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Tag: NFF

  • 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.”

  • CAF Cups: Gusau charges Nigerian representatives to grab group stage tickets

    CAF Cups: Gusau charges Nigerian representatives to grab group stage tickets

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has challenged Rivers United, Plateau United and Kwara United to ensure progress into the group stages of the CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup respectively, following battling performances against North African opponents in Nigeria on Sunday.

    All three clubs came from behind to win their matches, with Confederation Cup contenders Kwara United trouncing Cup holders RS Berkane of Morocco 3-1 at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Lagos. Plateau United and Rivers United, in the CAF Champions League, edged Esperance of Tunisia and Cup holders Wydad Casablanca of Morocco 2-1 in Abuja and Port Harcourt respectively.

    “Our teams have done well in the first leg matches, but I want them to go all out in the return games because North African playgrounds are usually difficult ones for most teams. They showed the Nigerian spirit in an excellent way to come from behind and win their matches at home, but they will need to show this spirit in an even more pronounced manner in the second leg matches.

    “The NFF is backing all three teams to reach the lucrative group stages of their competitions,” said Gusau who, in company with Plateau State Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Lalong and Youth and Sports Minister, Hon. Sunday Dare watched Plateau United come from a goal down to defeat the Blood and Gold at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. Both teams meet in Tunis next week.

    Kwara United were a goal down to Cup holders RS Berkane after only seven minutes in Lagos, but they flowed with strong current in the second period at the arena formerly known as Onikan waterfront.

    Rivers United also played manfully against one of the most experienced campaigners in African club football and got a narrow win that could stand for something when both teams clash again at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca next week.

  • Sports Ministry secures Ibadan camp for Olympic Eagles

    Sports Ministry secures Ibadan camp for Olympic Eagles

    The Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has secured a camping base for the U23 men national team, otherwise known as Olympic Eagles, ahead of the team’s Africa U23 Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against their Tanzanian counterparts this month.

    Camping and prosecution of qualifying campaigns and tournaments of the U23 men and women teams for the Olympic Games and the African Games fall within the ambit of the Youth and Sports Development Ministry, but President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Friday commended the Ministry for securing the camp as it will aid the preparation of the Olympic Eagles for their qualifying campaign.

    Tanzania will host the first leg of the fixture in the weekend of 21st – 23rd October, with the return leg due in Nigeria on Saturday, 29th October. The NFF has already scheduled the return leg for the Lekan Salami Stadium, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

    Head Coach Salisu Yusuf has invited 32 players who will resume camping in the Oyo State capital this weekend.

    Nigeria won the Africa U23 Cup of Nations in Senegal in 2015, and then went ahead to win the bronze medal at the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in Brazil the following year. However, the class of 2019 failed to reach the knockout rounds in Egypt and thus could not earn a slot at the Olympics in Tokyo last year.

    Nigeria won gold at the Olympic Men’s Football Tournament in Atlanta, USA in 1996 and followed up with silver in Beijing, China 12 years later.

  • Int’l Friendly: Super Eagles to face Costa Rica in November

    Int’l Friendly: Super Eagles to face Costa Rica in November

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria will face the La Tricolor of  Costa Rica, in an international friendly scheduled to hold in November.

    The friendly match with Costa Rica was confirmed by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on their official Twitter handle on Thursday.

    According to the tweet by the NFF, the game between the two countries will hold at the Estadio Nacional in San Jose on November 10.

    “A date in San Jose for the @NGSuperEagles on 10.11.2022. #SoarSuperEagles,” the tweet reads.

    Both sides have only met once at the senior level and it was also another friendly game in 2011 where the La Tricolor, as they are fondly called, emerged 1-0 winners.

    Jose Peseiro’s boys also have a date with C.Ronaldo’s Portugal  in November  in another International friendly game.

    This will be the first time  the Super Eagles will face A Seleção of Portugal at the senior level.

    The three-time African champions were initially scheduled to play Guinea Bissau in a double-header Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in the FIFA international break.

    But with the qualifiers postponed until March 2023 by the Confederation of African Football last month, the NFF is busy arranging grade A friendlies for the Super Eagles.

