TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ibrahim Musa Gusau

  • Nigeria, Morocco move to strengthen football ties with partnership agreements

    Nigeria, Morocco move to strengthen football ties with partnership agreements

    Efforts to make more robust the cordial relationship between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Morocco in the game of football has commenced apace with a positive and purposeful meeting in Abuja between the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and the Ambassador of Morocco to Nigeria, His Excellency Moha Ou Ali Tagma.

    Gusau, in company with NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu and Board Members Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen and Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa, informed His Excellency Tagma that the visit was both in appreciation of the co-operation that the NFF and Nigeria Football teams have received from the embassy in the past and in recognition of the great role that Morocco is playing in African football at the moment.

    “We have just come in as new Board of the NFF, and having served on the previous Board and fully aware of the co-operation that Your Excellency and Mission Staff have afforded the NFF and Nigeria Football over the years, and the need to foster stronger ties with Morocco, we have decided to come and explore the possibility of excellent partnership agreements that could benefit both countries in the long run.

    “The accomplishments of Morocco in the area of infrastructure and organizational capacity cannot be over-emphasized. Anyone fully involved in African Football will appreciate the role that Morocco is playing at the present. As we speak, our Bayelsa Queens are playing in the CAF Women Champions League ongoing in Morocco. Our Super Falcons played in the Women AFCON there a few months ago and the Super Eagles played an AFCON qualifier there in June.”

    “The FA President, Mr. Fouzi Lekjaa is a friend and brother, and very passionate about the African game. The NFF will seek ties with Morocco that will ultimately benefit Nigeria Football in the area of development.”

    His Excellency Tagma congratulated Gusau and the new NFF Board, while underscoring the existing excellent relationship between the two countries, particularly in football. “Nigeria has a strong pedigree in football in Africa and the world. Names like (Jay Jay) Okocha ring bells everywhere. They have placed Nigeria’s name on a high pedestal globally.

    “It is a pity Nigeria did not qualify for Qatar 2022, but you are up there among the strongest and most revered. We are inviting you to visit Morocco to talk to the Football Federation on how our two countries can have an even stronger relationship.

    “Someone once told me that only two things can draw a crowd of 100,000 and above: religion and football.”

    Also present at the occasion were Mr. E. C. Kadiri (NFF’s Director of Finance and Administration); Mr. Ademola Olajire (Director of Media and Communications); Mr. Barnabas Joro (Head of Protocol) and; Mr. Emmanuel Ayanbunmi (Chief Protocol Officer).

  • Super Eagles Supporters Club Congratulates new NFF President

    Super Eagles Supporters Club Congratulates new NFF President

    Coinciding with the occasion of the Independent Day Celebration of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the Chairman of the Super Eagles Supporters Club, Prince Vincent Okumagba has congratulated the newly elected  Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF)president Ibrahim Musa Gusau.
    Speaking moments after results from the NFF Election 2022 filtered in from Benin-City, Edo State capital on Friday night, the FIFA recognized number one football fan in Nigeria saluted the courage of all the contestants and felicitated with the winners on the night.
    “We are so thrilled by the outcome of the elective congress of the NFF from where men and women of timber and caliber have emerged as President, Vice President, Chairman of chairmen and Board Members to lead the Federation to the promise land, a journey which started from the Amaju Pinnick era”.
    “We couldn’t be more delighted at the emergence of President Ibrahim Musa Gusau as the man to pilot the affairs of our football house, a man who has taken his leadership qualities from the state to national and to international level, and a man who has openly identified with the Super Eagles Supporters Club brand as die hard fans of Nigerian football.
    “There just wouldn’t be a better opportunity for us to declare our unalloyed support for the incoming administration with a further reassurance of an increased zeal in playing our own part as a reliable ally and partner in taking Nigerian football to the Zenith of world football”.
  • Meet the new NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau

    Meet the new NFF President, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau

    Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau was on Friday elected the new President of Nigeria Football Federation, he succeeded

    Amaju Melvin Pinnick who served two terms of eight years.

    Gusau was elected at NFF’s 78th Elective Congress, which was held in Benin, Edo State.

    He polled 21 votes to beat his closest challenger, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who got 12 votes.

    Gusau replaces Amaju Melvin Pinnick, who was the former President of the NFF for eight years.

    Here are some of the things you need to know about the new NFF president who is expected to lead the football federation for the next four years.

    The 58 –year old Gusau is a qualified accountant and a Safety and Security Officer for the Confederation of African Football.

    Gusau was a former minister for Agriculture and Industries.

    He contested the primaries of the gubernatorial seat of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983 but lost to the incumbent Garba Nadama.

    Gusau is a member of the Sokoto Sultanate council with the title of Sarkin Malamai and was a member of the 1977 and 1995 Constitutional Assembly.

    He was the National Chairman of the United Nigeria Congress (UNC) which merged with the United Nigeria Party (UNP) and Solidarity Group of Nigeria (SGN) to form the United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during the Sani Abacha transition program.

    Until Friday afternoon, debonair Gusau was Chairman of Chairmen of Nigeria Football, and also Chairman of the Zamfara State Football Association. He defeated Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi, who until Friday afternoon was the NFF’s 1st Vice President, by polling 21 votes to Akinwunmi’s 12 in the first round.

