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Tag: NFF

  • 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).

  • NFF: We have no issues with Coach José Peseiro

    NFF: We have no issues with Coach José Peseiro

    The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has decried the speculations, innuendoes, and outright falsehoods over the relationship between NFF and Head Coach of the Super Eagles, Mr. José Santos Peseiro.

    There has been a considerable media frenzy over the past few days regarding Mr. Peseiro and the NFF, with a section of the media speculating that the football –governing body had gone ahead to empanel an interim coaching crew to do the job of Mr. Peseiro in the event of a relationship breakdown.

    “Most of these speculations and innuendoes are simply ridiculous because we have no problem whatsoever with Mr. Peseiro. He is doing his job as Head Coach of the Super Eagles and, contrary to some of the more fictitious claims, he has not reported the NFF to FIFA with regards to his wages.

    “I want to appeal to the media to make efforts to get their facts right before going to press. There is no need to speculate and engage in half-truths and outright falsehood in these matters. Some of these speculations and innuendoes create disharmony and disenchantment in key quarters. The NFF and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development are working on Mr. Peseiro’s wages and these will be settled shortly.”

    Sanusi stated that Peseiro has been doing his work without entertaining any distractions, and has even compiled his list of players for the upcoming international friendly game with Portugal in Lisbon on 17th November.

    “We have a friendly match against Portugal coming up in Lisbon on Thursday, 17th November. Mr. Peseiro has compiled a provisional list and is only waiting for this weekend’s matches to submit his list of 23 players.

    “We have a cordial relationship with the Head Coach. He is doing his job and focused on his objectives. The media should desist from reports and speculations that are aimed at causing discontentment and disenchantment among the Ministry of Sports, NFF, and Mr. Peseiro, as all parties are working in harmony.”

  • My priority is to empower the girl child through sports – Madu replies NFF

    My priority is to empower the girl child through sports – Madu replies NFF

    Ex-Super Falcons player, Maureen Madu has said she wouldn’t want to be distracted by the number of games she played for the Super Falcons, saying her priority is to empower the girl child through sports.

    The ex-Falcon star was reacting to a statement released by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) crediting her with   52 official matches for the national team from 1995 to 2007, when she retired as against the 101 caps peddled in some quarters.

    NFF’S statement was in response to various news sources claiming Madu had about a 101 caps for the country, with fans demanding that she be celebrated like other Super Eagles players who reached 100 caps.

    Reacting to NFF’s statement, Madu told newsmen in Abuja on Monday that: “Google cannot lie and above all I just want to get the issue behind me and move on. I don’t have  more to say.

    “I just want to focus on improving the life of the girl-child through sports and that is what we are doing at Maureen Madu Football Kiddies Camp.’’

    Madu was also a former assistant coach of the senior women’s national team, the Super Falcons.

  • NFF: Mmadu did not play 101 official matches for Nigeria

    NFF: Mmadu did not play 101 official matches for Nigeria

    The Nigeria Football Federation has disclosed that former Super Falcons’ player and one-time assistant coach of the team, Maureen Mmadu did not play up to 101 official matches for Nigeria as is being claimed by the former player and promoted in certain quarters.

    NFF’s Director of Media and Communications, Ademola Olajire, said on Monday that the Federation’s records showed that the former midfielder played 52 matches for the team between 1995 and 2007 when she called it quits with the National Team.

    “Our records show that between 16th February 1991 when they played their first official game (a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Ghana’s Black Queens at the National Stadium, Lagos) and 18th September 2007 (when Mmadu featured in her last match for Nigeria against USA in Shanghai during the 2007 FIFA Women’s World Cup), the Super Falcons played a total of 103 official matches.

    “Maureen Mmadu, who did excellently well for Nigeria while wearing the green-white-green, only started playing for the team during a FIFA Women’s World Cup match against Canada in Helsingborg (which ended 3-3) on 8th June 1995, when she came in for Ann Mukoro. Mmadu won about 52 caps in all, and certainly not 101 as claimed in some quarters.”

