The Nation Newspaper

Tag: nff

  • NFF should encourage indigenous coaches – Adeagbo

    NFF should encourage indigenous coaches – Adeagbo

    Isaac Adeagbo, the Chairman, Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Lagos Chapter, on Thursday urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep encouraging indigenous coaches by engaging them in national assignments.

    Adeagbo made the appeal in Lagos, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

    He advised that the NFF to keep employing local coaches to train the national teams, saying that such opportunities would make the coaches to aspire to the level of national coaches.

    “Encouraging coaches to desire the accomplishment of being a coach for the national team was not an end in itself, but the enabling environment should be provided to enable them to be able to develop themselves.

    “ I have to give glory to God that the indigenous coaches are now being recognised by the NFF as competent hands to handle national teams.

    “And surprisingly, it was an indigenous coach that broke the 19 year-jinx of not winning the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which goes to show our competence.

    “However, more is yet to be done like providing an environment where the take-home packages of coaches will be valuable,” he said.

    The NFCA chairman also advised his colleagues to work with diligence and integrity, in order to ensure that only true talents were groomed into limelight.

    “We are duty bound as coaches to ensure that we do our jobs with a high sense of responsibility, for it falls on us to groom players for the national teams.

    “Especially when it comes to age grade teams, so as to avoid aiding and abetting age cheats, because of monetary gain,” Adeagbo added.

  • Obuh disagrees with NFF over changes

    Obuh disagrees with NFF over changes

    FLYING EAGLES coach John Obuh has expressed a contrary view about making a holistic change in the team ahead the FIFA U20 World Cup in Turkey, futaa.com can report.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) asked Obuh to make as many changes following their below-par performance at the African Youth Championship concluded in Algeria, where the team finished third.

    But Obuh, on Saturday said he does not fancy the order from the authority, as he is comfortable with the current squad.

    “I don’t have to change the whole squad,” he said on Brila FM.

    “I already have a team, though I’ll bring in like three additional new players to join the ones I already have on ground.”

    Flying Eagles will resume training on Monday, and Obuh has stuck with his squad by inviting 21 players that played at the AYC in Algeria.

  • NFF to wade into Keshi, Eagles bickering

    NFF to wade into Keshi, Eagles bickering

    The Nigerian Football Federation would intervene in the face-off between some Super Eagles players and Stephen Keshi, the Chief Coach of the team, Emeka Inyama, Chairman, Media Committee of the NFF, has said.

    Inyama told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia after the Week 15 midweek encounter between Abia Warriors FC of Umuahia and Crown FC of Oshogbo that the intervention would be made to get the best from the team.

    He was reacting to reports of crisis of confidence between Super Eagles captain, Joseph Yobo, strikers Emmanuel Emenike, Osaze Odemwingie and Keshi.

    He said that the strained relationship between the players and the coach was unacceptable to the NFF.

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    “We’ll request the coaches to improve the relationship between him and the players.

    “The players like to be massaged; Keshi was once a player and when you have a good relationship with your coach it even makes the player to play better.

    “Players sometimes play for the sake of their coaches.

    “So the relationship in our own opinion has to be improved. We have to see what the problems are and make them to work together.

    “Yobo is the national captain of Nigeria he cannot be ignored; Emenike is one of the best strikers in Nigeria he cannot be ignored; Osaze is one of the best players in Nigeria he cannot be ignored.

    “We need the best legs for Nigerian matches.

    “So anything that will be done and everything that will be done to improve the relationship between the coach and the players Nigerian Football Federation will do so.

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    Emenike had complained that the coach had never enquired how he was recuperating from the injury he sustained during the African Cup of Nations in South Africa that had sidelined him from his club-side.

    Yobo also complained that the coach should have informed him of his exclusion from the team that prosecuted the Nigeria-Kenya World Cup qualifier in March before making the list public, arguing that it was a matter of respect as he is the team captain.

    Keshi has since admitted not informing the Super Eagles captain of his exclusion from the team before the list was made public.

  • NFF chieftains blast Obuh

    NFF chieftains blast Obuh

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) chieftains have reservations over the performance of the John Obuh’s Flying Eagles in the ongoing Africa Youth Championship in Algeria.

    Two top officials of the Federation were irked by the poor marksmanship of the team despite their ability to create scoring chances which they often fluffed. One of the NFF men that works with the national team was more irked by the fact that the players have the talent and ability to deliver but tactical errors have been the bane of the team.

