The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Nigeria Football Federation

  • We are not afraid of Indomitable lions- NFF

    We are not afraid of Indomitable lions- NFF

     

    The Vice President of  Nigeria Football Federation(NFF), Seyi Akinwunmi,

    has stated that the  Indomitable lions of Cameroon

    cannot be a threat to Nigeria’s quest to qualify for the 2018

    FIFA World Cup slated for Russia.
    In a brief chat at the Glass House, Akinwunmi

    said while he watched the Indomitable Lions
    during the Nations Cup in Gabon, they were not

    as good as the Super Eagles players. Akinwunmi
    said further, their victory was as a result of team spirit,

    motivation and luck which gave them the trophy.
    Akinwunmi added that he is in possession of video tapes

    of all the matches played by Gameroon’s team.
    ” I know that Coach, Gernot Rohr has got all the

    match tapes which he confirmed he is
    studying daily in France. We equally know

    the Indomitable lions will like to proof a point by
    making sure they unseat the Super Eagles

    in the lead position. The Federation is not sleeping
    because Nigerians will not forgive the board if we

    don’t qualify for the World Cup having lost
    Nations Cup appearance twice “. Akinwunmi stated.

  • Breaking news: FIFA bans Giwa, others for 5 years

    Breaking news: FIFA bans Giwa, others for 5 years

    The World Governing Football body, FIFA’s  Disciplinary Committee has  insisted on a worldwide  extension of sanctions imposed by the Nigerian Football Federation’s (NFF) Disciplinary Committee on 12 May 2016 against Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adama, Sani Fema and Johnson Effiong for breaches of the NFF Statutes and the FIFA Code of Ethics. The five-year ban on all the officials  will have an immediate  worldwide effect.

    According to FIFA.com, it states that: ‘In accordance with art. 136ff of the FIFA Disciplinary Code, the chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the five-year ban from taking part in any kind of football-related activity imposed on the five officials to have worldwide effect.

    The relevant member association as well as CAF have been duly notified of the chairman’s decision.

    Members of the media with questions relating to the substance of the decision are kindly requested to contact the NFF.’

  • NFF hates Eagles exodus to China

    NFF hates Eagles exodus to China

     

    The Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) has frowned at the exodus of Nigeria young players moving to China in pursuit of greener pastures in football which will not be of help in terms of developing their games.
    Speaking to Sportinglife at the Nff secretariat, the head of NFF Technical Department Bitrus Bewarang, said Ighalo’s move to Changchu Yartai F. C of China was least expected at his age except he was not stating the obvious in terms of his true age.
    He said the former Watford forward is expected to rediscover his striking role at the club or move to another English club rather than moving to China where football has not fully grown.
    ” Personally I didn’t sanction the move but he has his reasons for taking such option . If I am to advise him, I will tell him to sign for championship clubs to get back to his form”, said Bewarang
    The former Plateau Utd Football Club Chairman stated further that the Super Eagles players should seek professional advise from the federation before taking decisions.
    “Football is not all about money . The most important thing is to improve your career. To me Ighalo is still young to move to China but for Mikel Obi, the federation understands his situation and encourage him to move”.

  • Dalung felicitates with Amaju on appointment

    Dalung felicitates with Amaju on appointment

     

    Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung has congratulated the President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Melvin Pinnick on his appointment as member of the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions.

    In a letter sent to Mr Pinnick on January 20, 2017, the Minister said he received the news of the appointment with great joy as it will not only bring honour to Nigeria as a country but position Nigeria to play a greater role in global sports politics.

    “May I personally congratulate you on your appointment and wish you well as you discharge this burden of leadership imposed on you by the Football World Governing body. It is a great responsibility that will go a long way to avail you global experience and relationships too.

    “Please accept my assurances and co-operation always. Once more, congratulations” Dalung stated.

  • AFCON 2017: NFF pained by Nigeria’s absence

    AFCON 2017: NFF pained by Nigeria’s absence

     

    super Eagles.5

    The Vice President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF),Seyi Akinwunmi has revealed that the Glass House is pained that the Super Eagles are not participating at the ongoing   2017 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holding in Gabon.

    However, Akinwunmi was of the opinion that with the present crop of Super Eagles team led by Gernot Rohr, the Nigerian team would have been a force to reckon with.