  • NFF election: Amaju Pinnick stirs reactions with WhatsApp message

    NFF election: Amaju Pinnick stirs reactions with WhatsApp message

    Immediate past president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick has been accused to have acted unethically and illegally in Friday’s election that produced Ibrahim Musa Gusau as the new NFF President.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that this is coming after a message Pinnick allegedly sent to the WhatsApp group of FA presidents in Africa found its way into the public glare.

    In the message allegedly shared by Pinnick shortly after the emergence of Gusau as the new NFF President, the outgoing NFF president stated why he did not run for third term and also boasted he installed his closest ally as the new NFF President.

    The WhatsApp message reads: “My esteemed colleagues, I decided not to run for a third consecutive term for several reasons. Successfully I was able to install one of my closest allies Mr Ibrahim Gusau whom most of you know very well as the new President of the Nigeria Football Federation.

    “He happens to be my staunchest and most loyal supporters. He is humble and a team player. Will send his number shortly and excuse myself from this esteemed Chat Group”.

    While the authenticity of the WhatsApp message has been questioned, Pinnick was yet to deny the message himself.

    Having served two terms of 8 years, Pinnick’s tenure ended today, following the election of Gusau as the new NFF president at the 79th NFF Congress that was held in Benin City, Edo State.

    Among the 10 persons who jostled to succeed Pinnick as Nigeria football’s supremo are current vice presidents, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (1st VP) and Mallam Shehu Dikko (2nd VP), as well as current Executive Committee Member and Chairman of Chairmen, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau and another current Executive Committee Member, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande.

    There was also an immediate past General Secretary, Barr. Musa Amadu, and Head of Safety and Security of the Confederation of African Football, Dr. Christian Emeruwa, who took part in the election.

    Also in the hunt for the exalted post were Chairman of the FCT Football Association, Mallam Adam Mouktar Mohammed; former Nigeria international goalkeeper, Peterside Idah; former Chairman of Kano Pillars FC and respected technocrat, Alhaji Abba Abdullahi Yola and; UK-based David-Buhari Doherty.

    A former NFF 1st Vice President, Mazi Amanze Uchegbulam, pulled out of the race during the week.

    Gusau, a member of the immediate-past Executive Committee of the NFF emerged as the Federation’s new president, after polling a total of 39 votes to beat other contestants in the race which went into a run-off.

    On the first ballot, Gusau scored 21 votes but could not be declared the winner because he did not have 50 per cent of the total votes cast, which would have amounted to 22 votes.

    In this ballot, former NFF First Vice-President Senior Akinwunmi had 12 votes, while ex-national goalkeeper Peterside Idah polled one vote.

    Also, Abba Yola, the Chief of Staff to Youth and Sports Development Minister Sunday Dare, scored one vote while former NFF Second Vice-President Shehu Dikko had six votes.

    Other contestants, such as Chris Emeruwa, Amanze Uchegbulam who had a few days ago indicated his withdrawal, and David Doherty did not score any vote.

    In the second ballot, after a number of withdrawals, Gusau scored 39 votes to emerge winner while Peterside scored one vote.

    Earlier at the Congress, former NFF President had in his farewell speech commended members of his Executive Committee for their “innovative ideas and the support” given to him during his tenure.

    “I cannot thank God enough for His wonderful grace throughout these eight years of my administration as President of NFF. In fact I must say that it has been good, bad and ugly. But in all we thank God for everything.

    “Everything you see today would not have been possible without the input of my executive committee members. They are the engine room of whatever successes we must have recorded in the past eight years. I also want to thank all Nigerian football stakeholders who stood beside us during this administration,” he said.

    However, the election was held under the cloud of a Sept. 15 Federal High Court order which asked for a stay of action on all matters related to electing new Executive Committee members. However, court papers indicating an appeal has been filed against this court order had emerged on Wednesday evening to give an indication that the order has been vacated.

    It is now left to be seen what would follow this development, with reactions expected from the Federal High Court and the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN). PFAN had obtained the court order against the elections.

    It was asking for the status quo to remain until the determination of its suit asking for an expansion of the list of those who constitute the Congress of Nigerian football.

    TNG reports that the NFF elective congress produced the new NFF President and other executives.

  • Ibrahim Musa Gusau elected new NFF president

    Ibrahim Musa Gusau elected new NFF president

    Ibrahim Musa Gusau has been elected as the new president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that Gusau was elected as the new NFF president on Friday to take over from Amaju Pinnick.

    Gusau was elected at the NFF’s 78th Elective Congress which was held in Benin, Edo State.

    Eleven contestants, including former 1st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi, Shehu Dikko, Abba Yola, and former Super Eagles goalie Peterside Idah, amongst others took part in the election.

    Gusau polled 21 votes to beat his closest challenger, Akinwunmi who got 12 votes. However, the 21 votes secured by Gusau were not enough to pull him through as the election entered re-run.

    Akinwunmi and Dikko, however, stepped down from the re-run election except for Idah. Gusau eventually went on to secure 31 votes to win against Idah and finally emerge the new NFF president.

    There were doubts initially as regards the election holding but the Court of Appeal on Thursday granted the NFF a stay of execution to be able to hold the election.

    With the outcome of the election, Gusau will serve for a first term of four years with the option of re-election. The NFF president’s office does not have tenure limitations.