TheNewsGuru

Tag: NFF

  • Nigeria to face Mexico in Los Angeles July 3

    Nigeria to face Mexico in Los Angeles July 3

    Three-time African champions Nigeria will clash with CONCACAF Gold Cup-holders Mexico in a friendly at Los Angeles on July 3.

    Ademola Olajire, the Director of Communication of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), in a statement on Wednesday said the match would hold at the Memorial Coliseum in the State of California, U.S.

    He added that the match, which would kick off at 7:30 p.m. Los Angeles time, would be the sixth confrontation between the senior teams of both countries.

    “Four of such matches have ended in draws, and the only win in the series has gone to Mexico, when they won a US Gold Cup encounter in Dallas 2-1 on June 24, 1995,” Olajire said.

    Speaking on the international friendly, NFF’s FIFA Match Agent, Jairo Pachon of Eurodata Sport, said: “We are happy to be able to announce this match, which is a clash between two very big teams from two different continents.

    “Mexico against Nigeria is a big match any day and the venue is class.”

    The two teams are expected to announce their squads for the match sometimes in June.

    Mexico will play three other games before the clash with Nigeria, as part of their MexTour series.

  • NFF releases official Super Eagles squad list for Cameroon friendly

    NFF releases official Super Eagles squad list for Cameroon friendly

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has released the list of Super Eagles players that will battle it out in a friendly match against the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Super Eagles are set for a faceoff with the Cameroon national football team in a friendly encounter pegged for 4th of June.

    The 31-man shortlist for the friendly against Cameroon to be played in Australia contains M. Okoye, F. Uzoho, J. Noble and I. Ezenwa as goalkeepers.

    TNG reports the defenders picked for the encounter are W. Ekong, K. Omeruo, C. Awaziem, J. Collins, Z. Sanusi, O. Aina, T. Ebuegi, K. Akpoguma, and S. Ajayi.

    While the midfielders are W. Ndidi, O. Etebo, S. Abdullahi, J. Aribo, A. Marcus, the forwards are A. Musa, M. Simon, and A. Iwobi.

    Other forwards are S. Nwankwo, V. Osimhen, K. Iheanacho, S. Chukwueze, S. Umar, T. Moffi, P. Olayinka, H. Onyekuru, A. Iwuala, and P. Onuachu.

  • FIFA celebrates ex-Super Eagles star who died in tragic car accident days to his wedding

    FIFA celebrates ex-Super Eagles star who died in tragic car accident days to his wedding

    The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) on Sunday remembered former Nigerian Super Eagles star, the late Olubayo Adefemi.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Adefemi died in a tragic car accident on 18 April 2011 while finalising his wedding plans.

    Born on 13 August 1985, Adefemi represented Nigeria at the 2008 Olympic Games, playing all the games and scoring a goal in a semifinal match against Belgium.

    He was a member of the Nigerian Under 20 Team that came second behind a Lionel Messi-led Argentina Team at the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in the Netherlands. Adefemi played 5 out of the six matches Nigeria played, scoring 1 goal during play against Morocco in the semi-final.

    He made his Senior National Team debut against Ireland on 29 May 2009, and played his second senior game against France in a game that Nigeria won.

    Adefemi, who last played for Skoda Xanthi, a Greek professional football club, won Israeli F.A. cup with Hapoel Tel Aviv in 2006.

    On 18 April 2011, he died in a car accident while driving on Egnatia Odos, a motorway in Greece that extends from the western port of Igoumenitsa to the eastern Greek–Turkish border at Kipoi.

    In remembering the Super Eagles star, the international governing body of football, FIFA made a tweet of how Adefemi helped Nigeria to secure silver at the U20 WC and the Olympics.

    “Olubayo Adefemi helped Nigeria win silver at the #U20WC and the @Olympics – they were edged by Lionel Messi and @Argentina in both finals.

    “10 years ago today Adefemi was on his way to finalise his wedding plans when he tragically died in a car accident,” FIFA tweeted.

    Also, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) joined in remembering the fallen Super Eagles star.

    “Till memory fades & life departs, you live forever in our hearts. Rest on Soldier, rest on Olubayo Adefemi (August 13, 1985- April 18, 2011),” the NFF tweeted.

     

  • BREAKING: Super Eagles forward loses mother

    BREAKING: Super Eagles forward loses mother

    Nigerian international and Galatasaray Spor Kulubu player, Henry Onyekuru has lost his mother, Jessy Onyekuru.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Onyekuru made this known on Wednesday, sharing cry and heartbreak emojis with a candlelight on Twitter.

