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Tag: NFF

  • BREAKING: NFF breaks silence on reported ban of Osimhen from Super Eagles

    BREAKING: NFF breaks silence on reported ban of Osimhen from Super Eagles

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has opened up on reportedly banning Victor Osimhen from the Super Eagles team over his outburst against Finidi George.

    The NFF described as outright falsehood the reports that Osimhen had been banned from the team, for his social media outburst a few days ago.

    Reports had emerged in some online publications on Wednesday that the football-governing body had slammed a ban on Super Eagles’ forward.

    However, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi expressed amazement at the reports, saying the Federation has neither instructed a process nor has a process been concluded to ban the player from the National Team.

    “The NFF hereby implores the media to join hands with the body to positively resolve issues and then focus on the big picture all the time, rather than needlessly escalate certain matters.

    “There was no official communication from the NFF, yet some persons have gone to town to talk about a ban on Osimhen from the National Team. This is not good at all.

    “Our focus presently is to resolve all matters around the Super Eagles and be able to look ahead with confidence to the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and the remaining six matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification series.

    “This is not the time to spread falsehood and foul the public space the more,” a statement by Sanusi reads.

  • NFF to inaugurate Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee on Thursday

    NFF to inaugurate Futsal and Beach Soccer Committee on Thursday

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau will on Thursday at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja inaugurate the Federation’s Futsal and Beach Soccer Sub-Committee.

    The committee has as chairman, Otuekong Nse Essien with the Chairman of Chairmen of Nigeria Football, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf (Fresh) as vice chairman. The members are Aminu Mohammed Inuwa, Hon. Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, Hajji Liameed Gafaar, Mr. Richard Jideaka and Yabagi Alhaji Baba. Abubakar D. Umar (Barde) is secretary.

    The Futsal and Beach Soccer Sub-Committee is responsible for the organization of all futsal and beach soccer competitions and deals with all matters relating to futsal and beach soccer.

    Nigeria has been a continental, and to some extent global, power in beach soccer in previous years, with the Supersand Eagles winning the Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations in 2007 and 2009 and reaching the quarter-finals of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in Italy 13 years ago.

    The Confederation of African Football last week conducted the draw for this year’s Beach Soccer Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series with the Supersand Eagles drawn to play Mauritania home and away next month. A total of 14 countries will be involved in the qualifiers, with the seven winners to join hosts Egypt at the finals.

    Mauritania will host the Supersand Eagles on a day between 19th and 21st July, with Nigeria hosting the return leg a week later.

    For the first time ever, the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will take place on African soil, when Seychelles stages the tournament next year.

  • NFF denies receiving Finidi’s resignation letter

    NFF denies receiving Finidi’s resignation letter

    Ibrahim Gusau, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation,  has said that  he is unaware embattled Super Eagles coach, Finidi George, has resigned.

    This is following   onlinereports  that the coach resigned after the NFF announced Thursday that it would hire an “expatriate technical adviser” for the Eagles, following their dismal performances in the 2026 World Cup qualifying series.

    Super Eagles have managed to garner just three points from a possible 12, and sit fifth in the six-team Group C.

    As a result, the team’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 FIFA World Cup hangs in the balance.

     

    However, mixed reactions have  continued to trail the NFF’s announcement on Thursday, with some followers of the team calling on the federation’s board members and Finidi to tender their resignations.

    According to reports , Finidi is sad that the NFF leadership met with the sports minister two days ago, but failed to mention that players reported late to the camp and that they (NFF) did nothing to mobilise Nigerians in Ivory Coast to support the Eagles in last Monday’s match with Benin Republic.

    The reports added that Finidi, who’s overseen just two Eagles games since he took charge in April, resigned from his post Tuesday (today) morning.

    The 2026 FIFA world Cup qualifying series for Africa will resume march  2025.

  • Federation Cup: NFF releases semi-final fixtures

    Federation Cup: NFF releases semi-final fixtures

    Two Nigeria Professional Football League NPFL clubsides, Abia Warriors and Kano Pillars will slug it out in the President Federation Cup semi-final match scheduled to hold at the Lafia City Stadium on Thursday, June 20th, 2024.

    The second semi-final tie between El-Kanemi Warriors and Kebbi United will hold on the same day but at a different venue.

    The Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna will hold the second semi-final encounter.

    It would be recalled that the current holders of the competition, Bendel Insurance were eliminated by Sokoto United in the round of 16.

    The winner of the President Federation Cup will represent Nigeria in the CAF Confederation Cup next season.

  • NFF apologizes to Nigerians over Super Eagles poor outing, set to appoint foreign technical adviser

    NFF apologizes to Nigerians over Super Eagles poor outing, set to appoint foreign technical adviser

    The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation held a meeting on Wednesday, 12th June 2024 in hybrid mode to deliberate on important issues in Nigeria Football and resolved as follows:

    1) The Executive Committee wholeheartedly apologized to Nigerians for the dismal output and subsequent very poor returns of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, in four out of 10 matches in the ongoing qualification series for the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, and pledged to work assiduously and put necessary measures in place to ensure a better-prepared squad ahead of the AFCON 2025 qualifiers in September this year and the resumption of the World Cup qualifiers in March 2025.