    Nigeria recently faced Algeria in an international friendly game in Oran which they lost 2-1.

     

  • Gusau promises inclusive administration, focus on teams’ welfare

    Gusau promises inclusive administration, focus on teams’ welfare

    The new President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has given his pledge to run an inclusive administration, in which all stakeholders will be welcome to make suggestions and recommendations on the best way to deal with knotty and not-so-knotty issues.

    “Administration at every level, that of football inclusive, requires the wisdom to be able to listen to everyone who has an idea and then pick the very best to deal with each situation at hand. Those of us in the Executive Committee are only privileged to be representing the entire fraternity.

    “We will run an inclusive administration in which ideas and advice will be welcome from all quarters, and will be guided in our resolutions. It is very important to resuscitate the League and engender a massive football economy from which every stakeholder can benefit and also be happy to contribute to its growth.”

    A former Chairman of the Zamfara State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Musa Gusau served as a Member of the organizing committee for the African Nations Championship, and is today a Member of the CAF organizing committee for youth competitions, viz U17, U20 and U23. He is also a Safety and Security Officer of the Confederation of African Football.

    Having served two terms as Chairman of Chairmen and Member of the NFF Executive Committee under the Amaju Melvin Pinnick administration, Gusau says he is determined to focus hard on the welfare of players and officials of the various National Teams, in order to ginger and motivate them for podium appearances at international competitions to the glory of the country.

    “It is important to prioritize grassroots football and youth development, and that we will take to heart. It is also important to win trophies, and both can go side-by-side. Winning trophies is good for our country’s image in the international sphere and also helps to motivate the upcoming stars at the grassroots level.”

    The new NFF Executive Committee will hold its first meeting in Abuja in a few days.

  • 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”.
  • DRAMA AT NFF POLLS: vote – buying allegation trails new president, Gusau

    DRAMA AT NFF POLLS: vote – buying allegation trails new president, Gusau

    Friday’s election that produced Ibrahim Gusau as the new NFF President has been trailed by controversy by a fellow candidate, Idah Peterside who alleged that vote – buying took place.

    Ibrahim Gusau emerged as the 35th President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following the election held on Friday in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    He was elected at the body’s 78th Elective Congress held at the Edo Heritage Hotel, replacing long-term incumbent Amaju Pinnick.

    At the end of the first session of voting, Gusau had 21 votes, which was enough to defeat the outgoing NFF VP Seyi Akinwunmi, who came in second with 12 votes. The second runner-up Shehu Dikko, the other outgoing NFF VP, garnered six votes, while Abba Yola and Idah Peterside both had one vote each.

    When it was obvious that a clear winner did not emerge as a result of FIFA rule which states that the winner must score up to 51% of the total votes cast, a re-run was needed for a winner to emerge.

    Delegates at the venue were stunned when outgoing vice presidents Akinwunmi and Dikko stepped down from the re-run race, but former Nigeria, Enyimba and Moroka Swallows keeper Peterside opted to contest the second phase of the poll.

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    Ibrahim Musa Gusau elected new NFF president

    Peterside, who got one vote in the first round, still ended up with the same number of vote with Gusau polling 39 votes to win the exercise.

    There was a total of 41 votes after the re-run, with 40 valid votes and one vote registered as invalid.

    In his reaction, Peterside alleged that some aspirants stormed the venue of the poll with bags of dollars to buy votes.

    “We did not sleep till 3am (Friday morning) because we were trying to convince people. Some told us they were offered $15,000; $10,000. What gain do I have to lie about this?

    “A young man told me that he had $5,000 shared into six places to offer zones who would vote.”

    Peterside labelled the election venue a “crime scene”, and called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to intervene.

    “The EFCC should come here (Benin City) and search rooms of this hotel. This is a crime scene. I have integrity to spend and love for the game. Hoodlums will continue to run our football. How can it improve?

    “I will make noise to the roof; how do we hold people responsible for all these issues?”

    The 58-year-old Gusau, a civil servant with the Zamfara Ministry of Finance, now takes charge of an organisation that has faced a lot of criticism recently due to the poor domestic league, financial problems and corruption accusations.

