TheNewsGuru

Tag: NFF

  • Qualifier: CAF picks dates for Super Eagles final matches

    Qualifier: CAF picks dates for Super Eagles final matches

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says CAF has picked Nov. 14 and 18 for Nigeria’s final 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Republic of Benin and Rwanda.

    This is contained in a statement on Tuesday by NFF. According to NFF,  Match-day 5 clash with Benin Republic at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Nov. 14 will kick off at 8 p.m., Nigeria time.

    CAF has appointed Issa Sy from Senegal as the referee, his compatriots Djibril Camara, Nouha Bangoura and El Hadji Amadou Sy will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official, respectively.

    Rene Williams Sere from Cote d’ Voire will be the commissioner while Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be referee assessor.

    The Matchday 6 encounter with Rwanda will take place at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo on Nov. 18.

    CAF has also appointed Moroccan match officials for the game, with Samir Guezzaz as the referee for the encounter, which kicks off at 5 p.m.

    His compatriots Zakaria Brinsi, Abdessamad Abertoune and Kech Chaf Mustapha will serve as assistant referee 1, assistant referee 2 and fourth official, respectively.

    Prosper Harrison Addo from Ghana will be the commissioner while Somalian Ali Mohamed Ahmed will be the referee assessor.

    The match will be the last on the race from Group D for slots at the 35th Africa Cup of Nations finals to be held in Morocco. The competition kicks off in December 2025 until January 2026.

  • ICYMI: NFF denies Libya players were maltreated in Nigeria

    ICYMI: NFF denies Libya players were maltreated in Nigeria

    Captain of Libya senior men national football team, Faisal Al-Badri had accused the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of poor treatment on arrival in Nigeria in the first leg of their 2025 AFCON qualifier last Friday in Uyo.

    However, the NFF insisted the Libyan Football Federation (LFF) created chaos for its own team, the Mediterranean Knights and that the poor treatment the Libyan players suffered in Nigeria was not the doing of the NFF.

    NFF’s Assistant Director (Protocol), Mr. Emmanuel Ayanbunmi said the Libya Federation only informed the NFF that its team was landing in Port Harcourt, and not Uyo, only three hours to the team’s arrival on Tuesday.

    “I spoke to the General Secretary of LFF, at length, on Monday, 7th October and he never hinted that his team would be arriving on Tuesday (the following day). He only said he would get back to me but he never did. On Monday evening, someone sent as an advance party by the LFF called me and said his team would be arriving on Tuesday by noon. We made all arrangements to receive the team in Uyo on arrival.

    “It was only an hour after the team was airborne that he told me the delegation would be landing in Port Harcourt. That disrupted so many things, but we still raced on hurdles to get approval from federal authorities to allow their plane to fly them to Uyo once they concluded immigration formalities in Port Harcourt.

    “Apparently, that would have meant additional cost to the LFF from the charter company, and they didn’t want that, so they preferred to travel from Port Harcourt to Uyo by road.”

    Ayanbunmi added that the Libyan delegation jettisoned road transportation arrangements made for them by the NFF and instead hired buses on their own.

    “If they travelled on buses that were not air-conditioned, that had nothing to do with the NFF as they hired their own buses. We provided security for them, with men and vehicles in front and behind their buses, so we are unmoved about their complaints and threats”.

    TNG reports the Super Eagles of Nigeria, along with the coaching crew and NFF officials are currently stranded in Libya and are set to abandon the second leg of the fixture.

  • Nigeria vs Libya: Gunmen kill SuperSport crew members – NFF

    Nigeria vs Libya: Gunmen kill SuperSport crew members – NFF

    Gunmen have killed crew members of broadcast outlet SuperSports in Anambra. A police officer was also gunned down.

    They were travelling to cover the Super Eagles 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers against Libya.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said Saturday that the victims were “killed by kidnappers in an ambush on the Ihiala-Orlu Road in Anambra State, on Tuesday, 8th October 2024” and is commiserating with the families of the slain persons.

    “Information gathered on the incident revealed that the bandits opened fire on the bus in which the SuperSport operatives were travelling, with Staff and security personnel on board, and the attack immediately resulted in the deaths of a cameraman, a police officer, and the bus driver,” the NFF said on Saturday.

    “Yes, we won the match against Libya and took three points, but the fact that three lives were lost created a situation in which we were unable to celebrate properly, and it hurts seriously to even think back at the unfortunate incident,” Ibrahim Gusau said.

