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Tag: FIFA President

  • FIFA President, Infantino, rains encomiums on late Ismaila Mabo

    FIFA President, Infantino, rains encomiums on late Ismaila Mabo

    President of world football-governing body, FIFA Mr. Gianni Infantino has described the former Super Falcons’ Head Coach, Ismaila Mabo who died recently as “one of the best coaches of his generation.”

    In a letter of condolence that he personally signed and addressed to President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on 20th March 2023, Infantino expressed, on behalf of the international football community, FIFA’s deepest sympathy to the NFF, family, friends and loved ones on the passing of the titan.

    “I would like to express my sincerest and heartfelt condolences on the passing of the former women’s national team coach, Mabo Ismaila. Words seem inadequate to express the sadness we feel for this loss. Former international player with regular appearances in the senior national team, he notably defended the colours of Mighty Jets FC in the late 1960s and 1970s.

    “As a coach, Mabo Ismaila led the senior women national team, the Super Falcons, to the quarter finals of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1999, to two Olympic Football Tournaments in 2000 and 2004, as well as to the 1998 and 2000 women’s Africa Cup of Nations titles.

    “Considered as one of the best coaches of his generation, inspiration to younger generations of coaches, having contributed to the growth of women’s football in the country and around the world, his legacy and achievements, and in particular his personality, his loyalty and his human qualities will not be forgotten and he will be truly missed.”

  • FIFA President, Infantino, congratulates Gusau and new NFF Board

    FIFA President, Infantino, congratulates Gusau and new NFF Board

    President of world football-ruling body, FIFA, Mr. Gianni Infantino has sent a message of congratulations to the new President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and members of his new Board, following the Elective General Assembly of the NFF that took place in Benin City last Friday.

    In a letter dated 5th October and personally signed by him, world’s football supremo wrote: “Please accept my warmest greetings and sincere congratulations for your recent election as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    “Your knowledge and leadership, your passion and experience will undoubtedly have an important impact on the development of our beautiful game in Nigeria. Convinced of the potential of football in the country, you can count on my personal support and the help of FIFA to achieve this your goal. The doors of the Home of FIFA are always open if you wish to discuss our sport, its development and the promotion of its values.

    “I also seize the opportunity to convey my felicitations to the Vice-Presidents and the Members of the Executive Committee elected with you and I wish you and your team good luck and success for all the challenges that lie ahead, in creating and witnessing a lasting legacy for the future of football in Nigeria…”

    Gusau, an unassuming but thoroughbred administrator, rose through the ranks in the game, serving as Team Manager of Club 50, Sambo Babes and Zamfara United football clubs in Zamfara State as well as Kassim Stars FC in Sokoto State, before his election to the board of Zamfara State Football Association. He is the current Chairman of Zamfara State Football Association and has served as Chairman of the Zamfara State Sports Commission.

    At the national level, he served two terms as Chairman of Chairmen of Nigeria Football under the administration of Amaju Melvin Pinnick, before his election last Friday as Nigeria Football’s supremo.

    At the continental level, Gusau has served in the organizing committee for the African Nations Championship, is a CAF Safety and Security Officer and is presently a Member of CAF’s organizing committee for youth competitions, viz U17, U20 and U23.

  • Infantino to seek third term as FIFA president

    Infantino to seek third term as FIFA president

    Gianni Infantino will seek a third term as FIFA president next year, he told the congress of the global football governing body in Doha on Thursday.

    “Because we are all united here and the members of FIFA are here, I wanted to tell you first,” he said.

    Infantino, 52, was first elected in 2016 to succeed disgraced former president Joseph Blatter and was re-elected in 2019.

    He was previously head of European confederation UEFA.

  • FIFA President, Gianni Infantino faces criminal charges

    FIFA President, Gianni Infantino faces criminal charges

    The Swiss special federal public prosecutor has opened criminal proceedings against FIFA president Gianni Infantino.

    The proceedings follow an investigation by the prosecutor, Stefan Keller, into complaints regarding meetings between Infantino, Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber and the chief public prosecutor of the Upper Valais, Rinaldo Arnold.