    Meanwhile, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has condoled with the Super Eagles forward, describing the death of his mother as sad.

    “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of @NGSuperEagles forward, @henryconyekuru, following the sad passing of his dear mother. May her soul Rest In Peace,” the NFF tweeted.

    Also, Turkish club Galatasaray have condoled with their play.

    “We have learned with great sadness that our footballer Henry Onyekuru’s precious mother, Jessy Onyekuru, died.

    “We share the pain of Henry Onyekuru and his family, and extend our condolences and patience,” the club tweeted.

  • BREAKING: CAF clears Iwobi to play against Lesotho

    BREAKING: CAF clears Iwobi to play against Lesotho

    The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has cleared Super Eagles star, Alex Iwobi to play against the Crocodiles of Lesotho.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Iwobi can now play in Tuesday’s African Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier game after further tests showed he is negative to Coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

    Officials in Benin Republic had earlier claimed the Everton man’s test returned a positive result.

    That forced him to miss the 8-year jinx breaking fixture against the Squirrels of Benin last Saturday.

    “CAF has cleared Alex Iwobi to play today’s game against Lesotho. The Super Eagles player had earlier tested positive following the COVID-19 tests conducted on the Super Eagles squad on arrival in Porto Novo, Benin Republic.

    “However, Alex Iwobi’s further COVID-19 tests have returned negative. Clina Lancet Laboratories in Victoria Island, Lagos conducted the PCR tests. With this, Alex Iwobi is up selection today,” a statement emanating from the Super Eagles camp reads.

    TNG reports the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has confirmed the development.

  • Iwobi tests negative for COVID-19

    Iwobi tests negative for COVID-19

    The Nigeria Football Federation has revealed that Super Eagles player, Alex Iwobi, has tested negative for COVID-19.

    TheNewsGuru reports that officials of the Super Eagles team questioned Iwobi’s COVID-19 positive test result that forced the Everton FC player to miss Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations qualifier against the Benin Republic last Saturday.

    He was replaced by Galatasaray’s Henry Onyekuru in the game that ended 1-0 in favour of the Eagles.

    The test result also meant that the 24-year-old, who immediately went into isolation, may not feature in the team’s game against Lesotho which will be played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos on Tuesday (today).

    However, the NFF, in a tweet on Tuesday morning, said that further tests carried out on the player returned negative.

    The Federation, however, failed to disclose if the player will feature in today’s game against Lesotho or not.

    “Update: @NGSuperEagles forward, @alexiwobi has tested negative after further COVID-19 tests were conducted,” the tweet read.

  • Infantino’s message to Pinnick after winning Fifa Council seat

    Infantino’s message to Pinnick after winning Fifa Council seat

    Fifa president Gianni Infantino is optimistic NFF president Amaju Pinnick will make a meaningful contribution to the development of football after his election as a member of the Fifa Council.

    Pinnick clinched the highly coveted seat after defeating Malawian FA president Walter Nyamilandu during the 43rd Caf General Assembly in Rabat.

    The 50-year-old, thus, became the third Nigerian administrator to achieve the feat after Oyo Orok Oyo and Amos Adamu.

    Infantino has praised the victory of the NFF boss and looks forward to working with him as he aims to take football across the world to a greater height.

    “I would like herewith to reiterate my warmest congratulations to you for your election as Member of the Fifa Council, at the 43 Caf Ordinary and Elective General Assembly, held on Friday in Rabat,” Infantino said.

    “I have no doubt that your experience, your knowledge, not to mention your passion, your sense of consensus and your personal qualities, will help you to meet future challenges at the service of the world football community.

    “I am convinced that, as Fifa Council Member, you will make an important contribution to Fifa and, most importantly, to the development of our sport, which unites us all.

    “Sending you my best wishes of luck, courage and success for all the challenges that lie ahead, I look forward, dear Pinnick, to working with you already at the next meeting of the Fifa Council, which will be held by videoconference this Friday, 19 March.”

    Goal

  • NFF lists benefit of Pinnick’s election into FIFA Council

    NFF lists benefit of Pinnick’s election into FIFA Council

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Friday that the country stands to benefit so much from the election of its President Amaju Pinnick into the FIFA Council.

    Sanusi Mohammed, NFF’s General Secretary, who said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, noted that the victory was a great political achievement for the country.