    The NFF insisted that it had become necessary to put the facts out in the public space after accusations of gender discrimination against the Federation by some former Super Falcons’ players that the body had honoured players like Joseph Yobo, Vincent Enyeama and Ahmed Musa who won up to 100 caps for Nigeria but discountenanced Madu.

    “Before the NFF honoured Yobo, Enyeama and Musa, we put out the official matches played by each of them. The NFF has never identified, confirmed, celebrated or promoted Maureen Mmadu as having won up to 100 caps for Nigeria. Anyone domiciling such information anywhere is hanging on to unsubstantiable claims.

    “There was no doubt that Madu gave her heart out and worked assiduously hard on the field during her time representing Nigeria. But she did not win up to 101 caps. We challenge those promoting this fallacy to come up with those 101 official matches.

    “For avoidance of doubt, official matches (that qualifies for a cap) are matches played wearing the green-white-green colours of Nigeria against a team wearing the colours of another country, and certified as such by FIFA. Matches against selected teams, clubs or warm-up games do not qualify in this direction.”

  • U17 Women’s World Cup: What Flamingos need to beat Germany – Galadima

    U17 Women’s World Cup: What Flamingos need to beat Germany – Galadima

    Chairman of Kano State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Galadima has said the Flamingos need focus to excel in their third-place match against Germany on Sunday at the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

    Galadima on Friday said that the team have done well though with their accomplishment so far in the competition in India.

    He said their performance was an acknowledgment of the fact that Nigeria’s female national teams at all levels have always been doing well in their competitions.

    “In a match, everything is not all about victory but about what a team has learnt during the match.

    “So, I must say these girls have done well with their performance so far, reaching the semi-finals where Colombia could only beat them through a penalty kicks shootout.

    “Victory is sweet though, but it is not every team that can record victory in any match.

    “Therefore, anything that happens in the third-place match must be acceptable to us because the Flamingos have done well so far in this competition,” Galadima, who is a former chairman of the former Nigeria Football Association (NFA), said.

    He however pointed out that the players should be exposed to international matches, going forward.

    “After the championship, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) should expose the players to a lot of international matches.

    “The senior team is no more doing well like they used to do before and this set of under-17 players are very promising for the future of our senior national team,” the Chairman of Kano Pillars Caretaker Committee said.

    The Flamingos will face Germany in the third-place and bronze medal match on Sunday at the 2022 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.

    The competition which started on Oct. 11 will end on Sunday.

  • India 2022: Gusau to lead support for Flamingos against Colombia on Wednesday

    India 2022: Gusau to lead support for Flamingos against Colombia on Wednesday

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will be at the forefront of the support group when the country’s U17 girls, Flamingos tackle Colombia in the semi-finals of this year’s FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in Goa on Wednesday.

    The NFF boss, who has spoken with the players and officials severally during their earlier games in the tournament, will physically witness the semi-final showdown at the Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Goa. It is the first semi-final, starting at 4pm (12noon Nigeria time) with the second semi-final between Germany and Spain to kick off three-and-half hours later.

    Victory over Colombia – who defeated the only other African team to make the knockout stage, Tanzania 3-0 in the last eight – will shoot the Flamingos into Sunday’s final.

    The Flamingos’ odyssey in India has had an uncanny resemblance to that of the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets in Germany 12 years ago, at least from the quarter-final stage.

    In 2010, in what was the first international tournament for any Nigeria team under the presidency of Alhaji Aminu Maigari, the Falconets had beaten the United States 4-2 in a penalty shootout in a FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup quarter-final after both teams tied 1-1 in regulation time in Augsburg.

    Four days later, a 2nd minute goal by Ebere Orji at the Bielefelder Alm in the city of Bielefeld condemned Colombia to defeat in the semi final, and the Falconets squared up to Germany in the final.

    The Flamingos are the first Nigeria team to be involved in a tournament during the presidency of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau. They have beaten the United States in a penalty shootout after 1-1 draw in a World Cup quarter-final, and now await Colombia in the semi-finals.

    It is also remarkable that Germany, Nigeria’s opponents in the final in Germany 12 years ago, are also in the semi-finals in India. They play Spain in the second semi-final on Wednesday.