    Akinwunmi stated in an interview: “You can’t imagine how it hurts. The present African teams cannot stop the Super Eagles we have today. At the same time we have to learn a lesson from it

    and the idea is, we must plan ahead and that is what we are trying to do.”

    Speaking further, he said: “The NFF board is very sad, that we are not participating in AFCON. It’s unfortunate. Presently,we  have g a coach that is doing very well. Generally 2016 was with mixed feelings.

    “The Super Falcons won the Cup from the Africa Women Championship, we didn’t make noise about it. We have been successful with our youth development plans, we hosted a successful Beach Soccer tournament so it is a mixed feeling, but I am sure if have gone to AFCON we would have termed it a successful year.”

    Nigeria won the 2013 edition in South Africa, but failed to defend her title two years later in Equatorial Guinea. The Super Eagles also failed to qualify for the AFCON currently going on in Gabon after losing out in the qualifiers against Egypt.

  • NFF to sanction ‘under-performing’ referees

    NFF to sanction ‘under-performing’ referees

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday in Abuja warned that referees who under-performed in the ongoing league would be severely dealt with in the new season.

    Ahmed Yusuf, the Chairman of NFF Referees’ Committee, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the Federation’s expectation from referees this year was an above-average performance.

    He said the Federation was adopting a “fall-in-or-shape-out’’ approach in dealing with the problem, which appeared to have already started manifesting after just one match day of the league season.

    NAN recalls that the 2016/2017 Nigeria Professional Football League season had got off to a disgraceful start on Saturday, with FC IfeanyiUbah abandoning their Match Day 1 fixture with Kano Pillars.

    FC IfeanyiUbah’s grouse was referee Folusho Ajayi’s act of disallowing what appeared to be an equaliser from a free kick just before the end of the first half.

    Three minutes after the game’s break, the visiting Nnewi club walked out on the game, apparently as a result of an order from a top club official.

    Ajayi has since then been referred to the NFF for further investigation.

    The League Management Company (LMC) said “she failed to meet up with the high standard expected in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and exhibited unsatisfactory game management’’.

    The LMC further recommended that Ajayi be withdrawn from consideration for future NPFL matches, pending a full review of performance.

    “I expect the referees to perform above average this season.

    “Last season, I scored them about 75 per cent, but I am expecting them to perform up to 90 percent this season.

    “We are going to sustain the procedure and any NPFL referee who is found to have under-performed will be demoted to the lower league.

    “If a referee is found wanting, I am assuring Nigerians that he or she would definitely be retired.

    “But we would have to look at their performance first before passing judgment.

    “We have what we call the Performance Review Committee, whose job it is to review the performance of every referee on every match day.

    “The members will do their job and send their report to the larger committee, which I head, before we take the final decision,” he said.

  • Pinnick invited to FIFA’s Best Football Awards ceremony

    Pinnick invited to FIFA’s Best Football Awards ceremony

    The World football governing body, FIFA has invited the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF’s) President, Amaju Pinnick, to The Best FIFA Football Awards 2016 ceremony taking place on Monday in Zurich, Switzerland.

    This is according to a statement by Ademola Olajire, the NFF’s spokesman and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    According to the statement, the invitation letter, dated Nov. 7, 2016, and was signed by FIFA Secretary General, Fatma Samoura.

    The letter reads, “The Best FIFA Football Awards are all about football.

    “They recognise those who truly write the history of the game – the players, coaches and fans. They belong to them.

    “We have taken the sport’s most prestigious individual award in a new, modern direction.

    “We look forward to celebrating with you, The Best of the season in a brand new and exclusive award show.”

    NAN reports that Monday’s ceremony will be the first of its kind since the old –style Ballon d’Or that was organised jointly with France Football collapsed.

    The statement also said that Pinnick would be accompanied to the event by the NFF 2nd Vice- President/LMC Chairman, Malam Shehu Dikko.

  • Federal Government orders NFF account audit

     

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Barrister Solomon Dalung says he is yet to receive a report of an audited account of the Nigeria Football Federation.

    Barrister Dalung had directed the NFF to appoint an independent auditor to look into the books of the federation and also provide minutes of nomination by the Congress of its President,  Mr Amaju Pinnick to vie for a CAF seat during its Congress on Sunday.

