TheNewsGuru

Tag: NFF

  • Super Eagles coach, Peseiro willing to accept pay cut

    Super Eagles coach, Peseiro willing to accept pay cut

    Super Eagles head coach, Jose Peseiro has shown willigness to accept pay cut to continue as the Super Eagles manager.

    Peseiro currently earns $70,000 per month on his contract which expires in June.

    However, there are speculations that Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) could end his contract at the expiration in June owing to the big salary he earns.

    It was gathered  that the Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF board is struggling to meet up with Peseiro’s huge salary, which was negotiated by the Amaju Pinnick board.

    Initially, it was believed that the Eagles handler’s salary would be paid by the Presidency. But that has not been the case, with the coach being owed six months’ arrears.

    The only other option available to the NFF is that if Peseiro agrees to a pay cut, that will form a benchmark for whoever agrees to take up the job in the future

  • NFF, Civil Defence agree on greater collaboration for security at football matches

    NFF, Civil Defence agree on greater collaboration for security at football matches

    Chieftains of the Nigeria Football Federation and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Wednesday agreed to co-operate and collaborate even more in the interest of safety and security at all football matches within the Nigeria territory.

    Speaking during a courtesy call on the Commandant General of the NSCDC, Dr. Ahmed Abubakar Audi, mni, OFR, President of the NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau heaped plaudits on the officers and men of NSCDC for the great job they have been doing providing safety and security at Nigeria’s football grounds.

    “Let me start by commending you for the immense co-operation that the NFF and the entire Nigeria Football fraternity have been enjoying from the officers and men of NSCDC over the years. We have decided to come here because of the critical nature of our relationship, to underscore the professionalism, diligence and sense of responsibility of your officers and to seek avenues for even greater cooperation and collaboration in the interest of Nigeria Football.

    “We have continued to receive positive reports on your officers and men from venues of football matches in the country. Before I became NFF President, I was Chairman of NFF Security Committee as well as a Member of CAF Security Committee, and we enjoyed the support and professional service of NSCDC officers during our international matches.”

    The NFF President thereafter suggested to Dr. Audi about initiating State Command football teams as football is a veritable unifying factor between and among peoples and nations of the universe.

    Responding, the NSCDC supremo thanked the NFF chieftains for the visit, and said greater cooperation and collaboration between the two organizations are imperative. He described football as a huge unifying force that drastically reduces vices and idleness among the youth, and also serves to provide a sound mind in a healthy body.

    “We welcome the gesture of greater collaboration because we appreciate the power of football. Just recently, we had our Inter-Directorate Sports Competition of which football was the star attraction. Our officers and men will always be available to provide safety and security at venues of football matches across Nigeria.

    “We will explore the suggestion of State Command football teams. Football is a capital-intensive venture but we will see how we can run a test and feel the ground for having football teams.”

    Also at the occasion were topmost officers of the NSCDC, including Deputy Commandant-Generals and Assistant Commandant-Generals. There were as well the NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Director of Competitions, Ruth David; Head of Protocol, Barnabas Joro and; Abubakar Barde, special assistant to the NFF President.

  • NFF to install VAR in regional stadium

    NFF to install VAR in regional stadium

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has concluded arrangements to install Video Assistant Referee (VAR) in regional stadiums in the country as plans are underway to train and retrain referees to achieve the purpose.

    The President of the federation, Malam Ibrahim Gusau, stated this on Saturday in Ilorin at the National Elective Delegates Conference of the Nigeria Referees’ Association (NRA).

    Gusau, represented by an NFF official, Malam Muhammed Ameenu, charged the incoming leadership of the association to come up with  development plans, to forecast, organise and ensure the future of Nigeria Referees are properly nurtured and watered towards the growth of the game.

    While reiterating the unflinching support of the NFF to NRA in their quest to change the face of football in the country, Gusau said installation of VAR is to the growth and development of football.

    Malam Sani Zubair emerged winner after polling 53 votes from the 54 accredited delegates to beat Elder Daniel Olokor to replace Otunba Tade Azeez.