    A statement from the Swiss federal council said Keller has concluded that there are “indications of criminal conduct” in connection with those meetings.

    The statement added: “This concerns abuse of public office (Article 312 of the Swiss Criminal Code), breach of official secrecy (Article 320 of the Swiss Criminal Code), assisting offenders (Article 305 of the Swiss Criminal Code) and incitement to these acts. Additional criminal acts and the commencement of further proceedings remain reserved.”

    It was confirmed in the same statement that Keller is seeking approval from the relevant Swiss parliamentary committees to open criminal proceedings against Lauber.

    The statement concluded: “The presumption of innocence applies to attorney general Michael Lauber, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and chief public prosecutor Rinaldo Arnold.”

    Lauber and Infantino met twice in 2016, the year Infantino was elected FIFA president.

    Infantino was asked about the case at last month’s FIFA Council meeting, and described the formal complaints against him as “absurd”.

    “To meet with the head prosecutor or attorney general of Switzerland is perfectly legitimate and it’s perfectly legal,” he said.

  • Coronavirus: No match, competition is worth risking human life – FIFA President

    Coronavirus: No match, competition is worth risking human life – FIFA President

    The President of Fédération Internationale de Football Association, FIFA, Gianni Infantino has said that it would be more than irresponsible to restart competitions too early amid the coronavirus pandemic, stating that no match is worth risking a life for.

    Infantino, who made this known on Thursday through Royal Spanish Football Federation, RFEF, said that sports have been brought to a halt due to the COVID-19 outbreak which has killed more than 95,500 people globally.

    He said “As our main priority, our principles, the ones we employ in our competitions and also we invite everyone to follow, is that health comes first.

    “I cannot stress this enough. No match, no competition, or any league is worth risking any human life for.

    “It would be more than irresponsible to resume the competitions if the situation is not 100 percent safe.

    ”If we have to wait a bit more, we must do it. It is safer to wait a bit more than taking risks.

    ”Many bodies and leagues all over the world are set to face financial difficulties in the wake of COVID-19, particularly if games are cancelled or played behind closed doors.

    “Thanks to the work we have been doing together in FIFA during the last four years, we find ourselves in a very solid financial situation.

    “It helps us to consolidate a solid base of important reserves, but our reserves are not FIFA’s money, it is the money of football.

    “As football has stopped around the world, we are all facing economic issues in different levels, from the base to professional football.

    ”Given this, we are already collaborating with you to assess the financial impact to prepare the right answer.”

  • BREAKING: Pinnick, FIFA President, Infantino, meet in Russia over crisis in Nigerian football [Photos]

    BREAKING: Pinnick, FIFA President, Infantino, meet in Russia over crisis in Nigerian football [Photos]

    …as FIFA names Pinnick match commissioner

    Sequel to the sack of the Amaju Pinnick led executive of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) by the Minister of Youths and Sports Development, Barr. Solomon Dalung on Monday, the President of the world football governing body (FIFA), Gianni Infantino on Tuesday met with Pinnick in Russia over the crisis.

    The FIFA boss met with Pinnick before the commencement of the ongoing round 16 match between Sweden and Switzerland.

    A copy of the match start list sent exclusively to TheNewsGuru.com also showed that the embattled NFF boss was the match commissioner.

    Recall that the minister on Monday ordered the Amaju Pinnick-led NFF executive committee to give way to that led by Chris Giwa in compliance with a Supreme Court ruling.

    [Photos] Pinnick, FIFA President, Infantino meet in Russia over crisis in Nigerian football

    In a statement signed by the minister’s special adviser on media, Nneka Anibeze, the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports development directed the Nigeria Football Federation, a parastatal under it, to comply with the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on April 27, 2018, which restored the orders of the Federal High Court, setting aside the purported election into the Executive Committee of the NFF held on September 30, 2014.

    It is expected that the meeting between the two football governing body heads will spare Nigeria from the impending ban by FIFA over the minister’s pronouncement of the Chris Giwa led NFF faction as authentic.

