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Tag: NFF

  • NFF appoints Manu Garba Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach

    NFF appoints Manu Garba Golden Eaglets’ Head Coach

    The Board of Nigeria Football Federation has appointed former U17 World Cup winner,  Manu Garba as Head Coach of the Nigeria U17 boys, Golden Eaglets.

    Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at NFF announced this in a statement on Friday in Abuja.

    Garba had, in the same role, led the Golden Eaglets to win the FIFA U17 World Cup for Nigeria in the United Arab Emirates in 2013.

    Garba’s squad in 2013 included Kelechi Iheanacho, Taiwo Awoniyi, Isaac Success, Musa Mohammed, Chidiebere Nwakali and goalkeeper Dele Alampasu.

    The squad, which finished as runners-up at the African U17 Championship in Morocco after a penalty shootout defeat by Cote d’Ivoire, defeated Mexico 6-1 in their opening game.

    It drew 3-3 with Sweden and hammered Iraq 5-0. In the Round of 16, they defeated Iran 4-1, dispatched Uruguay 2-0 in the quarter-finals and trounced Sweden 3-0 in the semi-finals.

    They went ahead to dislodged Mexico by the same margin in the final to lift the trophy.

    Olajire said Garba will resume immediately and take charge of the team’s preparations for the WAFU B U17 Championship, scheduled for Ghana in May.

  • NFF commiserates with Odegbami over loss of son

    NFF commiserates with Odegbami over loss of son

    The Nigeria Football Federation has commiserated with former Nigeria captain, Dr. Olusegun Odegbami over the death on Friday last week of his son, Oluwagbeminiyi Omo Odegbami.

    The legend himself made the sad news public on Wednesday morning when he announced the demise of the young man who breathed his last on Good Friday, 30th March 2024.

    The General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, MON empathized with the 1980 AFCON winner: “The death of a son is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to any living parent. It is with a deep sense of sorrow that we commiserate with Dr. Olusegun Odegbami. This must be a very tough period for him.

    “I remember the passion with which our former captain traversed the whole of Cote d’Ivoire covering the Africa Cup of Nations earlier in the year, and his palpable passion and fervour any time he had the opportunity to speak with the Super Eagles’ players. He believed strongly in the team and wanted it to win the trophy. I know how disappointed he was that we lost in the Final match.”

    Dr. Sanusi disclosed that the NFF and the entire Nigeria Football fraternity have been praying for the repose of the soul of Oluwagbeminiyi Omo Odegbami since the unfortunate news broke on Wednesday.

    “We are in grief. Dr. Odegbami is a great friend apart from being a legend of the Nigeria game and a former captain of Nigeria. Most of us marvel at his unflagging love and zest for the Nigeria game. We pray that God gives him the fortitude to pull through these difficult moments and also grant the departed young man eternal rest.”

  • Oliseh denies applying for Super Eagles job, names two best coaches NFF should pick from

    Oliseh denies applying for Super Eagles job, names two best coaches NFF should pick from

    Former Super Eagles defensive midfielder and captain, Sunday Oliseh, has denied applying for the vacant Super Eagles coaching job, saying that the narrative that he applied is false.

    Olisheh, however, picked two of his former colleagues as best suitable for the job.

    According to the former Super Eagles skippo,  Finidi George and Emmanuel Amuneke, are the two men best suitable for the  vacant coaching job.

    The former midfielder also slammed the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, in their search for the next Eagles coach.

    Jose Peseiro left the position after taking the team to the final of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

    The NFF has since declared vacant the position of head coach of the national team and outlined some requirements for interested and qualified individuals.

    Oliseh, while criticizing this approach, cited the example of Liverpool’s method in searching for a new coach following Jurgen Klopp’s announcement of his departure from the club in the summer.

    Oliseh said: “Let’s look at it this way: when Jurgen Klopp came out last month to announce that he was leaving his position as coach of Liverpool, did you hear or read anywhere that the club announced that coaches should apply for the job?

    “The only thing they (Liverpool) are doing currently is that they are in search of a coach that fits their philosophy and style.”

    While  throwing  his weight  behind Amuneke and George, he said: “If we cannot offer our indigenous coaches opportunities to help the country’s football, then who else will?

    “I did not apply for the Eagles job. Reports that stated so are false. I only stated that if Nigeria needed my help as a coach, I would be willing to help if the conditions are right.”