    ” I received a communique of the Congress which referred to my action as uninformed. Instead of providing me with the minutes, the Congress went ahead to endorse its president, two weeks after its Secretary General had sent a letter of his nomination to CAF”

    The Minister emphasized that government was yet to nominate anybody to contest for the CAF seat.

    “The Ministry of Youth and Sports wants to make it clear that Nigeria has not endorsed anybody to contest. The Ministry will constitute a committee to screen and recommend to government, a suitable candidate who will represent Nigeria”.

    Barrister Dalung also stated that since the Federation has failed to appoint an independent auditor to audit the accounts of the federation, government has no option than to embark on a full scale investigation of those issues raised at the congress.

    “FIFA’s forensic audit has raised concerns about documentation of the federation’s accounts. 19 grave issues were identified in FIFAs audit report which needs to be looked into. The federal government has already set machinery in motion  to embark on a full scale investigation of those issues.

    “We are committed to getting rid of all obstacles capable of destroying probity, credibility, transparency and accountability in sports administration in Nigeria” the Minister said.

  • Lagos hosts beach soccer African tourney

    Lagos hosts beach soccer African tourney

    The Lagos State Government is to build five new stadia in the different divisions of the state in its quest to promote excellence in sports and market the state through sports tourism.

    The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, made the assertion on Wednesday in Lagos while unveiling Lagos as the Host City, Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations 2016.

    Ayorinde said that the five stadia were already captured in the state’s 2017 budget proposal.

    He said that Lagos as the Centre of Excellence had been number one in sports and entertainment and believed in using sports to sell the mega city.

    Ayorinde said that the government was sponsoring the 2nd Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations, holding from Dec. 13 to Dec. 18 at the Eko Atlantic, because it believed in showcasing not just sports but its tourism potential.

    He noted that two major components had been built into the hosting — sports and tourism, arts and entertainment — to achieve the state’s quest to make Lagos the sports hub in Africa.

    Ayorinde said that the government had partnered with countries that excel in sports and many organisations to promote a culture of sports.

    “As you can see, FC Barcelona Youth Academy had started in Lagos because Barca has an ally in the state.

    “The state government has planned a package for the Yuletide which will commence immediately the competition ended with the first ever Lagos City Carnival.

    “It will also organise the Lagos State fiesta which will hold simultaneously in Badagry, Epe, Ikorodu, Lagos Mainland and Lagos Island divisions, ending on Dec. 31.

    “This year’s events have been well planned to ensure that people relaxed and enjoyed themselves during the Christmas and New year festivities under tight security,’’ he said.

    The Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission, Deji Tinubu, said that Lagos was hosting because it wanted to showcase the excellence of Lagos through sports.

    Tinubu said that the state had created more opportunities and varieties partnering with organisations, noting: “We are trying to create a sports culture where everybody can get into sports.

    “Copa Lagos has been running for six years but we are redefining beach soccer. We want Lagos to be a sports destination’’.

    He said that there would be bus shuttle from different locations for fans wishing to be at the venue to cheer the teams at the six-day event.

    He added that there would be events to showcase Lagos at the opening and closing ceremonies.

    The President, Nigeria Football Federation, AmajuPnnick, thanked Gov. AkinwunmiAmbode for hosting the event, noting that the hosting “will redefine beach soccer in its annals’’.

  • FIFA President to visit Nigeria

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday announced that President of Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA), Gianni Infantino, will visit Nigeria in June.

    A statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by NFF’s Assistant Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire, said that the visit was a fall-out of NFF President, Amaju Pinnick’s recent meeting with Infantino in Mexico.

    The statement said that during the visit, the FIFA president would visit President Muhammadu Buhari and also attend the final of the NFF/ZENITH Bank Future Eagles Championship.

    “He will also have an evening with Corporate Nigeria and as well as have an interactive session with a horde of African FA Presidents who will also be in Nigeria to receive him,’’ it said.

    It added that Infantino believed that Nigeria was a big country and a massive football-playing nation that should help with “the new FIFA leadership’s drive to truly develop the game’’.

    “He is excited about our various capacity–building and youth development programs and that is why he is coming to watch the NFF/ZENITH Bank Championship finals,’’ NFF said.

    Infantino assumed office as head of world’s football governing body after winning election at an extraordinary general congress in Zurich on Feb. 26, 2016. (NAN)