    Enyimba Chairman, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agu emerged as the NFF 1st Vice President, replacing Seyi Akinwunmi with 23 votes, beating Senator Obinna Ogba who got eight votes.

    Gusau, the current Zamfara FA chairman, was an executive member of the NFF board under former president Pinnick.

    Pinnick enjoyed the backing of FIFA amid corruption allegations that he denied prior to becoming the first person to win a second consecutive term as NFF boss.

    The immediate past NFF boss has said he will now shift his focus to his roles at the Confederation to African football and global body FIFA.

    A member of the all-powerful FIFA Council, Pinnick’s attempt at a third term in office was rejected by a support base led by Gusau, prompting the 51-year-old to drop the idea of staying in power beyond 2022.

  • 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.

  • NFF holds 78th Annual General Assembly, Elective Congress today

    NFF holds 78th Annual General Assembly, Elective Congress today

    The 2022 Elective Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will hold today in Benin City, Edo State amid tight security, despite threats by a stakeholder group to cause chaos.

    It would be recalled that two weeks ago, a group under the name Nigeria Football Stakeholders had warned that many lives will be lost if the NFF went ahead with the elective congress.

    The group in a letter dated 7th August, 2022 and addressed to the minister of youth and sports development Sunday Dare, accused the outgoing NFF president Amaju Pinnick, of corruption and highhandedness.

    “Embezzlement and fraud committed by the Amaju Pinnick led board with various cases pending at the ICPC and EFCC…blatant refusal to adjust the statute to accommodate all intending stakeholders to come to the board,” the letter read in part.

    It went on to demand a suspension of the Elective Congress until such a time all reforms are carried out, warning that refusal to meet this demand will be met with very serious consequences.

    “We will not hesitate to bomb and bring down the venue of the elections and blood will flow. Your agreement to the cancellation will save many lives,” the group threatened.

    Another group referred to as the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) also filed a Suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja over unequal representation and voting rights, and the presiding Judge, Justice Inyang Ekwo ordered that the elections be put on hold and that parties should maintain the status quo until further proceedings o October 31.

    However, a court of appeal sitting in Abuja on Thursday vacated the order restraining the conduct of the election and the NFF confirmed via a press release that its 78th Annual General Assembly and elections of a new Executive Committee to steer the affairs of the nation’s supreme football ruling body for the next four years, would take place today Friday.

    Among the 10 persons jostling to become the 44th NFF president are the current vice presidents, Seyi Akinwunmi (1st VP) and Shehu Dikko (2nd VP), as well as former Executive Committee Member and Chairman of Chairmen, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and former Executive Committee Member, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande.

    Contesting for seats on the Executive Committee from the South-East are Emeka Inyama (Abia State); Chikelue Iloenyosi (Anambra State); Karibe Pascal Ojigwe (Abia State); Jude Benjamin Obikwelu (Anambra State) and; Emmanuel Ochiagha (Imo State).

    For North-central are Mohammed Alkali (Nasarawa State); Margaret Icheen (Benue State); Idris Abdullahi Musa (Kwara State); Daniel Amokachi (Benue State) and Benedict Akwuegbu (Plateau State).

    Current board member Aisha Falode tops the list of candidates from the South-south region, with Kenneth Nwaomucha (Delta State); Gregory Abang (Cross River State); Roland Abu Omomoh (Edo State); Poubeni Ogun (Bayelsa State); Jarret Tenebe (Edo State) and Essien Udofot (Akwa Ibom State) also vying for seats from that zone.

    Another current board member, Ganiyu Majekodunmi, leads the list of contestants for seats from the South-west, with Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Ondo State); Ayodeji Ogunjobi (Osun State); Olawale Gafar Liameed (Lagos State); Afolabi Taiwo Olugbenga (Osun State); Ayodeji Adegbenro (Ondo State) and Pelumi Jacob Olajengbesi (Osun State) is also in the race.

    Vying for the North-east seat are current board member Babagana Kalli (Borno State); Sajo Mohammed (Adamawa State), and Timothy Henman Magaji (Taraba State), while current board member Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Kano State) is the only candidate from the North-west.