    “The victory of the president of Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick is not only for him but for Nigeria and all Nigerians,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Pinnick was on Friday in Rabat, Morocco, elected into the FIFA Council which is the highest decision making organ in world football.

    FIFA Council is a combination of 37 men selected from across the world charged with the responsibility of FIFA governance in terms of structure, decision, policy formulation and making sure that the policies well implemented.

    Pinnick defeated his rival and incumbent Walter Nyamilandu of Malawi by 43 to 8 to step into the exalted 37-member FIFA Council.

    Mohammed told NAN in an interview that the country had stepped into the mainstream of world football administration.

    “It means a lot to us because to have representation in the FIFA Council means so much to football administration and I know that Amaju Pinnick being who he is will do everything possible to represents Nigeria very well.

    “There is nothing that is for Nigeria that will escape the country, and whatever that is needed to lobby for, I know he will do it for Nigeria and Africa in General.

    “So, I can say that this feat is a big political achievement to Nigeria; it has a lot of political advantage by the mere fact that a Nigerian is being called everywhere any time FIFA are having meetings.

    “With this also, Nigeria will have an edge over those countries that do not have representation

    “If any special consideration is to be given to member nations, Nigeria will be among the first to be considered, bearing in mind that we have somebody in the council who can say let’s support Nigeria.

    “In fact, there are so many things that we can benefit, and hosting of FIFA tournaments could be one of it depending on interests and facilities,” Mohammed said.

  • ‘NFF shouldn’t mourn me after my death but just pay my money’

    ‘NFF shouldn’t mourn me after my death but just pay my money’

    Godwin Izilein, a former coach of the Super Falcons, has pleaded with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) leadership to pay to him his outstanding match bonuses of 28,750 dollars (about N12 million).

    Izilein, who made the plea while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Benin, also said NFF should not mourn him at his death.

    The coach, who once handled the Golden Eaglets, said it was regrettable that the football governing body was yet to pay him match bonuses of 28,750 dollars 17 years after.

    “The unpaid allowances are my reward for taking the female national team to Johannesburg in South Africa in 2004 where Nigeria won the African Women Championship (AWC).

    “I don’t know what my offence is that they have refused to pay me this money. I have written and personally met with heads of NFF at different times. Yet, the story remains the same.

    “The last time was when I met the present NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, in the presence of Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo, where I again tabled the matter.

    “Though he (Pinnick) expressed shock that I was yet to be paid, but he promised to do something quickly about it. However, up until now, two years after, the story is still the same.

    “But I am only interested in my money, not an addition. I don’t know if it has now become a crime to serve one’s fatherland. Or, why will I be pursuing what I labored for after 17 years?

    “I should be honoured while I am still alive and not when I am gone. NFF should honour me now by paying me the money and not cry and write glowing tributes when I am dead,” Izilein declared.”

  • FIFA council election: FG pledges support for Pinnick

    FIFA council election: FG pledges support for Pinnick

    The Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Mr Sunday Dare has pledged government’s support for Amaju Pinnick, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President’s bid to contest for a seat in the FIFA council election.

    Dare made the pledge on Tuesday in Abuja when the NFF boss paid him a courtesy visit.

    He said the Federal Government would give Pinnick all the necessary support to fly Nigeria and Africa’s flag at the highest FIFA decision making council.

    The minister stressed the need for Pinnick to use his position and connections in CAF and FIFA to help promote and develop Nigeria and Africa football at all levels.

    Dare said he was happy to see Nigerians aspire to be among the very best in the world, saying it is the way the country can have a say in the committee of football playing nations.

    Earlier, Pinnick had thanked the minister and the Federal Government for all the support in their bid to reposition Nigerian football.

    The NFF boss also submitted a letter thanking the Federal Government for all the support given him so far, pledging to be a good ambassador of Nigeria if elected into the FIFA Council.

    Pinnick who is a current member of
    CAF Executive Committee also used the occasion to thank Nigerians for all the support since he became NFF president in 2014.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that FIFA Council Election is scheduled for March 12 in Morocco,
    where Pinnick is vying for the only CAF anglophone slot.

    The 37-member FIFA Council is the main decision-making body of the world football body that sets the vision for FIFA and global football.

    NAN also reports that only two Nigerians have risen to the exalted position of FIFA Council members in the past; Dr. Amos Adamu and Oyo Orok Oyo.