tug-of-war.

    “The Egypt/Ghana pairing is an old rivalry, because North Africa and West Africa have always engaged in a tug-of-war. Besides, Ghana will want to subdue Egypt with strength and power but the Egyptians are very tricky.

    “For Cameroon and Tunisia, it is a dicey issue, because Cameroon is just coming back from their sick bed. So, they will have to pour water on the Tunisians’ head to subdue their pressure, and do something tactical because Tunisia is a strong side. All in all, we are looking forward to an interesting performance in the final play-off from all the teams involved,’’ Peters said.

     

     

  • NFF explains absence at W/Cup draws

    NFF explains absence at W/Cup draws

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has moved to explain why no Nigerian delegate was present at the playoff draws for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Cairo on Monday.

    Delegates from all other nine nations that qualified for the playoffs were in attendance at the draw venue in Cairo but Nigeria was not represented at the event.

    The NFF through its general secretary, Musa Amadu has now provided an explanation over the absence of a Nigerian delegate at the draws.

    “I have no idea (why there was no Nigerian delegate at the draws) because we had a member who went for a Caf committee meeting (in Cairo). I cannot give you names now. We expected that somebody would be there to wait for the draws,” Amadu told supersport.com shortly after the ceremony on Monday.

    The NFF chief then identified “logistical problems” as the possible reason the Nigerian delegate was not present at the draws.

    “I want to believe that (our delegate) had some problems with his flight arrangements. Obviously, we had delegated somebody as a federation to represent us at the draws.

    “It wasn’t intentional and the federation had wanted somebody present for the draws,” the scribe said.

     

     

     

     

  • 2014 World Cup play-off: NFF dreads Cameroon

    2014 World Cup play-off: NFF dreads Cameroon

    • Prefers Senegal as Eagles’ opponent
    • Wants to avoid Egypt too

    The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) Musa Amadu has confessed that among all the possible countries that Nigeria may likely meet today, he prays Nigeria should be pitched against Senegal for the play-off for the 2013 World Cup.

    In a chat with SportingLife in Abuja at the weekend, the Scribe of the NFF declared: “If I have my way I think I prefer we meet Senegal in the final play-off for the 2014 World Cup slated for Brazil.

    “Yes I know that Senegal is a very strong opponent and shouldn’t be treated with kid gloves. But my preference for meeting Senegal in the play-off for next year’s World Cup is that the Super Eagles will be playing them on a neutral ground in their home since their home ground is under suspension from FIFA. This will be a big boost because the Eagles will play without any tension and not be intimidated by Senegal’s home fans.

    Amadu also disclosed his preference for the Eagles to meet Ethiopia if the Nigerian miss out on the chance to play against the star studded Senegal national senior team.

    “Ethiopia is another strong opposition but I think the Super Eagles can muscle them out on a good day and while playing to their (Nigeria’s) full capacity. But like I said I will prefer the choice of Senegal as our play-off opponent for the 2014 World Cup,” Amadu told SportingLife at the weekend.

    The NFF Scribe, however prayed for Eagles not to meet Cameroon and Egypt in the final face-off for the Brazil 2014 World Cup qualifier.

    “Personally speaking, when it comes to competitive matches I don’t usually like Nigeria to play against the likes of Cameroon and Egypt but most especially Cameroon because we have this rivalry between us that dates back years. A meeting with Cameroon does not usually go the way of Nigeria.. This is the reason why I won’t pray for Cameroon in particular to be pitched against the Super Eagles in the final play-off for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil,” Amadu said.