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Tag: Ibrahim Gusau

  • Nigeria vs Costa Rica: Gusau charges Eagles to go for victory

    Nigeria vs Costa Rica: Gusau charges Eagles to go for victory

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has told the Super Eagles to go for victory as the team is set to take on World Cup-bound Costa Rica in a friendly game in San Jose in the early hours of Thursday.

    The President made the call on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning in Nigeria) shortly after the team’s lunch at the Intercontinental Hotel in San Jose, Costa Rica.

    Gusau, who spoke through the leader of delegation and NFF Executive Committee Member, Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi further called on the Super Eagles to be worthy ambassadors of the nation as he vowed that the NFF Executive Committee under his watch will not relent in its quest to reposition Nigeria Football.

    “I am delivering this goodwill message on behalf of the NFF President. Mr. President is wishing the team the best of luck in tomorrow’s game against Costa Rica.

    “It is pertinent for you to note that Nigerians are result-oriented and they want the team to always have a good outing in every match, friendly or competitive.

    “It is a friendly game but at the same time, we want to win.”

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will battle the World Cup-bound Los Ticos at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose as from 8pm local time on Wednesday (3am Thursday in Nigeria).

  • Gusau meets club owners, seeks better-packaged, more fruitful NPFL

    Gusau meets club owners, seeks better-packaged, more fruitful NPFL

    The urgent need to institute a better –packaged, fulfilling and more fruitful Nigeria Professional Football League that will germinate a more beneficial football economy for all stakeholders was the crux of a meeting on Monday which the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau had with owners of clubs in the elite League.

    In attendance were 13 of the club owners, with former Nigeria Football supremo Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima representing Kano Pillars and Nasarawa United boss, Barr. Isaac Danladi on seat as Chairman of the club owners.

    Also at the very important meeting with the NFF President were Elder Paul Bassey (Akwa United FC); Adamu Aliyu Mohammed (Niger Tornadoes FC); Coach Amehi Dickson (Dakkada FC); Promise Nwachukwu (Heartland FC); Ferdinand Emeka (Rangers Int’l FC): Prince Tunde Ogunja (Sunshine Stars); Rt. Hon. Tunde Olaniyan (Shooting Stars FC); Abubakar Abubakar (Gombe United FC); Mr. Dominic Iorfa (Lobi Stars FC); Mr. Jude Anyadufu (Enyimba FC) and Alhaji Abdulsamad Badama (Katsina United FC).

    Representatives of Rivers United, Kwara United, Plateau United and Wikki Tourists were absent with apologies.

    NFF’s Deputy General Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Ikpeme and Ag. Director of Legal, Barr. Okey Obi were part of the deliberations.

    Resolutions:

    1) The Club Owners unanimously congratulated the new NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and Members of his Board and pledged total support to the Board on any steps it will take to ensure that the Nigeria Professional Football League really begins to live up to the name of a professional league in every sense of the word.

    2) The Club Owners collectively maintained that the NPFL has suffered serious problems in the past six years and identified the following areas:

    1. a) Lack of Sponsorship
    2. b) No TV Broadcast
    3. c) Poor Officiating
    4. d) Insufficient Funding
    5. d) Lack of Match Integrity
    6. e) Poor remuneration of match officials and huge indebtedness in this area
    7. f) Matches won on the basis of Highest Bidder
    8. g) Poor Infrastructure
    9. h) Incompetent Administrators
    10. i) No prize money for winners and/or failure to honour same, et cetera

    3) The Club Owners charged the NFF President and his Board to critically look into the aforementioned areas of concern and restructure the Nigeria Professional Football League in line with international best practices.

    4) They called on the NFF President to set up a small committee of football experts to look into the former League Management Committee (LMC) and the current Interim Management Committee (IMC) and come up with a functional governance structure to drive the NPFL for the good and development of football in Nigeria and for the benefit of all major football stakeholders.

    5) The Club Owners appealed to the NFF President to inaugurate the present IMC as appointed by the Federal Government through the Honourable Minister for Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare but with a short tenure.

  • India 2021: Gusau charges Flamingos to clinch quarter-final ticket against Chile

    India 2021: Gusau charges Flamingos to clinch quarter-final ticket against Chile

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau is confident that Nigeria’s U17 Girls, Flamingos will reach the quarter-finals of the ongoing FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in India on Monday.

    The Flamingos are up against South American side, Chile inside the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar as from noon Nigeria time on Monday (4pm in India). Both teams have three points each but Africa’s best team boasts superior goals tally and will qualify if the game ends in a stalemate.

    “Even though we need a draw to qualify, I have told the technical crew and the players to work hard for a win in order to sustain their winning mentality. That element is crucial for a team at this point in the tournament. Winning mentality ensures that you want to go for it no matter the situation or condition.

    “They did well to get the goals against New Zealand but we need these three points as well so that the message can go out to our quarter-finals opponents that we mean serious business.”

