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Tag: NFF

  • 2022 WAFCON: Buhari, NFF President hail Super Falcons

    2022 WAFCON: Buhari, NFF President hail Super Falcons

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Nigeria’s Female Football team, the Super Falcons, for qualifying for the Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 after their emphatic quarter-final victory at the ongoing 2022 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Super Falcons, the record nine-time title holder and defending champions of WAFCON, triumphed 1-0 over Cameroon on Thursday night.

    President Buhari lauded the spirited performance of the team in the tournament and for maintaining its dominant posture as undisputed champions of the round-leather game and the most successful international women’s football team on the continent.

    “Having won the tournament twice in 2016 and 2018, under this administration, the President assures the girls and their handlers that the whole nation is strongly standing with them and will continue to cheer them on until the final whistle in Morocco.

    “He prays that the Super Falcons, who have produced some of the greatest African players in the history of the women’s game, will surpass their achievement in the last Women’s World Cup in 2019, where they advanced to the Round of 16, for the first time in 15 years.

    “President Buhari also looks forward to the next generation of upcoming stars, who through hard work, discipline, resilience and determination, will one day win the World Cup for Nigeria,” a statement released by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President, Media & Publicity reads.

    Super Falcons showed strength of character – Pinnick

    Amaju Pinnick, President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), on Thursday lauded Super Falcons players for their qualification for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

    The Falcons defeated Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon 1-0 on Thursday in the quarter-finals of the ongoing Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.

    The win helped them to set up a semi-finals clash with the hosts.

    “I congratulate the girls for a strong performance against another strong team,” Pinnick said.

    “They showed that truly, Nigeria is the powerhouse of African women football. They held firm to victory even in the face of pressure towards the end.

    “Their strength and perseverance was highly commendable. They have done very well to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.

    “Now, we can aim for a retention of the trophy.”

    Nigeria, the nine-time champions of the WAFCON tournament, are aiming for the 10th title in Morocco.

  • Sports Minister Sunday Dare hosts victorious Golden Eaglets

    Sports and Youth Development Minister, Honourable Sunday Dare has heaped plaudits on the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for making merit and competence its watchwords in selection of coaches for the age-grade National Teams, as agreed with the Ministry, and which has started to bear fruits with excellent performances at U20 and U17 levels of recent.

     Dare made this pronouncement on Tuesday while hosting players and officials of the U17 Boys, Golden Eaglets to a reception following their victory at the WAFU B U17 Championship in Cape Coast, Ghana.

     “I want to give credit to the NFF for implementing the cardinal principles that we agreed at meetings on youth football development. Now, we can see that the emphasis on merit and competence has started to bear fruits. The U17 and U20 girls have qualified for their FIFA World Cup competitions with aplomb and the U17 and U20 boys have won regional tournaments in emphatic manner, with promises of what we can look forward to at their African championships next year.

     “Our hard focus on grassroots development in all sports will continue. I congratulate the players and their coaches of the Golden Eaglets for winning so convincingly in Ghana and I want to charge you to remain focused for the continental championship in order to get the ticket to the World Cup. For you players, you must stay humble, hardworking and obedient to your coaches.”

     On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Ismaila Abubakar warned the players against allowing distractions from all manner of agents and player-managers, and rather be dedicated to impr oving their craft with temperance, endurance and a level head.

     NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi introduced each player and team official for special handshake with the Honourable Minister, stating that Head Coach Nduka Ugbade was the captain of the first Nigeria team to win the FIFA Cadet World Cup, and was also assistant coach to Manu Garba when Nigeria triumphed in the United Arab Emirates in 2013. “He is also a global consultant on football science.”

     Ugbade hailed the event as “a special occasion” and said the team is encouraged to do its utmost to continue to bring honour to the nation, first by putting up a stellar outing at the U20 AFCON in Algeria and then going on to hold its own at the FIFA World Cup finals in Peru.

     Also at the occasion were President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee, Engineer Habu Ahmed Gumel; Director of Federations and Elite Athletes Department, Dr Simon Ebhojiaye; NFF’s Director of Communications, Mr Ademola Olajire; Director of Facilities in the Ministry, Mr Olatunji Okedairo and; special assistants to the Honourable Minister, Ms Mary Onyali and Messrs Toyin Ibitoye and Kola Adeyanju.

  • AFCON 2022: NFF Owing Super Eagles Match Bonuses, Allowances

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), is yet to settle the bonuses and allowances of Super Eagles players who featured at the 2021 AFCON held in Cameroon four  months after it ended.