     

    Details shortly…

  • In Nigeria football is more than passion, love, religion – FIFA President, Infantino declares

    FIFA President Gianni Infantino has described Nigeria as a country with unquantifiable passion and love for football, and where football is more than a religion.

    “I was told that in Nigeria football is passion, but it is a lie because it is more than that. In Nigeria, I was told that football is love, but it is a lie it is more than that.

    “In Nigeria, I was told that football is a religion, but it is a lie. It is more than that. In Nigeria, football is life,” he said in Lagos on Monday.

    Infantino spoke at the maiden edition of the AITEO-NFF Awards, which was organised by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and bankrolled by oil giants AITEO Group.

    The event was held at the Eko Hotels and Suites saw Chelsea FC winger Victor Moses winning the “Player of the Year” award.

    Speaking also at the event, the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, pledged his administration’s continued support to football and sports in general.

    “We will continue to give our unrelenting support to football and sports in general, I want to assure the President of FIFA that whenever he is coming back, Lagos will be considered to host a FIFA tournament,’’ he said.

    In his address, the Deputy Managing Director of AITEO Group, Francis Peters, said the oil conglomerate was happy to be part of football history in Nigeria in good times.

    NFF president Amaju Pinnick, on his part, said the awards night was to celebrate Nigerian legends for their contributions to the development of football in the country.

    He also said football administration was a journey and not a destination, adding “therefore, there must be a conscious effort to minimise errors for fear of losing the opportunity.

    “In Nigeria, football is a way of life and everybody is a coach. So, we need to be very careful. Football teaches us ethics and how to live a normal life,” Pinnick said.

    Moses got the award and recognition for his stellar performances for the national team, the Super Eagles, en route their qualification for Russia 2018.

    He was an integral part of the side during the historic qualification matches where he played in four of the six matches scoring three goals in the process.

    Moses also helped his Chelsea side reclaim the English Premier League title in the 2016/2017 season where he featured in 40 games.

    The 27-year old also got CAF’s recognition by being among the nominees for CAF’s Player of the Year award eventually won by Egypt’s Mohamed Salah.

    To win the AITEO-NFF award, he beat competition from Leicester City’s Wilfred Ndidi and Lobi Stars’ Anthony Okpotu.

    The other winners at the awards include Rasheedat Ajibade who claimed the “Player of the Year (Women)’’ award and Ikouwon Udoh who emerged “Young Player of the Year (Women)’’.

    Ann Chiejine won the “Coach of the Year (Women)’’ award, while MFM FC’s midfielder Sikiru Olatunbosun took the “Goal of the Year’’ award.

    Remo Stars FC won the Fair Play award, while the “Coach of the Year (Men)’’ award went to Kennedy Boboye, coach of 2017/2018 NPFL champions Plateau United FC of Jos.

    Channels Television won the “Developmental Award”.

    The “All-Time Legendary Awards” went to Chiejine, Christian Chukwu, Uche Okechukwu, Austin Eguavoen, Felix Owolabi, Austin Okocha, Nwankwo Kanu, Segun Odegbami, Adokie Amaesimaka, Mercy Udoh and Thompson Usiyen.

    The Platinum Award went to Infantino.

  • FIFA President, Infantino visits Ambode [PHOTOS]

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday received the President of the Federation of International Football Association, FIFA, Gianni Infantino at the State House, Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.

    The FIFA president was in Lagos for the FIFA executive summit.

    Ambode urged FIFA to consider Lagos as preferred location for football project, saying that the establishment of the project in Lagos would further boost football development in the continent.

    He said Lagos had the potentials to host the project, saying that Nigeria is very strong in youth soccer, and that to further boost it, the global football association should site it project in Lagos.

    “As you decide the location for the next FIFA projects, Lagos stands to welcome all your projects. We have the population, enthusiastic and tourism potentials to receive any of your project.

    ‎
    Speaking, Infantino disclosed that the summit would afford the body the opportunity to discuss and decide new strategies to improve the game especially youth football.

    “We are here to discuss with CAF and NFF few projects that will help improve standard of football in the country. Also at the summit, we will be discussing strategies on how to improve the standard of youth and female football development. I know that Nigeria is a major force in the Africa,” he said.