    2) Further to (1) above, the Executive Committee resolved to employ an expatriate Technical Adviser for the Super Eagles in the coming weeks, ahead of the AFCON qualifiers and the remaining FIFA World Cup qualifying matches.

    3) Still further to (1) above, the Committee resolved to beef up the NFF Technical Department with more qualitative hands. Equally, the Technical and Development Sub-Committee will be re-jigged with immediate effect.

    4) Notwithstanding the challenges that attended the team’s preparations for the Day 3 and Day 4 games of the FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, owing to a 38-hour nationwide industrial action, the Board expressed displeasure with the poor attitude of some of the players to the National Assignment, and unanimously decided in favour of a more robust scouting programme of outstanding Nigeria-eligible players from across the four corners of the universe, who can add tremendous value to the nation’s flagship team.

    5) The Executive Committee also resolved that a Stakeholders’ Forum be convened in a few weeks’ time, to deliberate on amendments to the current NFF Statutes, in conjunction with world football-governing body, FIFA.

    6) While appreciating the fact that preparation of teams involved in the Olympic Games fall squarely within the purview of the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the Executive Committee stated unequivocally that it will provide robust support, within the room allowed it, to the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, to adequately prepare for this year’s Women’s Olympic Football Tournament, taking place in France 24th July – 11th August.

    6) In order to ensure an impressive performance of the U20 Women National Team, Falconets, at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Colombia, 31st August – 22nd September, the Executive Committee mandated its Technical and Development Sub-Committee to diligently and swiftly consider the programme submitted by the Head Coach for the team’s preparation. The Board approved a two-phase camping for the team, with a four-week camping in Nigeria to be followed by a two-week final camping programme in Colombia before the commencement of the tournament.

    7) Impressed by the performance of the U17 Women National Team, Flamingos, so far in their FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup African qualification series, the Executive Committee charged the Secretariat to ensure total readiness of the team for its final round, final leg encounter against their Liberian counterparts, scheduled for the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Friday, 14th June 2024.

    IN ATTENDANCE: Ibrahim Musa Gusau (President); Felix Anyansi-Agwu (1st Vice President); Gbenga Elegbeleye (2nd Vice President); Yusuf Ahmed (Member); Babagana Kalli (Member); Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Member); Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Member); Aisha Falode (Member); Ganiyu Majekodunmi (Member); Nse Essien (Member); Margaret Icheen (Member); Timothy Heman Magaji (Member); Silas Agara (Member); George Aluo (Member); Nkechi Nneka Obi (Member); Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary).

  • NFF not clear on replacing Super Eagles coach, Finidi George

    NFF not clear on replacing Super Eagles coach, Finidi George

    The President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, said that measures are being taken to address the team’s woes and secure qualification for the prestigious tournament.

    Asked about the possibility of changing the Super Eagles coaching and technical bench, the NFF President, in a video posted by photojournalist, Pooja, via  Platform X on Thursday, didn’t quite give a clear answer but acknowledge that something was being done to address the situation.

    Recall that Super Eagles coach,  Finidi George, was appointed in April, 2024 and he has only managed a win in four appearances as an interim  and substantive coach

    “It’s a very sad moment for Nigerian football, we can’t run away from that,” he admitted.

    “But all I want to assure you is that we are working tirelessly in collaboration with the minister to come out with some holistic measures that will change the face of the entire system so that we can move forward,” he said.

    The NFF President also highlighted the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers as an opportunity to showcase the team’s progress. “Don’t also forget, before the next round of the (World Cup) qualifiers, we have the AFCON qualifiers, which almost all the six matches will be played before (World Cup) matches next year, and that, by the grace of God, will show Nigerians the kind of steps we have taken, we are going to take to make sure that we qualify for the World Cup.”

     

    The NFF President further pleased Nigerians’ support and prayers stating, “I just finally want to assure Nigerians that they should continue to pray for us, but by the grace of God, I want to assure them we’re going to fight it to the letter, and we are going to qualify for the World Cup.”

     

    The Super Eagles of Nigeria, on Monday, were defeated 2-1 by Benin Republic in the fourth round of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers.

     

    Earlier last Friday,  the team played a 1-1 draw against Bafana Bafana of South Africa in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifier.

    The result of these fixtures means that Nigeria is now placed fifth in the six-team table, with six games left to play.

    Super Eagles currently occupy the 5th position but still have 6 matches remaining in the qualifying series.

  • 2026 WCQ: Sports minister, Enoh summons NFF over Super Eagles dismal performances

    2026 WCQ: Sports minister, Enoh summons NFF over Super Eagles dismal performances

    John Enoh the Honourable Minister of Sports Development,  has summoned the Nigerian Football Federation, (NFF) to give technical reports concerning the Super Eagles’ disappointing performance during the June FIFA window.