    He recalled Nigeria’s “long and fruitful relationship with SuperSport” and said the football body shares in “their pain and sorrow at this period.

    “Our prayer is that the Almighty will comfort the SuperSport family and the families of the deceased, and also grant the deceased eternal rest,” he said while praying for the safe return of one person “still unaccounted for so”.

    Fourteen persons were said to have been in the vehicle at the time of the ambush.

    “Eight persons were eventually rescued, two escaped on their own, three were killed and one person is still unaccounted for,” the NFF’s statement read.

  • BREAKING: NFF appoints interim coach for Super Falcons

    BREAKING: NFF appoints interim coach for Super Falcons

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved the appointment of Justin Madugu as the interim Head Coach of the Super Falcons, the Nigerian senior women national team.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the NFF gave the approval on Thursday, according to the recommendation made by the Technical and Development Sub-Committee of the NFF.

    The appointment of Madugu as the interim Head Coach of the Super Falcons, pending the appointment of a substantive Head Coach, follows the departure of Mr. Randy Waldrum.

    The Super Falcons’ next big engagement is the Women Africa Cup of Nations finals, taking place in Morocco in the summer of next year.

  • BREAKING: NFF announces new Super Eagles coach as Labbadia’s deal collapses

    BREAKING: NFF announces new Super Eagles coach as Labbadia’s deal collapses

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the appointment of Bruno Labbadia as the new Head Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles has collapsed.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports NFF to have said Technical Director of the NFF, Austin Eguavoen will now take charge of the Super Eagles.

    Eguavoen is expected to take charge of the Super Eagles for the upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic (Uyo, 7th September) and Rwanda (Kigali, 10th September).

    It will be Eguavoen’s fourth stint in charge of the three-time African champions, after earlier experience in 2005-2007, 2010 and 2022.

    NFF explained that stringent regulations of German tax authorities have conspired to abort the agreement between the NFF and Labbadia for the latter to mount the saddle as Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior men team.

    “We have been on the tax issue for the past three days, and I told him clearly that there was no way the NFF will agree to offset the concomitant tax percentage on his salary that will be demanded by German tax authorities.

    “It is not possible for us to shoulder the responsibility of shelling out another money, between 32% to 40% of his salary, after paying the agreed monthly wage. The NFF and Mr. Labbadia reached an agreement in principle before we made the announcement that he would become the Head Coach of the Super Eagles.

    “The tax details were never part of our discussions, and he had personally agreed to all terms before the tax issue came up. We were doing our best to be flexible in the discussions but he was adamant that the NFF had to pay the full tax amount as well. We simply cannot do that,” President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said on Friday evening.

  • BREAKING: Real reasons Bruno Labbadia rejected Super Eagles job

    BREAKING: Real reasons Bruno Labbadia rejected Super Eagles job

    German Bruno Labbadia, appointed as the 37th Head Coach of Nigeria’s senior male football team has rejected the offer to coach the Super Eagles.

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) announced reaching an agreement with the German tactician to coach the Super Eagles on Tuesday.

    However, sources say the NFF announced Labbadia as new Super Eagles coach without agreeing on terms and conditions.

    According to reports emanating from Germany, the 58-year-old has now rejected the chance to manage the three-time African champions.

    It was gathered that Labbadia and the NFF had reached an agreement on the key financial details, but organizational questions were still open.

    Also, NFF’s rush to announce the appointment of Labbadia is said to constitute parts of the reasons Labbadia cancelled on Friday, in addition to the details that still need to be clarified.

    The appointment ultimately failed due to organizational issues that could not be resolved in the short time available for the contract talks.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said Labbadia’s deal collapsed as a result of stringent regulations of German tax authorities.

    ALSO READ || BREAKING: NFF announces new Super Eagles coach as Labbadia’s deal collapses

    Labbadia was initially expected to take charge of the Super Eagles for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixtures against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

    The Technical Director of the NFF, Austin Eguavoen, could now take charge of the team for both games.

  • Morocco 2025: Super Eagles squad to battle Benin, Rwanda released [SEE FULL LIST]

    Morocco 2025: Super Eagles squad to battle Benin, Rwanda released [SEE FULL LIST]

    Captain William Ekong and forwards Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi are back in the Super Eagles’ nest, for next month’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda.

    This year’s AFCON’s Man-of-the-Competition, Ekong, was discountenanced for the Matchdays 3 and 4 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying race in June as he was recovering from injury.