    “It is not that the players are bad they are some of the best in the land but the way you field players at times matter. One of the problem I noticed with the team is that the coach made some tactical errors in the way he made some of the substitutions. I did not see any reason why a player like Kayode Olarewanju was left that long in the match against the Egyptians when it was obvious that he was not clicking,” the infuriated official disclosed.

    The other senior official, however, thanked God that Nigeria have already booked the U- 20 World Cup and there is room to correct the lapses noticed in the team.

    “Well we thank God that we have booked a place already in the Junior World Cup. We are waiting for the end of the competition for the coach to submit his reports and we will take it up from there. We need to beef up the team for the World Cup,” the source summed up.

  • Amrouche blasts NFF over ‘Amodu saga’

    Amrouche blasts NFF over ‘Amodu saga’

    Kenyan Coach Amrouche is still unhappy with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). This time he has revisited the way the Nigeria Federation handled the Amodu saga, calling it ‘unfair’.

    In the last of a five-part exclusive interview he granted to supersport.com while in Nigeria, the savvy coach called the whole affair ‘wrong and embarrassing’ to Africa and her coaches. As we know coach Amodu was first hired by the NFF in April 2001.

    It would be the start of a long, love-hate relationship ending in 2008, with the end of an unparalleled fourth spell as Nigeria coach, after taking over from Berti Vogts. It was to Amodu whom the administrators turned when the Super Eagles faced elimination from qualifying for Japan/South Korea 2002 after the sacking of Dutchman Johannes Bonfrere. His successful tinkering of the team ensured that Nigeria made the Asian World Cup party, but he was sacked after the team’s bronze-medal finish at AFCON 2002.

    Amazingly, he repeated this feat in 2009 by leading Nigeria to the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Just like in 2002, the team’s third place finish led to Amodu being let go of on 6 February 2010. Despite reaching the third place with the national side in the 2010 African Cup of Nations, he was eventually demoted to serve as the coach of the Nigerian B-team (Home-Based Eagles) and Lars Lagerbäck was installed in his place.

    It is the instances pertaining to both World Cup qualifications and subsequent firings that Amrouche is referring to.

    “How can you get a team to the Promised Land and then at the last moment be denied entry? Even to Moses it happened only once. But to Amodu twice and the NFF really need to look at themselves in the mirror”.

    Coach Amrouche and the Harambee Stars returned to Kenya Monday to their elated fans still basking in the glow of earning a difficult draw in Calabar.

     

  • NFF calls for Nigerians’ patience over Eagles

    NFF calls for Nigerians’ patience over Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has called for more understanding from the supporters of the Super Eagles and stressing that African football can not continue to remain stagnant.

    The NFF President, Aminu Maigari in a post match interview in Calabar reckoned that the unpredictability of the game called football has now made it necessary for the Eagles to continue to remain on top of their game, if they do not want to be shocked by the supposed minnows.

    Maigari confirmed the Glasshouse was satisfied with the draw got at home but admonished the senior national team to go all out in search of a road victory in Nairobi, during the next round of matches.

    “I was so impressed with the way we played. They say half bread is better than none. This is a game of football and Nigerians need to be patient. We are hopeful. The qualifying matches are not over yet. Let’s wait until the end of the qualifiers but I want to assure you that we will do well and make Nigerians proud,” Maigari said.

    “I must say to you that African football is growing day by day. Going by the history, Kenyans have never defeated Nigeria and they will never defeat Nigeria God’s willing.

    “I was in a way surprised by the Kenyans played and by another way I won’t say I was too surprised. The game of football is a game that keeps changing and no team is ever out to remain in one place.”

  • Emenike faults NFF, Keshi for abandoning him

    Emenike faults NFF, Keshi for abandoning him

    African Nations Cup star, Emmanuel Emenike has lashed out at Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi for using and dumping him after his long-term hamstring injury.

    Emenike top scored for champions Nigeria at the Nations Cup in South Africa, but suffered a hamstring injury against Mali which has already sidelined him for about four weeks now.

    He was therefore left out of next weekend’s World Cup qualifier at home against Kenya.

    He told MTNFootball.com he is disgusted not to have received even a phone call from Keshi or any official from the Nigeria Football Federation since he rejoined his Russian club Spartak Moscow.

    “I must be honest with you, I have not been treated well by the coach and the NFF because they ignored me so soon, so fast,” he lamented.