    Recall that Nigeria played four matches at the Cameroon 2021 Africa football showpiece winning three and losing 0-1 to Tunisia in the second round of the tournament.

    However, some players have come out to say that their match bonuses and camp alliances for the tournament have not been paid

    The players who spoke on condition of anonymity, said they have contacted the secretariat of the NFF through the team secretary, Dayo Enebi who keeps telling them that the NFF has since sent the monies to the central bank whose duty it is, to deposit the money into individual accounts.

    “After the loss to Tunisia in Garoua, the team secretary collected our account details and assured that our match bonuses and allowances will be paid directly into our accounts.

    That has always been the practice so it wasn’t strange to any of us. It is five months since AFCON and we are yet to get any alert. We have made frantic efforts to know where our money is and all they keep telling us is that the money will be paid soon.

    “We don’t know when that will be and our patience is waning. That is because, we are beginning to suspect foul play since most of our colleagues have received their full entitlements,” one of the players told NSM Media

    “We have decided at this point to petition the honorable minister of youth and sports Sunday Dare on this matter because it is now obvious that someone is sitting on our money”, another player added.

    All four players have been invited for post AFCON matches involving the Super Eagles and have vowed not to stop honoring National team invitations while stressing too, that they will not rest until their outstanding match bonuses and allowances are paid.

    The qualifiers for the next AFCON has begun with the the Super Eagles defeating Sierra Leone by 2-1 and Sao Tome by 10-0.

    Despite the wins  Super Eagles  dropped  in the latest FIFA ranking but will regroup again for the double header 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON qualifiers against Guinea Bissau in September.

  • Police confirm release of Sani Toro, 2 others

    The Police Command in Bauchi State has confirmed the release of the former Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Sani Toro, Garba Yila, former Assistant Coach of the Super Eagles, and Alhaji Isa Jah by their abductors.

    The Spokesman of the Command SP Ahmed Wakil, who confirmed their release to journalists in Bauchi on Tuesday, said no details yet on how they were released.

    A close associate of Toro, Mr. Aliyu Gumau said that all of them were released this morning around 5 am.

    “They were returned to Abuja to rest and have some medical examination but they are in good health, we appreciate Allah for that.

    “They have since been reunited with their families in Bauchi,” he said

    The trio were abducted on Saturday while coming back from a wedding in Abuja around Akwanga in Nasarawa State.

  • Nigeria versus Sierra Leone match to be played behind closed door

    The Nigeria Football Federation has reiterated that Thursday’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying encounter between the Super Eagles and the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja will be played without fans in the stands.

     NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi said in Abuja on Tuesday that the situation is a consequence of the one-match ban placed on the country by world football –governing body, FIFA over the fracas that followed the end of 2022 FIFA World Cup playoff round against the Black Stars of Ghana in March.  

     “We want to appeal to our very passionate football fans to take heart for this one game. It is only a one-match ban, after which they can again start trooping out to support the Super Eagles. The match against Sierra Leone will be without fans as a consequence of what happened after the match against the Ghanaians.

     “Nonetheless, we want to urge all our football fans, and indeed all Nigerians, to support the team whichever way they can and pray for success against the Sierra Leoneans on Thursday.”

     The Super Eagles take on the Leone Stars at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja in a Day 1 game of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations starting from 5pm on Thursday, 9th June. Four days later, they tackle ‘The Falcons and True Parrots’of São Tomé and Príncipe at the 45,000 –capacity Grand Stade de Agadir in southern Morocco.

     While CAF has appointed Ivorian officials to take charge of the encounter in Abuja, Liberian officials led by referee Hassen Corneh will oversee the match in Agadir on Monday.

  • Meet Peseiro, new Super Eagles’ Head Coach

    Meet Peseiro, new Super Eagles’ Head Coach

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday formally announced the appointment of Jose Peseiro as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles, the country’s senior national men’s football team.

    Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, in a statement, said Peseiro’s appointment is with immediate effect and subject to the signing of agreed terms between him and the Federation.

    The NFF also announced that former Nigeria international forward, Finidi George, will be the First Assistant to Peseiro, with former Super Eagles midfielder Salisu Yusuf the Second Assistant.

    “Yusuf will also be the Head Coach of the Nigerian team to the Championship of African Nations (CHAN), as well as the Under-23 National Teams.