  • Gusau decries report of meeting with referees from northern region

    Gusau decries report of meeting with referees from northern region

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has denied a report going round the social media that he has held a meeting with football referees from the northern part of Nigeria ahead of upcoming elections into the Nigeria Referees Association.

    “This report is most uncharitable because I was nowhere near the meeting that was said to have been held in Kano by the referees. I am the president of Nigeria Football and the father of all, and cannot engage in reductionism. If there has been any interaction at all with referees, it has been with every one of them from across the length and breadth of the country, and with the noble intention of charging them to do their job professionally and to be morally upright in the discharge of their duties.

    “I have no interest whatsoever in who becomes the President of the referees as long as the person is the choice of the majority. I understand that the referees from the northern zone had a similar meeting in Kano before the NRA elections in 2019. It is befuddling that so much ado is being made of their recent meeting.”

  • Members sack Edo FA chairman, asked to hand over to Vice-Chairman

    Members sack Edo FA chairman, asked to hand over to Vice-Chairman

    The Board of Edo State Football Association (FA) on Monday passed a vote of no confidence on its chairman, Roland Abu, for alleged inability to render financial reports, among other issues.

    The board has also gone on, in a letter addressed to the General Secretary on Monday, to notify the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of Abu’s sacking.

    It accused the chairman of autocracy and unilaterally “running the Edo FA as if it’s a personal business”.

    The board cited other irregularities, such as poor handling and poor conduct of football matters, as reasons for Abu’s ouster.

    The letter was signed by the board’s Vice-Chairman, Aghedo Moses, and six other members.

    The board advised Abu to “hand over all Edo State FA property belonging to his office and less indebtedness to the Vice-Chairman, with immediate effect.”

    The letter titled “Vote of no confidence” read:

    “We, Edo State Football Association Board respectfully write to refer and draw your attention to the above-mentioned subject and to inform you of some burning issues in Edo State Football Association.

    “This relates to lack of no confidence in the current Edo FA Chairman Roland Abu due to the following reasons:

    “Taking autocratic decisions without due process, running Edo FA as if it’s his personal enterprise.

    “Since his inception as the Chairman Edo State Football Association three years ago, he has not been able to render financial reports to his Board members even when the Board insisted.

    “Irregularities, poor handling and poor conduct of football competitions are series of uprising petitions, raised by clubs, contestants, and stakeholders as a result of his poor performances, high-handedness in handling football matters in the state.

    “Arising from the above points raised against the current chairman, ….. and for peace to be maintained, the Edo State Football Association Board Members resolved and passed a vote of no confidence on him as Chairman, Edo State FA”.

    All efforts to get Abu’s reaction to the development failed to yield any positive result.

  • NFF orders election into Bauchi FA board

    NFF orders election into Bauchi FA board

    The Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) has ordered the Bauchi Football Association (FA) to conduct credible elections on or before June 14.

    The directive was contained in a letter sent to the FA Secretary in Bauchi State and signed by Mr Ali Abubakar, Head, Special Duties at the NFF.

    It noted that the tenure of the incumbent Bauchi State Football Association Executive Board expires on June 14.

    It mandated the Bauchi FA executive board to maintain the status quo before its present impasse and directed it to chart a roadmap to conduct the election on or before June 14.

    The letter recalled that four board members passed a vote of no confidence on the FA chairman, Mr Patrick Pascal.

    It noted that the vote of no confidence by the four members was not in line with the provisions of FA statutes and those of the NFF and was, therefore, null and void and of no effect.

    The NFF noted also that elections conducted into the 20 local football councils followed due process.

  • AFCON bid: CAF team inspects Nigeria’s stadia facilities

    AFCON bid: CAF team inspects Nigeria’s stadia facilities

    Inspectors appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) are in Nigeria to inspect stadiums and related facilities that Nigeria has put forward in a joint bid with the Benin Republic to host the 35th African Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2025.

    On the cards for evaluation are the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo; Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos; Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City and Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna.

    The team inspected the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abuja on Friday. Saturday saw them at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos while they were at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba and the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin on Sunday.

    The inspectors will also check out the Stade Charles de Gaulle, Porto Novo in Benin Republic as part of their rounds for the joint bid between Nigeria and the Benin Republic. Nigeria hosted the biennial event in 1980 and co-hosted with Ghana 23 years ago.