  • Forget gold medal loss, focus on World Cup – Gusau tells Falconets

    Forget gold medal loss, focus on World Cup – Gusau tells Falconets

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has implored players and officials of the U20 girls, Falconets to put behind them the loss of the African Games women’s football event gold medal to Ghana and work assiduously towards making a huge impression at this year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup.

    Gusau spoke against the background of the Falconets’ 1-2 extra-time defeat by the Black Princesses of Ghana in the final match of the 13th African Games women’s football event played in Cape Coast on Thursday night.

    “You played well and showed good skills and team work all the way to the final, but your best was not good enough to retain the gold medal. There is no need and there will never be any gain crying over spilt milk. The onus is now on you and the coaches to focus on the FIFA World Cup finals coming up later this year.

    “In truth, the NFF and Nigerians expected you to retain the gold medal, having scored eight goals and conceded none until the final match. That is gone now and the World Cup beckons. Your collective objective should be to win the World Cup trophy for the first time. The NFF will give you all the support to prepare adequately and face the world’s best in Colombia.”

    The Falconets have participated in every edition of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup since the competition was launched as an U19 tournament in Canada in 2002. They have now qualified for this year’s championship after overpowering the U20 girls of Tanzania and Burundi in the African qualifying series.

    “Our girls have been in the Final of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup on two occasions,” Gusau told thenff.com. “In 2010 and 2014, though they lost on both occasions to Germany. They were in the semi-finals in Japan in 2012, and at the last edition in Costa Rica, they reached the quarter-finals.

    “There has been some consistency in our performance over the years and it is time to take the step up and claim the title. That can only be done by hard work, focus and self-belief. The hard work must start right now.”

    Only five countries have laid their hands on the ultimate diadem of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup competition since it commenced in 2002: USA, Germany, DPR Korea, Japan and Spain.

    The United States won in 2002, 2008 and 2012; Germany won in 2004, 2010 and 2014; DPR Korea won in 2006 and 2016; Japan won in 2018 and; Spain won in 2022.

    This year’s FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals will take place 31st – 22nd September in Colombia.

  • NFF warns States to conclude Federation Cup competition on given dates or risk hefty penalty

    NFF warns States to conclude Federation Cup competition on given dates or risk hefty penalty

  • Siasia denies applying for Super Eagles coaching job, gives reasons

    Siasia denies applying for Super Eagles coaching job, gives reasons

    Samson Siasia former Super Eagles player and coach has denied applying for the vacant role of the Super Eagles head coach.

    Sia1 as he’s fondly called made this known to complete sports saying that he cannot be in the running for the job, because of his suspension by FIFA.

    It would be recalled that Siasia was banned after being found guilty of accepting an offer to receive bribes to alter the outcome of matches.

    However, the five-year ban is set to end in August 2024, meaning he cannot work within the sports sector until then.

    “I did not apply for the Super Eagles coaching job because I know FIFA has yet to lift the suspension on me.

    “I don’t know where those who reported that I applied got their story from.

    “It’s common sense, I cannot be suspended and be applying for a job.

    “I know I would not even be considered for it,” the silver medal-winning coach with Nigeria’s Olympic team at the Beijing Olympics told Completesports.com.

  • Super Eagles: Don’t look down on Nigerian coaches, Gora tells NFF

    Super Eagles: Don’t look down on Nigerian coaches, Gora tells NFF

    Elias Gora, a retired sport administrator, on Friday advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) not to look down on Nigerian coaches, in picking a substantive Super Eagles’ manager.

    Gora, in an interview with NAN in Lagos, said Nigerian coaches have what it takes to do the job.

    He said, “It is about time the job is done by our home made coaches who have contributed perfectly to the team.

    “This is a reality, we can see other countries like Cameroon and Senegal who engaged their local coaches and they performed excellently in the past.

    “It’s your own that will lead you to success; look at Cote D’Ivoire which succeeded by employing their local coach.

    “There are so many Nigerians that have done that perfectly, so why are we now looking down on them presently?”

    The sport administrator appealed to NFF to look within and choose the appropriate coach for the team.

    According to him, no matter how many times the country has failed, they should think within the box and have a solid foundation to lay for the coming generations.

    He said that a Nigerian would perform better than any foreign coach, with their valuable contributions and experiences in the past.

    The NFF technical committee met on Thursday in Abuja to shortlist coaches who had applied to replace Jose Peseiro as Super Eagles coach.

    The committee will also go through applications from coaches for the vacant position of the head coach of the country’s U17 team, the Golden Eaglets.

    The committee will table their recommendations before the NFF executive committee, after which the football federation will announce the successful candidates.

