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Tag: NFF

  • NFF denies appointing Amokachi

    NFF denies appointing Amokachi

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has denied rumours making rounds of the appointment of former Super Eagles Captain and Coach, Daniel Amokachi as Head of its Technical Department.

    In a statement on Wednesday, Ademola Olajire, NFF Director of Communications, said Mr Bitrus Bewarang still remained the federation’s Technical Director, NAN reports.

    Olajire quoted Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Yusuf Fresh, as saying that at no time did the body call for applications from candidates for that position, not to talk of appointing anyone.

    “This clarification becomes necessary against the background of wide-circulating, but totally misleading reports of the appointment of Amokachi, a former Super Eagles captain and coach, as head of NFF technical department.”

    “’The NFF has been bemused by this unfounded story, which no doubt must have embarrassed Mr. Amokachi himself,” Fresh said.

    Olajire added in the statement that though the NFF would not foreclose the possibility of a major role for Amokachi in the NFF in future, however, no such an appointment had been made currently.

    “Amokachi no doubt deserves all the regard and respect befitting his new role as an ambassador; he should not be dragged into needless controversies such as this.

    “’The NFF, once more, enjoins the generality of the media to retain the important work ethic of fact-checking and verification, and beware of empty wildfires lit by obscure online cells that lack any iota of credibility,” Olajire said.

  • NFF appoints Yobo as Super Eagles assistant coach

    NFF appoints Yobo as Super Eagles assistant coach

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Wednesday in Abuja said it has appointed former Super Eagles defender Joseph Yobo as an assistant coach with the team.

    Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communications, disclosed in a statement that the former Super Eagles captain was replacing Imama Amapakabo in the team’s technical crew.

    Yobo had played for the Flying Eagles, Nigeria under-20 national team, during the 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship (now known as FIFA Under-20 World Cup.

    He won his first cap for the senior team in an Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying match away to Zambia in Chingola in April 2001.

    The defender then went on to play in three FIFA World Cup finals in 2002, 2010 and 2014 and six AFCON finals in 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2013.

    He capped a meritorious career with leading the Super Eagles to their third continental title in South Africa in 2013.

    Yobo, who started out with Michellin FC of Harcourt in 1996, played a total of 100 matches for Nigeria at senior level and played his foreign club football in five countries.

    This was at Olympique Marseille in France, Fenerbahce in Turkey, Everton FC, Norwich City in England, Standard Liege and Tenerife in Spain at several times.

  • Why we stayed away from Isaac Promise’s burial – NFF

    Why we stayed away from Isaac Promise’s burial – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has explained that the country’s apex football body decided to stay away from Ex-Super Eagles striker, Isaac Promise’s final funeral rites because it was most concerned with the safety and well–being of his immediate family.

    NFF’s Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire said this in a statement posted on NFF’s official website on Friday.

    Promise, who last played for Austin Bold FC, passed away at the age of 31 on October 2, 2019.

    The ex-Genclerbirligi and Trabzonspor striker was buried on Thursday, January 9 with no single NFF official present.

    The statement read: “The NFF has been in regular contact with and has offered support to late Isaac Promise’s wife and children. When the player died in the United States of America, the NFF immediately contacted the club and we were assured of the responsibilities of the club, which included flying his remains to Nigeria.

    “However, some of his siblings outrightly expected the NFF to foot the entire bill of his burial, which we told them was not possible. The NFF offered to foot part of the bill for the burial but from that moment, they were not happy with the Federation.”

    “We know what we have done and still ready to do for the immediate family without joining in the debate going on in sections of the media.

    “The NFF President has approved a sum of money to be paid to the immediate family and that money will be sent to his wife in the next few days,” the statement added.

    Promise captained the Flying Eagles to the final of 2005 FIFA U20 World Cup in the Netherlands and to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

    He made his Super Eagles debut in 2009.

  • Dosu Joseph urges NFF to renew Rohr’s contract

    Ex-International goalkeeper, Dosu Joseph, says Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has done a fantastic job with the national team, as he urged the Nigeria Football Federation to renew contract.