    While Olaoluwa Aina, Taiwo Awoniyi and reigning African Player of the Year Osimhen were out injured altogether.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Tuesday, said a total of 23 players have been selected to execute the qualifying matches.

    “There are three goalkeepers, including AFCON 2023 star, Stanley Nwabali, seven defenders, six midfielders and seven forwards. Bendel Insurance safe hands Amas Obasogie also returns.

    “Also are South Africa-based defender Olisa Ndah, and Awoniyi, who has not been called since the 1-1 draw with Lesotho in Uyo on Matchday 1 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign in November 2023,” he said.

    THE FULL LIST OF 23 INVITED PLAYERS

    Goalkeepers: Stanley Nwabali (Chippa United, South Africa); Maduka Okoye (Udinese FC, Italy); Amas Obasogie (Bendel Insurance FC)

    Defenders: William Ekong (Al-Kholood FC, Saudi Arabia); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce SK, Turkey); Olisa Ndah (Orlando Pirates, South Africa); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England)

    Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi (New England Revolution, USA); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Lazio FC. Italy); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England)

    Forwards: Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Kelechi Iheanacho (Sevilla FC, Spain); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England).

    The Super Eagles go up against the Cheetahs of Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo on September 7. The team will then fly to Kigali to take on the Amavubi at the Amahoro Stadium on September 10. Olajire said that all the players are expected to report in Uyo on September 2.

  • BREAKING: Super Eagles get new Head Coach, Bruno Labbadia

    BREAKING: Super Eagles get new Head Coach, Bruno Labbadia

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reached an agreement with German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, to become the Head Coach of Nigeria’s Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles. Labbadia will become the 37th Head Coach of the Nigerian Super Eagles.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, quoted NFF General Secretary, Mohammed Sanusi, as saying in the early hours of Tuesday that Labbadia’s appointment was with immediate effect.

    “The NFF Executive Committee has approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to appoint Bruno Labbadia as the Head Coach of the Super Eagles. The appointment is with immediate effect,” Sanusi said.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports 58-year-old Labbadia was born in Darmstadt, Germany on February 8, 1966. He won two caps for Die Mannschaft in his playing career that took him through clubs such as home-town team Darmstadt 98, Hamburger SV, and FC Kaiserslautern. Others include; Bayern Munich, FC Cologne, Werder Bremen, Armenia Bielefeld and Karlsruher SC. He triumphed in the German Bundesliga with Bayern Munich as a player in 1994.

    Labbadia has coached famous names Hertha Berlin and VfB Stuttgart this decade, and previously, VfL Wolfsburg, Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen, among others, and holds a UEFA Pro License.

    He is only the sixth German, after Karl-Heinz Marotzke (who had two stints between 1970 and 1974), Gottlieb Göller (1981), Manfred Höner (1988-1989), Berti Vogts (2007-2008) and Gernot Rohr (2016-2021) to lead the Super Eagles.  Höner led the Eagles to runner-up position at the 1988 Africa Cup of Nations, while Rohr qualified and led Nigeria to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

    Labbadia’s immediate challenge is to take charge of the three-time African champions for two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic (September 7 in Uyo) and Rwanda (September 10 in Kigali). Four other matches would conclude the qualifying race following in the months of October and November.

    Bruno Labbadia managerial career:

    • Darmstadt 98: 2003-2006
    • Greuther Fürth: 2007-2008
    • Bayer Leverkusen: 2008-2009
    • Hamburger SV: 2009-2010
    • VfB Stuttgart: 2010-2013
    • Hamburger SV: 2015-2016
    • VfL Wolfsburg: 2018-2019
    • Hertha BSC: 2020-2021
    • VfB Stuttgart: 2022-2023