    This was disclosed on Monday in a statement by Diana-Mary Nsan, Special Assistant, Media, to the minister.

    Recall that the Super Eagles have only managed to secure three points from possible 12 in the ongoing 2026 qualifying series.

    The high point of the Eagles disappointing performance was the 2-1 loss to the Republic of Benin in Abidjan on Monday evening.

    Nigeria face a difficult  task for qualification to the 2026 World Cup to be jointly hosted by USA, Canada, and Mexico.

    Reacting to Super Eagles performance, Sports minister Enoh said: “the recent results are unacceptable,” the minister said: “Despite the immense support from President Tinubu and the high expectations of Nigerian football fans, the Super Eagles have underperformed. The NFF must provide a comprehensive technical report explaining the reasons behind this poor showing and give cause why there mustn’t be consequences for the disappointment caused by both government and the generality of Nigerians.”

    He added: “Our supporters are passionate and devoted. They deserve an explanation for why the Super Eagles have not been performing to the expected standards since after the last AFCON.”

  • Sports Minister summons NFF over Super Eagles poor performance

    Sports Minister summons NFF over Super Eagles poor performance

    Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh has summoned the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under the leadership of Ibrahim Gusau over the recent poor performance of the Nigerian Super Eagles.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Enoh summoned NFF to demand a detailed technical report from the football governing body in the country on the Super Eagles’ disappointing results in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

    This is contained in a statement issued on Monday by Diana-Mary Nsan, the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media.

    The Super Eagles managed to secure only one point from a possible six, following a 1-1 draw with South Africa in Uyo and losing 2-1 to Benin Republic in Abidjan in its third and fourth game in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series.

    These results leave the Super Eagles with just three points from a possible 12.

    The Minister expressed dissatisfaction with the results, especially considering the support the NFF had received from the federal government.

    “The recent results are unacceptable. In spite the immense support from President Bola Tinubu and the high expectations of Nigerian football fans, the Super Eagles have underperformed.

    “The NFF must provide a comprehensive technical report explaining the reasons behind this poor showing, and give cause why there must not be consequences for the disappointment,” he said.

    Enoh emphasised that Nigerian football fans demand and deserve answers and accountability from the NFF.

    “Our supporters are passionate and devoted. They deserve an explanation for why our national team has not been performing to the expected standards since after the last AFCON,” he said.

  • NFF shocked, saddened by Domo Okara’s death

    NFF shocked, saddened by Domo Okara’s death

    The Nigeria Football Federation has described as shocking and very sad, the death on Saturday of Head Coach of Bayelsa Queens Football Club, Domo Okara.

    “We are shocked and saddened beyond words. In all sincerity, we are still trying to process the report. I have spoken to a lot of people who said they interacted with him days earlier and he was hale and hearty. This is a very sorrowful development.

    “Okara was one of the pillars of women football coaching in the country. Indeed, it is a period of mourning for the women’s game in our country because the man was more than a coach. He was a mentor, a leader and an inspiration to many. We pray that God will give him eternal rest and also grant the immediate family, his friends, Bayelsa Queens FC family and Nigeria football the fortitude to bear this sudden and big loss,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Sunday.

    Domo Okara, who led Bayelsa Queens to win the Nigeria Women Premier League title in 2022 and also won the Federation Cup with the team the following year, was reported to have died suddenly on Saturday morning.

    He led the team from Yenagoa to win the bronze medals at the 2nd edition of the CAF Women’s Champions League competition in Morocco – the only Nigerian team to have achieved that feat.

  • 2026 WCQ: NFF commends Governor Eno and administration for support

    2026 WCQ: NFF commends Governor Eno and administration for support

    The Nigeria Football Federation has expressed deep appreciation to the Government and good people of Akwa Ibom State for their support, hospitality and magnanimity before, during and after Friday’s FIFA World Cup qualifying match between the Super Eagles and South Africa’s Bafana Bafana.

    President of the NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau stated that the football-governing body and the Nigeria Football fraternity remain grateful to Governor (Pastor) Umo Eno and other eminent personalities in his administration who worked tirelessly behind the scene and showed up at the Nest of Champions to inspire the three-time African champions in the crucial game.

    “First and foremost, I want to specially give kudos to the Akwa Ibom State Government for their hospitality and magnanimity, and for all the efforts and resources deployed to host a successful match. Governor Umo Eno, like his predecessors, has continued to be a pillar of the Super Eagles especially for their home matches. We cannot appreciate him enough.

    “We also appreciate the Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator (Dr) Akon Eyakenyi for her physical presence at the stadium to cheer the Eagles during the game.”

    Gusau recalled that Friday’s encounter was the 11th match the Super Eagles would play at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium, with only one loss in those matches. “We must underscore the fact that Uyo, and Akwa Ibom State in general, is a favourable ground for the Super Eagles.

    “The result may not have been what we wanted, but we are confident that the Super Eagles and their coaches have learnt a lot of lessons from the game and will put these to good use in subsequent games, in order to earn the World Cup ticket.”