    Dosu, a member of Nigeria’s Atalanta 96 Olympic football team believes that since the coach has been able to take the Super Eagles to Russia as well as qualified the team for the AFCON in Egypt in 2019, he has the qualities that the team needs to succeed.

    “In my own opinion, He (Rohr) has been good for the Eagles, if we want to be honest. He qualified us for the World Cup and at the same time, we were at the AFCON 2019 after missing out two on previous editions. The boys are doing great things with Rohr in charge.

    On Rohr’s contract issues, he said the manager has been able to prove himself as a good coach and in his own opinion; the Franco-German should be retained in view of his achievements over the years.

    Speaking about the present Super Eagles team, he applauded the national team handlers for doing a great job and creating a cohesive environment for the team of youngsters to emerge as a force to reckon with continental and global football.

    “Since Rohr came on board, he continued the process that Keshi and Oliseh began with the Eagles.

    “Take a look at the team now, most of the boys are playing regularly for their club sides.

    “We can’t compare generations to generations. We are all different human beings. Yet, the boys are good.

    “In fact, in terms of playing pattern, individual skills, these present boys are doing very well. I think all they need is just encouragement.

    “Since NFF have a contract with him and I am not privy to it, it is between the two parties if they want to continue or not. But in my own view, Rohr has been doing his duties with the Eagles very well as a coach.”

  • Pinnick reveals areas NFF will concentrate on in 2020

    The hard focus of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in the year 2020 will be on the various qualifying matches for major competitions as well as youth and grassroots development programs, according to President of the Federation, Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

    Pinnick made it known on Tuesday that the football –governing body will set much store by the qualifying campaigns of the Super Eagles for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, as well as the qualifiers of the Super Falcons for the 12th edition of the Women Africa Cup of Nations, and those of the U17 girls and U20 girls for their different FIFA World Cup finals.

    “We are also determined to concentrate much effort and resources on youth development programmes, including but not limited to the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Programme.

    “It is important that we continue to churn out quality talents and work hard to nurture them to excellent products who will then fit into the age-grade National Teams and bring honour to the nation at various championships.

    “As we have made known, teams representing Nigeria in international matches and competitions will be told in no uncertain terms that they are expected to win, not just participate. The era of simply being there to participate is long gone.”

    The draw for the qualifying campaign of the 2022 FIFA World Cup finals will be conducted in Egypt in January 2020, with 10 groups of four teams each that will produce only the winner from each group advancing to a fierce, five home-and-away battles which will eventually produce Africa’s flagbearers in Qatar.

    Already, the Super Eagles are in command of their pool in the qualifying race for the 33rd Africa Cup of Nations finals in year 2021, with two wins out of two against Benin Republic and Lesotho last month. Second –placed Benin Republic are three points adrift, with the race set to resume in August 2020.

    Nigeria took the bronze medals after finishing third among the 24 participating teams in the biggest –ever Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt this year summer.

    Nine –time African champions, Super Falcons also have a qualifying round to negotiate before heading to the finals of the Women Africa Cup of Nations to defend the crown they taken consecutively between 2014 and 2018.

    The U20 girls, Falconets and the U17 girls, Flamingos have qualifying matches for their different FIFA World Cup competitions already set. The 2020 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals will be co-hosted by Costa Rica and Panama, while India will host the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup finals.

  • NFF gives Rohr conditions to remain as Super Eagles coach

    Nigeria Football Federation(NFF) President Amaju Pinnick has hinted that the federation was willing to offer Super Eagles German coach Gernot Rohr a fresh contract but with a caveat that stringent clauses would be inserted in order to help the cause of the national team ahead of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 qualifiers.

    Rohr’s contract as Super Eagles coach will elapse in June but Pinnick affirmed yesterday in Lagos that the NFF would table a new contract with the coach in January, adding everything would be conducted in the best interest of Nigerian football.

    “Sincerely, we want him to continue with his work and we have said that we are going to sit down with the coach in January with the possibility of offering him a new contract,” explained Pinnick.

    Contracted in 2016 on a two-year deal, Rohr was offered another two-year contract after guiding the country to the World Cup finals in Russia.