    Top coaches like Emmanuel Amuneke, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi, Samson Siasia and Salisu Yusuf have all applied to lead the Super Eagles.

    Coaches interested in leading the Golden Eaglets include Manu Garba, Nduka Ugbade and Abdullahi Biffo.

  • African Games: Gusau charges Flying Eagles to go all out for semi-final ticket

    African Games: Gusau charges Flying Eagles to go all out for semi-final ticket

    President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has called on players of the U20 Boys, Flying Eagles to be ready to put up more than their level best when they confront Senegal’s Young Lions of Teranga on Friday in a make-or-break 13th African Games group phase final match at the University of Ghana Sports Stadium in Accra.

    The NFF boss minced no words in saying he has not been impressed with the outing of the seven-time African champions at the continental meet so far, in which they have lost 1-2 to Uganda and edged South Sudan thanks to a late penalty converted by Isiyaka Muhammad Sadiq.

    “Nigeria has a high pedigree in youth football across the globe and that is a fact that should ring loud in the minds of every player wearing the green-white-green at that level. We did not fare well against Uganda and I gave the boys a piece of my mind.

    “Against South Sudan, we should have done more and taken the three points quickly but had to struggle. I believe the players have the potential to do far more and they should start by showing their stuff against Senegal on Friday. It is a match we have to win to reach the semi finals.”

    Initially, the group B housing Nigeria had five teams, which would have amounted to each team playing four matches instead of three. However, Tunisia pulled out late in the day, and with six-pointer Uganda having picked the first semi-final ticket from the pool, the second ticket is a straight fight between Nigeria and Senegal. South Sudan are out of the running having lost both games.

    On their part, defending champions Falconets have no such worries in the women’s event of the Games as they head into their final match of the group phase having picked up the semi-final ticket, with six points from their first two matches.

    Chioma Olise and Yina Adoo scored to send Morocco packing on Matchday 1, before an avalanche from Loveth Edeh, Motunrayo Ezekiel, an own goal by Aisha Kales and again Chioma Olise put Senegal to the sword on Monday night.

    Cameroon, who have endured a string of defeats by Nigeria in various sporting spectacles in recent weeks, face another humiliation as they must take on the supercharged Falconets at the Cape Coast Stadium on Friday evening.

  • 12 foreign, local coaches apply for Super Eagles job [Full List]

    12 foreign, local coaches apply for Super Eagles job [Full List]

    About 12 foreign and local  coaches have applied for the vacant post of the Super Eagles head coach.

    Recall the Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) recently declared the Super Eagles head coach position vacant following the expiration of the contract of erstwhile handler, Jose Peseiro.

    Findings show that  former Golden Eaglets and Tanzania coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, erstwhile Super Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh and one of Peseiro’s assistants, Finidi George have all applied for the Job.

    Nigerian-American, Michael Nsien, who is currently the head coach of US U-19 team, Sylvanus Okpala, who was an assistant under the reign of Stephen Keshi and former head coach, Samson Siasia, have also applied for the post.

    Others who submitted their application are, Daniel Amokachi, Ndubuisi Egbo, Salisu Yusuf and Portuguese Antonio Conceicao.

    The NFF is expected to name a new head coach for the Super Eagles before the team’s 2026 World Cup qualifiers against South Africa and Benin Republic in June.

  • New Super Eagles head coach to be announced April 2024

    New Super Eagles head coach to be announced April 2024

    The Nigeria Football Federation, (NFF) will announce a substantive head coach for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in April 2024.

    Recall that former coach, Jose Peseiro  announced his resignation from the national team  when he couldn’t reach an agreement with NFF for contract renewal.

    A number of local and expatriate coaches have already applied for the job.

    They include Emmanuel Amuneke, Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George, Daniel Amokachi and Antonio Conceicao.

    “NFF wants the best for Nigerian football and will go all out to ensure that they get it by hiring only the person who will take the Super Eagles to the highest level. The World Cup qualifiers will be coming in another three months and we cannot afford to make a mistake in our choice of a coach at this point,” an impeccable source told Completesports.com on condition of anonymity.

    “We want to improve on the recent good run of form by the Super Eagles and whoever gets the job must be ready to hit the ground running. So whoever gets the job must be someone who knows the enormity of the job and must have the managerial expertise and experience to handle our star-studded team.”

    NFF’s technical director, Augustine Eguavoen is now expected to take charge of the team for the friendlies against the Black Stars of Ghana and Eagles of Mali later this month.