    “Usman Abdallah is the Third Assistant while Eboboritse Uwejamomere will be the Match Analyst.

    ”Another former Nigeria international, Ike Shorounmu, will be the Goalkeepers’ Trainer,” Olajire stated.

    He also disclosed that José Vitor dos Santos Peseiro, who turned 62 last month, is a Portuguese who played as a striker in his days.

    “He has wide and varied experience coaching clubs and national teams across four different continents, namely Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

    “An educationist with a degree in Physical Education/Sports Sciences, Peseiro has top-level coaching qualifications/training.

    ”He has coached at Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Panathinaikos, Rapid Bucharest, Sporting Braga, Victoria Gumaraes, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, Al-Ahly Cairo, Sharjah FC and Real Madrid as an assistant.

    ”The Portuguese also served as Head Coach of the Saudi Arabian and Venezuelan National Teams,” the NFF spokesman said.

    Peseiro is expected to lead out the Super Eagles for the first time during the upcoming tour of the U.S.

    During the tour, the three-time African champions will slug it out with Mexico and Ecuador ‘A’ Teams in prestige friendlies.

    The Eagles will face the El Tri at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, State of Texas on May 28 before heading to New Jersey to take on Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on June 2.

  • NFF appoints José Peseiro as Head Coach of Super Eagles

    NFF appoints José Peseiro as Head Coach of Super Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation on Sunday announced the appointment of Mr Joeé Santos Peseiro as the new Head Coach of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles. The appointment is with immediate effect, subject to the signing of agreed terms between the NFF and Mr Peseiro.

    José Vitor dos Santos Peseiro, 62 last month, is a Portuguese who played as a striker in his days and has wide and varied experience coaching top Clubs and National Teams across four different continents, namely Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. An educationist with a degree in physical education/sports sciences, Peseiro has top-level coaching qualifications/training, and has coached at Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Panathinaikos, Rapid Bucharest, Sporting Braga, Victoria Gumaraes, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, Al-Ahly Cairo, Sharjah FC and Real Madrid (assistant coach during the Galacticos era), as well as serving as Head Coach of the Saudi Arabian and Venezuelan National Teams.

    Peseiro is expected to lead out the Super Eagles for the first time during the upcoming tour of the United States of America, during which the three –time African champions will slug it out with Mexico and Ecuador ‘A’ Teams in prestige friendlies. The Eagles will tango with the El Tri at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, State of Texas on Saturday, 28th May before flying to New Jersey to confront Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, 2nd June.

    The NFF also announced that former Nigeria international forward, Finidi George will now be 1st Assistant to Peseiro, with Salisu Yusuf now to be 2nd Assistant as well as Head Coach of the CHAN and U23 National Teams. Usman Abdallah is 3rd Assistant while Eboboritse Uwejamomere will be the Match Analyst and another former Nigeria international, Ike Shorounmu will be the Goalkeepers’ Trainer.

  • Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr wins case against NFF

    Former Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr wins case against NFF

    Former Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has won his case against Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over termination of his contract. .

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) would pay a huge sum of $1,045,000 USD (about N 433,873,550.00) to German coach Gernot Rohr following his sacking as the Super Eagles gaffer, FIFA ruled on Monday.

     

    It was gathered that FIFA, had already ruled on the case with claims that the NFF had no ‘justifiable reason’ to have terminated the contract of the former Bayern Munich defender.

    As at December 2001 when he was fired, Rohr had a subsisting contract till the end of the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup in December and was reportedly last paid his $55,000 monthly salary in May 2021 which means the NFF is owning him 19 months’ salary arrears aside other allowances including match bonuses amongst others.

    Though NFF claimed early this year that Rohr had been paid his accumulated wages in Naira based on the dictates of the fresh two-year contract he hitherto signed in 2020, our correspondent gathered that FIFA has mandated NFF that they must now pay all moneys due to the former Bordeaux player and coach in USD since he’s no longer domicile in Nigeria.

    Gernot Rohr is a German professional football manager and former player who was most recently the manager of the Nigerian national team.
    Born: 28 June 1953 (age 68 years), Mannheim, Germany
  • Former Serie A manager joins race for Super Eagles job

    Former Serie A manager joins race for Super Eagles job

    Former Sampdoria and Cagliari manager, Walter Zenga has reportedly joined the race to become Nigeria’s national team coach.