  • Beat Tanzania, pocket $20,000 – Task Force boss tells Olympic Eagles

    Beat Tanzania, pocket $20,000 – Task Force boss tells Olympic Eagles

    The Chairman, NFF Task Force on youth competitions, Alh. Aminu Balele Kurfi has pledged the sum of $20,000 for the U23 men national team, Olympic Eagles, if they beat Tanzania in the first leg of their U23 AFCON qualifying fixture in Dar es Salaam on Saturday.

    Alh. Kurfi made the pledge at Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos while speaking with the team Thursday evening shortly before the team’s departure to Tanzania aboard a Kenyan Airways flight.

    The Katsina State-born football administrator charged the Olympic Eagles to make Nigerians proud by ensuring they beat their Tanzanian counterparts on Saturday.

    Kurfi also conveyed the goodwill messages of Youth and Sports Minister, Mr. Sunday Dare and NFF President, Alh. Ibrahim Musa Gusau to the team while assuring them that Nigerians are fully supporting the team to come out victorious.

    Responding, Head Coach Salisu Yusuf thanked the Katsina State FA Chairman for prioritizing the team while assuring that the team will give its best in the showdown with Tanzania.

    Also speaking, team captain Success Makanjuola stated that the players are highly motivated and will go all out to secure victory on Saturday.

  • NFF President, Gusau, to inaugurate NPFL’s IMC on Friday

    NFF President, Gusau, to inaugurate NPFL’s IMC on Friday

    President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will on Friday inaugurate the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) as composed by the Hon. Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Sunday Dare on behalf of the Federal Government.

    In a press statement announcing the composition of the IMC, the Youth and Sports Development Ministry stated that the move was “in line with the 10-year Football Masterplan as approved by President Muhammadu Buhari towards the revitalization of the Domestic League” and that the IMC would be in place to “oversee the affairs of the League until a proper professional League Board is put in place statutorily.”

    The inauguration will take place at the NFF Conference Room inside the NFF Secretariat, Abuja on Friday by 11am.

    Interim Management Committee of NPFL:

    . Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye               – Chairman  

    . Elder Paul Bassey                         – Vice Chairman

    . Prince Davidson Owumi               – Head of Operations

    . Hon. Kunle Soname            – Member

    . Mr. Daniel Amokachi          – Member

    . Mr Calvin Emeka Onwuka  – Member

    . Mallam Aliyu Adamu          – Member

    . Rep. of NFF                        – Member

    . Rep. of Nigeria Police          – Member

    . Barr. Danladi Ibrahim                  – Member

    . Mr. Mohammed Nasiru Sa’idu- Member

    . Barr. Poubeni Ogun            – Member

    . Awalu Baba Jada                         – Member

    . Mr. Olumide Bamiduro                – Secretary 

  • NFF: National teams urged to embrace cost-cutting, make sacrifices for the country

    NFF: National teams urged to embrace cost-cutting, make sacrifices for the country

    All Nigerian national teams from the super Eagles down to the golden Eaglets including the Female teams have been urged to sacrifice more for the country, embrace cost cutting in order to avoid needless embarrassment during international tournament or match.

    The national female national team Flamingos presently representing the country  at the U-17 Worldcup holding in India have been told  to give their best performance in the competition and also advised to give their best off-field. Adding that their off- field perfomance is as good as playing for the country.

    Similarly, the Nigerian U-17 ladies were urged to be great ambassadors of the  great country, Nigeria.

    This was one of the deliberations held at the Inaugural meeting of the newly elected board of the Nigeria football Federation in Abuja on Tuesday 11, 2022.

    Some of the deliberations in the meetings read” In order to stem the tide accumulation of debts, the executive Committee opted to embark on cost cutting measures and frugal management of resources in the best interest of players and officials Management and staff.

    ”Every perceived of waste would be cut as a way of fostering the spirit of prudence, financial disclipline in the secretariat

    ”As a way of staving off needless embarrassment of the nation during international matches and tournaments, the board resolved to in line with the present economic conditions have regular conversations with players and officials of the National teams on the need to make sacrifices now and again when the resources to meet their expectations are not really available”

  • 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.