    “The truth is that we were carried with the euphoria of World Cup qualification and honestly, what he had can be regarded as a ‘raw’ contract,” he continued.“ But we are going to have some stringent measures for overall best interest of the Super Eagles and Nigerian football.”

    According to Pinnick, some of the clauses being looked in the new contract would see Rohr take permanent residence in the country with a choice of living either in Lagos or Abuja and the German will be allowed to travel on vacation only three times in a year.

    It was also understood that the coach would henceforth work in conjunction with the NFF’s technical committee in order to ensure the best interest of the team.

    “Of course, the coach will have to work more with the technical committee and this is just in a bid for checks and balancing,” he said.

  • How Super Eagles Coach Rohr’s fate will be decided – NFF

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)’s technical committee will decide the fate of Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr, according to General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.

    Rohr who started coaching the Super Eagles in 2016 will need a contract renewal as his present agreement ends in June 2020.

    The President of the NFF Amaju Pinnick has said the coach will be handed another contract if he agrees to the addition of new clauses.

    The development has divided football fans in Nigeria with Rohr expressing sadness at the development at the Glass House.

    While speaking about the contract impasse between the NFF and the German gaffer, Sanusi admitted that he is not in a position to know the coach’s fate.

    According to the NFF scribe, the body’s technical department and committee to decide the fate of the German tactician.

    “The issue of appointment and sacking of coaches is the responsibility of the technical department and also the technical committee,” he told Nigeria Info FM.

    “If you want to know whether the Super Eagles coach will be sacked or not, you should ask the technical department or the technical committee.”

  • NFF moving into online match reporting system – Kalli

    NFF moving into online match reporting system – Kalli

    Babagana Kalli, an Executive Committee member of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), says the federation is gradually working towards moving into the online match reporting system in accordance with global best practices.

    Kalli said both the NFF and League Management Company (LMC) were working along with the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in this regard.

    “Our online reporting system is our new innovation, and we are working accordingly with FIFA and CAF on this,” he told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

    Kalli who spoke during the 2019 NFF Match Commissioners Seminar said this new trend was already being prepared for immediately.

    “For the 2019 seminar, the NFF and its relevant committee on this are employing the services of four resource persons.

    “They will help train our members on various principles of match reporting including online match reporting.

    “One of the resource persons will teach on online match reporting system so that Nigeria will also be part of the global movement,” Kalli who is Chairman of NFF Match Commissioners Appointments Committee said.

    He added that his promise to football stakeholders that the issue of late submission of match reports by Match Commissioners would be a thing of the past was still relevant.

    Kalli said this was evident in the fact that both the NFF and LMC were moving from the analog system to digital system of match reporting.

    “We are moving from the analog to the digital system of reporting. Very soon, late submission of match reports will be a thing of the past, at least in the next two years,” he said.

    Speaking on the issue of corruption allegations levelled against some members of the NFF executive committee and management, Kalli said Nigerians needed to exercise patience.

    “As far as I am concerned, the issues raised are under investigation and there is nothing all of us can do without any report from the investigators.

    “We cannot do anything concerning any corruption allegations now, because the appropriate authorities are still investigating and we cannot take any decisions until the appropriate institutions come out with a report,” he added.

  • NFF denies owing Rohr three months’ salary

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has said it is only owing Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr for the month of September.

    The NFF was reacting to a tweet from London based journalist, Osasu Obayiuwana who claimed that the German coach was owed three months’ salaries which came to $150,000.

    The nation’s football governing body made its position known on its twitter handle yesterday.

    “The NFF wishes to put records straight with regards to a claim in the social media on Friday, 11th October 2019 that the football house is owing Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, three months’ salary.

    “As we speak, Mr. Rohr is only being owed salary for the month of September 2019, which is being processed,” the tweets added.

  • Just In: NFF officials depart Nigeria for Brazil friendly match

    Just In: NFF officials depart Nigeria for Brazil friendly match

    There is hope on Wednesday as administrative officials of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles and some Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) officials finally secured their entry visas into Singapore on Wednesday, for Sunday’s prestige friendly between Nigeria and Brazil in Singapore.

    The officials duly departed Nigeria via the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport aboard Emirates Airline on Wednesday.

    Details to follow….