    “Nobody from the NFF and the coach had called to ask me about my injury. I am bitter about this. It is unfair and I can tell you that is why some players don’t come to give their best for the national team.”

    “When a player gets injured on national duty, I think the country’s football authority and coach ought to keep in touch to let him know he is loved and cared for.

    “I am not a use-and-dump player. I will not act as one at all because my club career is very much important to me than anything.”

    He added: “Look at a player like (Victor) Anichebe (Everton striker was injured while on national team duty last year), no one cared about him and you think he will come to national team to give his best.

    “I am not worried about that but I just need to tell them it’s unfair. It is not everything that is money, but a call just to show you care could change someone’s problem at a particular time.”

    Emenike told MTNFootball.com that this is in sharp contrast to his Russian club Spartak Moscow, who has done everything to get him back playing again.

    “I must give kudos to my club for taking good care of me even though I didn’t get the injury while playing for them,” he said.

    “I can’t wait to return to my best form. I feel like playing and banging in the goals for my club right now.

    “I am happy with my rehabilitation and I will start joggling soon and I believe I will respond well because I have missed the game so much.”

  • NFF faults Keshi’s list

    NFF faults Keshi’s list

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) may again be heading on a collision course with the Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi with the latest snag steering from the list of invited players for this month’s World Cup qualifiers.

    Austin Elumelu a member of the NFF Technical committee told Lagos Radio station Brila FM on Monday that the Big Boss did not adhere to due process in inviting players for the crunch battle with the Harambee Stars.

    “It’s a total aberration from the normal procedure, our committee (NFF Technical sub-committee) is not just advisory but it is also a committee that sets down the rules and procedures of by which coaches should invite players,” Elumelu told Brila FM.

    He continued: “For every player, we have got the profile and by the time we go through your profile and see that for now when we are facing serious business we need tested players. A man plays 40 matches and as an attacker he scored only two, it leaves much to be desired,” he NFF chief remarked.

    The complaint from the NFF might not be unconnected with the maiden invitation handed to the duo of John Ogu and Babatunde Michael at the expense of some ‘big’ names.

  • Eagles target world’s top 10 spot – Maigari

    Eagles target world’s top 10 spot – Maigari

    The President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Aminu Maigari, has said the Super Eagles will aim to be in the FIFA top 10 this year.

    Nigeria is currently ranked 30th in the world after the Super Eagles won a third African Nations Cup crown in South Africa last month.

    Nigeria’s best FIFA ranking was fifth in April 1994.

    “Like you know we have secured a friendly with the CONCACAF champions Mexico. It is part of our drive to ensure that we finish the year among the best 10 footballing nations in the world,” Maigari told MTNFootball.com.

    “We are in talks with the other soccer powers in the world and we hope to utilise every FIFA free window.”

    The Eagles will on May 31 in Houston, Texas, take on Mexico in a friendly preparatory to the FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil.

    In the meantime, the Nigerian government has thrown its weight behind Maigari ahead of his Confederation of African Football Zone 2 executive committee elections holding this weekend in Morocco.

    Maigari is up against his Benin and Niger Republic counterpart for the position vacated by Nigeria’s Amos Adamu.

    “I have been meeting with Aminu Maigari on the CAF elections. We know the importance of having a Nigerian on the executive committee of CAF and as such the Federal government is giving him all the backing he needs to win this election,” the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi, told MTNFootball.com.

     

  • NFF to resolve Mba case on Wednesday

    NFF to resolve Mba case on Wednesday

    The committee empanelled by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to resolve the controversy over the ownership of Super Eagles’ Cup of Nations star Sunday Mba will meet in Abuja on Wednesday.

    Controversy has been raging among several clubs over the ownership of the nimble-footed marksman who scored the winner against the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in the quarter finals and the only goal in the final match against Burkina Faso’s Etalons at the 29th Africa Cup of Nations that ended in South Africa last month.

    Already, the committee has invited officials of two-time CAF Champions League winners Enyimba FC of Aba, Enugu Rangers, Dolphin FC of Port Harcourt and Warri Wolves, alongside the player himself.

    “The committee will sit on Wednesday and we will look at all papers presented by all parties, and be guided by the rules, without fear of favour. We will look thoroughly into the matter with the highest sense of responsibility and take just decision, in order for the player to continue his club and national team career with peace of mind and comfort,” said Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, NFF’s Director of Competitions.