    SEE FULL LIST OF SUPER EAGLES’ COACHES IN HISTORY

    • John Finch (England) – 1949
    • Daniel Anyiam (Nigeria) – 1954-1956; 1964-1965
    • Les Courtier (England) – 1956-1960
    • Moshe Beit Halevi (Israel) – 1960-1961
    • George Vardar (Hungary) – 1961-1963
    • Joey Blackwell (England) – 1963 – 1964
    • József Ember (Hungary) – 1965-1968
    • Sabino Barinaga (Spain) – 1968-1969
    • Peter ‘Eto’ Amaechina (Nigeria) – 1969-1970
    • Karl-Heinz Marotzke (Germany) – 1970-1971; 1974
    • Jorge Penna (Brazil) – 1972-1973
    • Jelisavčić ‘Father Tiko’ Tihomir (Yugoslavia) – 1974-1978
    • Otto Glória (Brazil) – 1979-1982
    • Gottlieb Göller (Germany) – 1981
    • Adegboye Onigbinde (Nigeria) – 1983-1984; 2002
    • Chris Udemezue (Nigeria) – 1984-1986
    • Patrick Ekeji (Nigeria) – 1985
    • Paul Hamilton (Nigeria) – 1987; 1989
    • Manfred Höner (Germany) – 1988-1989
    • Clemens Westerhof (Netherlands) – 1989-1994
    • Amodu Shaibu (Nigeria) – 1994-1995;1996-1997; 2001-2002; 2008-2010
    • Johannes Bonfrere (Netherlands) – 1995-1996; 1999-2001
    • Philippe Troussier (France) – 1997
    • Monday Sinclair (Nigeria) – 1997-1998
    • Bora Milutinović (Yugoslavia) – 1998
    • Thijs Libregts (Netherlands) – 1999
    • Christian Chukwu (Nigeria) – 2002-2005
    • Augustine Eguavoen (Nigeria) – 2005-2007; 2010; 2022
    • Berti Vogts (Germany) – 2007-2008
    • Lars Lagerbäck (Sweden) – 2010
    • Samson Siasia (Nigeria) – 2010-2011; 2016
    • Stephen Keshi (Nigeria) – 2011-2014; 2015
    • Sunday Oliseh (Nigeria) – 2015-2016
    • Gernot Rohr (Germany) – 2016-2021
    • José Peseiro (Portugal) – 2022-2024
    • Finidi George (Nigeria) – 2024
    • Bruno Labbadia (Germany) – 2024-?
  • NFF mourns Christian Obi, commiserates with Imo State government

    NFF mourns Christian Obi, commiserates with Imo State government

    The Nigeria Football Federation has described as “shocking and very sad,” the death on Friday of former Nigeria international goalkeeper Christian Obi, in a ghastly automobile accident involving players and officials of his club, Heartland FC of Owerri in Okigwe, Imo State.

    NFF President, Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said: “We are still stunned and saddened by the report. Our hearts go out to the immediate family of Coach Christian Obi, his friends and relations, the Imo State Football Association and the Imo State Government, owners of Heartland Football Club.

    “While we await further reports on the accident, we commiserate with the Imo State Government on this unfortunate situation, and pray that Almighty God will grant the late Christian Obi eternal rest, and also pray that the injured regain good health speedily.”

    Reports said Heartland FC players and officials were on their way to a pre-season tournament named after another Nigeria ex-international, in Abakaliki, before their bus ran into a stationary vehicle while trying to avoid an oncoming vehicle in Okigwe.

    Christian Obi was a member of the Nigeria U20 team that won the bronze medals at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship (now FIFA U20 World Cup) in then Soviet Union, defeating the host nation on penalty shootout in the third-place match after scoreless regulation and extra time in Moscow.

    Though Obi was second-choice goalkeeper, he was thrown into action in the third-place match following injury to first-choice Aloysius Agu in the 0-2 defeat to Brazil in the semi finals in Leningrad, and Obi’s heroics in saving three of the Soviet Union team’s penalty kicks handed Nigeria a 3-1 win in the shootout and first-ever podium finish in FIFA’s second most important tournament.

    Christian Obi was also part of Nigeria’s squad to the Men’s Football Tournament of the 1988 Olympics in Seoul.

  • See Swedish man NFF may likely appoint as Super Eagles coach

    See Swedish man NFF may likely appoint as Super Eagles coach

    Swedish coach Janne Andersson is set to be named the new head coach of the Super Eagles, according to SCORENigeria. The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is expected to make the announcement this week.

     

    Andersson, 61, will take over the role two months after Finidi George resigned. This will be his first coaching role in Africa.

     

    From 2016 to 2023, Andersson managed the Swedish national team, leading them to their first FIFA World Cup in 12 years in 2018. He achieved this by defeating the Netherlands and Italy in the qualifiers.

     

    Under his leadership, Sweden had its best World Cup performance since 1994, topping Group F ahead of South Korea, Mexico, and then reigning champions Germany. They were eventually knocked out in the quarter-finals by England.

     

    Next month, the Super Eagles are set to play against Benin Republic and Rwanda in a 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.