    The 4-0 win over New Zealand took the Flamingos to three points and plus three goals advantage, while their 6-0 thumping by group leaders Germany meant the Chileans remained on three points and with minus four goals.

    Head Coach Bankole Olowookere has assured that his girls will not take their feet off the pedal against the South Americans.

    “We are ready for another three points. We had a good win over New Zealand but I’m not happy we lost so many scoring chances. We cannot afford to do that against Chile.

    “We are very focused because nothing has been won yet. It is another game in which we must give our very best and ensure we get a win.”

  • Amaju Pinnick officially hands over NFF to Ibrahim Gusau

    Amaju Pinnick officially hands over NFF to Ibrahim Gusau

    Ibrahim Gusau, the new President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday in Abuja formally took over the reins from the immediate-past President, Amaju Pinnick.

    Gusau had on Sept. 30 in Benin City won the presidential election at the NFF Elective General Assembly.

    Ademola Olajire, the Federation’s Director of Communications, disclosed in a statement that the hand over ceremony took place at the NFF Conference Room at the Sunday Dankaro House.

    Olajire listed as being present at the ceremony NFF Executive Committee members such as Yusuf Ahmed, Aisha Falode, Essien Udofot and Sharif Inuwa.

    Others at the event included NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, Deputy General Secretary Emmanuel Ikpeme, as well as other management staff.

    Olajire stated that Pinnick, while handing over, charged the Federation’s management and other staff to give Gusau and his team maximum support, just as they gave him and his team.

    “I thank you for your loyalty and support in the past eight years, and the encouragement and support of the Executive Committee that I worked with.

    “It was an awesome experience all through and I give God the glory. Football is the winner.

    “I ask for the forgiveness of all those that I might have offended one way or the other, and I crave your support for the new team.

    “The General Secretary is a formidable individual, a great administrator and a good man at heart.

    “He is a man capable of stabilising the new Executive Committee. I have no doubt that alongside other members of management and staff, they will propel Nigerian football to new heights,” Pinnick was quoted as saying.

    Olajire also quoted him as saying that he remained a part of the system and would still be available to offer advice and suggestions whenever such was sought.

    “As a FIFA Council Member, I am technically in charge of 22 countries, including Nigeria.

    “I will always do my best to protect and project the interests of Nigeria at all times.

    “My administration gave its all and raised funds for the programmes of the NFF and the national teams, and built discipline within the national teams.

    “However, I see the new administration surpassing whatever we achieved. The new President is a strategist who is humble, dynamic and innovative.”

    Gusau on his part lauded Pinnick, saying the warm relationship between the old and new guard was a reflection of the wonderful relationship forged among members within eight years.

    “We assure you (Pinnick), that we will always reach out to you for your advice and encouragement whenever the need arises.

    “We wish you the very best in your duties and tasks at FIFA and CAF,” he had said.

  • Excitement, as Amaju Pinnick formally hands over NFF to Ibrahim Musa Gusau

    Excitement, as Amaju Pinnick formally hands over NFF to Ibrahim Musa Gusau

    It was an epic moment at the Nigeria Football Federation office on Tuesday morning as FIFA Council Member and Member of the CAF Executive Committee, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick formally handed over the reins of the NFF to the winner of presidential election at the September 30 Elective General Assembly held in Benin City, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau.

    A convivial atmosphere reigned as Alhaji Gusau, Board Members Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, Ms Aisha Falode, Rt. Hon. Essien Udofot and Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, the General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, Deputy General Secretary, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, other members of Management and NFF Staff gave Pinnick a standing ovation as he walked into the NFF Conference Room at the Sunday Dankaro House.

    Pinnick charged the Management and Staff to give Gusau and the new Board maximum support as they gave him and his team, and reiterated that he remained a part of the system and would still be available to offer advice and suggestions whenever such is sought.

    “I thank you for your loyalty and support in the past eight years, and the encouragement and support of the Board that I worked with. It was an awesome experience all through and I give God the glory. Football is the winner. I ask for the forgiveness of all those that I might have offended one way or the other, and I crave your support for the new team.

    “The General Secretary is a formidable individual, a great administrator and a good man at heart. He is a man capable of stabilizing the new Board. I have no doubt that alongside other members of Management and Staff, they will propel Nigeria Football to new heights.

    “As a FIFA Council Member, I am technically in charge of 22 countries including Nigeria. I will always do my best to protect and project the interests of Nigeria at all times. My administration gave its all and raised funds for the programs of the NFF and the National Teams, and built discipline within the National Teams. However, I see the new administration surpassing whatever we achieved. The new President is a strategist who is humble, dynamic and innovative.”

    In his response, the NFF President lauded the historic occasion, saying the warm relationship between the old and the new guards is a reflection of the wonderful relationship that was forged among the members of the last board within eight years.

    “We assure you, Mr. Pinnick, that we will always reach out to you for your advice and encouragement whenever the need arises. We wish you the very best in your duties and tasks at FIFA and CAF.”