    Recall the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF had earlier said it would appoint a new coach for the country’s senior men’s national team following the exit of interim coach Austin Eguavoen in March after his team’s failure to qualify for the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

    Several top managers have been linked with the Super Eagles including former Sporting Lisbon coach Jose Peseiro, ex-Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde, former PSG and France coach Laurent Blanc and former PSV Eindhoven manager Phillip Cocu, all named as possible candidates for the vacant Eagles head coach position.

    According to Tutto Napoli, Italian legend Zenga is believed to have joined the list after being contacted by the country’s football governing body.

    “Walter Zenga can return to coaching. The former Inter goalkeeper is ready to get back in the game after his last experience at Cagliari in 2020,” the website wrote.

    “His coaching career could start again from Africa. There is a national team waiting for him. Walter Zenga is among the candidates to be able to take over the reins of the Nigerian national team. He could therefore train Osimhen.”

  • NFF, NWFL knocked over late Sunshine Queens goalkeeper’s burial

    NFF, NWFL knocked over late Sunshine Queens goalkeeper’s burial

    Mr Tunde Ogunja, a member of the Ondo State Football Agency (ODSFA) Management Committee, has criticised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) for not sending representatives to the burial of ex-International goalkeeper, late Elizabeth Johnson.

    This is contained in a statement made available to newsmen on Sunday in Akure by the Media Officer of Sunshine Queens Football Club, Femi Atolagbe.

    According to the statement, the remains of the late Sunshine Queens’ Goalkeeper, Elizabeth Johnson (Janded), was buried at her residence in Ilorin, Kwara State, on Saturday.

    Ogunja, who frowned at the absence of representative the NFF and the NWFL at the burial of the former national team player, said she deserved national recognition.

    “Elizabeth Johnson Black had served Nigeria at both Super Falcons and Falconets levels, she deserved national recognition. It’s undeserving not to have the representatives of the two bodies here today,” he said.

    According to the statement, players and officials of the team, led by Mr Tunde Ogunja, were on ground to pay their last respects to the ex-international who died on Feb. 19.

    Ogunja, who led the group delegated by the Ondo State Government to the ceremony, urged the family to take solace in the fact that God giveth and taketh.

    “Our Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, his Deputy who is the Chairman Management Committee of the Club, Hon. lucky Aiyedatiwa, and the entire Ondo State people sympathised with the family,” he said.

    Responding on behalf the family, Princess Pat Osim thanked the Ondo State government and management of Sunshine Queens for living up to their words not to abandon the family of the deceased.

    “We thank you very much, our sister did not die she only went to rest, we pray God to grant you safe journey home, may God protect all her team mates,” Osim said.

    The funeral conductors, Pastors Joseph Omolaye and Akintunde Akintoye, from Living Faith Church, in Ilorin, admonished friends and family at the ceremony to live an impactful live like Elizabeth Johnson did.

    “Let people say good things about you as we are hearing from people about the deceased, It’s not how long you spent on earth but how you impact the life of people around you, she has finished her purpose in life, let us do good,” he said.

    Also, the husband of the deceased, Mr Otos Black, said: “death where is thy sting, you took my better half, my sister, my friend and companion, we will meet at the bosom of our lord where death will part us no more.”

    An ex-international player, Amarachi Kayode-Emmanuel, who plied her trade in Azerbaijan alongside Janded, said the goalkeeper was a woman everyone would love to associate with.

    Elizabeth Johnson was born in Kogi State, started her football career with Oladimeji Tigress in Kwara State, she joined Delta Queens in 2004 before moving to Baku, Azerbaijan, in 2007.

    She returned to Nigeria in 2010 and played for Bayelsa Queens for four years, she left the Yenegoa side for Sunshine Queens in 2014 where she plied her trade till she breathed her last.

    Johnson had over 70 caps for Nigeria National team, Super Falcons and Falconets, featuring in the 2004 World Championship in Canada, Africa Cup of Nations/Olympic Games.

    She won the Azerbaijani league, African Womens Nations Championships and Federation Cup with Sunshine Queens in 2015.

    She is survived by her Delta-born husband, mother, brothers and sisters.

    ODSFA Management present at the burial ceremony also include the Administrative Secretary of ODSFA, Mr Ijeh Bekewei; Director of Finance and Administration of the Agency (DFA), Mr Banji Kuroloja, Chief Internal Auditor, Mr Ajibade Eledumo.

    Also present was the Sunshine Queens Team Manager, Mr Kehinde Odogun, and others.