  • NFF apologizes to Nigerians for U23, Super Eagles’ poor outings

    NFF apologizes to Nigerians for U23, Super Eagles’ poor outings

    The Nigeria Football Federation has apologized to the generality of Nigerians over the poor outings of the U23 Men National Team (Olympic Eagles) and the Senior Men National Team (Super Eagles) in crucial international matches this week.

    The Super Eagles fell 0-1 to Guinea Bissau’s Djurtus in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, two days after the U23 boys failed to beat Guinea in a first leg, final qualifying fixture for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations.

    President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, stated that the Federation was nonplussed by the below-par outings, but would immediately work hard to ensure the teams turn their qualifying games around in a positive way.

    “We tender an unreserved apology to Nigerians for the poor results. We worked and planned hard for good results but things turned out differently on the pitch. Our focus now is on redeeming the situation in the return matches early next week.”

    Gusau expressed confidence the U23 boys will take their chances in Rabat on Tuesday against Guinea to qualify for the U23 AFCON, and that the Super Eagles will win in Bissau on Monday to return to the top of their qualifying group for the 2023 AFCON.

  • NFF fumes after Super Eagles’s loss to Guinea Bissau

    NFF fumes after Super Eagles’s loss to Guinea Bissau

    President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, on Saturday in Abuja read the riot act to national team players in view of dwindling performances in recent times.

    Gusau told Super Eagles players that visible total commitment would now be a key factor, apart from competence and current form, for selection for the national team at any level.

    The senior men’s national team had on Friday in Abuja lost 0-1 to Guinea Bissau in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier.

    The defeat at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium pushed the Eagles down to second place in their qualification group.

    “Let us be very clear about one thing: no player will ever be encouraged against his wish to wear Nigeria’s colours at any time.

    “If an invitation is extended to you at any time but you are not physically, psychologically or mentally up to it, you are free to decline.

    “Nigeria demands good performances and positive results from any of the teams going forward,” the NFF President said.

    He expressed his disappointment at the team’s performance and demanded an immediate reaction.

    ”I was sorely disappointed by your performance against Guinea Bissau and I know that Nigerians at home and in the diaspora are more than disappointed.

    “Things must change, starting with the return match in Guinea Bissau on Monday. Our country is too big to be getting these poor results at international level,” Gusau said.

    He recalled that the under-23 male team, the Olympic Eagles, also failed to score against Guinea in a 2023 Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations qualifier at the same venue on Wednesday.

    “This message is for all the teams, down to the under-15 male side known as Future Eagles.

    “Total commitment which we can see in your body language and output will now be a key factor in who wears Nigeria’s jerseys.

    “If some players are not ready to give their all at a particular time, others will be and will deliver for our country,” the NFF President stated.

    Responding on behalf of his group, team captain Ahmed Musa, apologised to the NFF and Nigerians for the defeat.

    He assured that the players were ready to redeem themselves in the return match on Monday.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria delegation to Monday’s match in Bissau will depart from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja at 7 a.m. on Sunday aboard a chartered flight.

    The match comes up at the Estadio 24 de Setembro from 5 p.m. Guinea Bissau time (6 p.m. Nigeria time) on Monday.

  • NFF’s partners dangle N4 Million for various awards

    NFF’s partners dangle N4 Million for various awards

    The Super Eagles have a lot to look forward to on Friday, apart from the three points that will put daylight between them and any other team in their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying pool.

    Nigerian Breweries PLC, long-standing supporter of Nigeria Football, and who are NFF partners with their two products, Life and Goldberg, are offering three million naira in total.

    There is the sum of one million naira for Man-of-the-Match, and another one million naira for the new Energy-Moment-of-the-Match. Then, there is one million naira for Match Winner.

    Telecommunication behemoth, MTN is offering the sum of one million naira for that player that is selected Most Valuable Player in the clash with Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.

    The Super Eagles will thus be extra motivated for the big game, even as they look forward to climbing to nine points while the Wild Dogs remain on four points in the race.

    Sierra Leone are third on the table with two points while Sao Tome and Principe have only one point.