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  • Okowa congratulates ‘Delta illustrious son’, Pinnick on FIFA Council election

    Okowa congratulates ‘Delta illustrious son’, Pinnick on FIFA Council election

    Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta has congratulated President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Mr Amaju Pinnick, on his election into the Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) Executive Council.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Pinnick defeated Malawian FA President, Walter Nyamilandu, by 43 votes to eight during the CAF General Assembly held in Rabat, Morocco on Friday.

    The governor’s congratulatory message was conveyed in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Saturday in Asaba.

    Okowa commended the Nigerian football administrator for emerging as one of the six African leaders that would represent the continent in FIFA Executive Council, the main decision-making organ of the world football governing body.

    He commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Federal Ministry of Youth and Sports for their support in ensuring Pinnick’s victory at the CAF polls in Morocco.

    “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate our illustrious son, Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick, President of Nigerian Football Federation, on his election as member of the FIFA Executive Council.

    “As Deltans, we are proud of your outstanding accomplishments in football administration in Nigeria and Africa.

    “Having risen through the ranks as Chairman of Delta State Football Association and later Chairman, Delta State Sports Commission in 2010, you have by dint of dedication and hardwork contributed immensely to football administration in Delta and Nigeria.

    “As you deservedly celebrate this victory, I urge you to use your experience and wide connections in CAF and FIFA to help promote and develop Nigeria and Africa’s football to compete with the European nations,” Okowa said.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • There’s no basis to sack Rohr now – Pinnick

    There’s no basis to sack Rohr now – Pinnick

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has said that there are no plans to sack Super Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr as he further comments that the German deserves to keep his job.

    The NFF president said this in an interview with BBC Sports Africa while reacting to Super Eagles’ recent woeful performance against Sierra Leone.

    Eagles coach, Gernot Rohr has come under fire following a run of four games without a win, and more criticism followed after the Super Eagles let a 4-0 lead slip at home as Sierra Leone fought back to draw 4-4 in their 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier.

    Speculations around Rohr’s sack heightened after sports minister Sunday Dare took to social media to question the ‘suitability and competence’ of the coach on the back of the 0-0 draw in the reverse fixture.

    However, Pinnick has said that recent sloppy performances of the Eagles are not enough to sack Rohr as the team still tops the Nations Cup group after four matches.

    “His statistics speak volume for him, so on what indexes do we want to sack him considering the contract recently signed by both parties.

    “No matter how emotional and disappointed the fans are, there’s no basis to sack him now and he deserves to keep his job.”

  • Super Eagles: No reason to sack Rohr, Pinnick insists

    Super Eagles: No reason to sack Rohr, Pinnick insists

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) president Amaju Pinnick has insisted there is no reason for the sacking of Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr.

    The German tactician has been in charge of the Nigerian national team since 2016 and recently signed a new two-year contract after satisfying his bosses at the NFF.

    He guided the West Africans to the 2018 World Cup in Russia with ease and led the side to finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations Egypt.

    Rohr came under a barrage of criticism after a four-game winless run, including his side’s back-to-back draws against Sierra Leone in Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

    Goal 50 Revealed: The best 50 players in the world

    Nigeria’s Minister of Sports and Youth Development Sunday Dare also expressed his displeasure with the run of not-too impressive performances, questioning the competency and the suitability of the 67-year-old.

    Pinnick, has, however, come in the defence of Rohr, highlighting the stats of the Super Eagles since he took charge of the three-time African champions.

    “Nobody is happy about what happened against Sierra Leone in both matches,” Pinnick told BBC Sport Africa.

    “But it is not enough to sack the coach because his team is still top of the Nations Cup group after four matches.

    “His statistics speak volume for him, so on what indexes do we want to sack him considering the contract recently signed by both parties.

    “No matter how emotional and disappointed the fans are, there’s no basis to sack him now and he deserves to keep his job.

    “When you look at his performance, where he has won 29 matches, drew 14 and lost 10, you can say that is enough to back him.

    “Yes, the performance in the last two games has not gone down well with some people, but we need to be professional, honest and respectful in how we analyse things.”

    Despite the draw against Sierra Leone, Nigeria still maintain their lead on the top of Group L of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifying table with eight points from four games.

    The Super Eagles will next take on the Republic of Benin and Lesotho in their last two games in the qualifying campaign in March 2021.

    Goal

  • Time to beat Sierra Leone 4-0 in Freetown – Pinnick

    Time to beat Sierra Leone 4-0 in Freetown – Pinnick

    The Super Eagles have been tasked by the Nigeria Football Federation president, Amaju Pinnick, to secure victory in Freetown on Tuesday after they squandered a 4-0 lead on Friday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

    The result left Nigerians distraught , however, Pinnick has charged them not to just defeat the Leone Stars but they should regain the lead they had before half-time at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

    “It is for us to go to Sierra Leone and beat them that 4-0. It is not winning, winning is an understatement,” Pinnick told NFF media.

    “It is to give them that 4-0 and make sure they don’t score one. That is the only thing we will do from the blast of the whistle till the end of that game.

    “The beauty about falling down is the resurgence in us to bounce back, bounce back in a grand style because what you’ve done to them is that you’ve given them the confidence that Nigeria is beatable.

    “We must re-engineer this team, we must go to Freetown and we must beat them in Freetown by those four goals so that we would know truly that the Eagles have landed.”

  • 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.

  • Court adjourns SPIP case against Pinnick, others till September

    A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja on Monday adjourned till 26th September 2019, a case brought against some top officials of the Nigeria Football Federation by the Special Presidential Investigation Panel.
    At the resumed hearing of the case on Monday, lawyer to the NFF officials, namely Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick (NFF President); Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi (1st Vice President); Mallam Shehu Dikko (2nd Vice President); Alh. Ahmed Yusuf Fresh (Chairman of Technical and Development Committee) and; Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (General Secretary), informed the court that his clients were on national assignment in the Arab Republic of Egypt, where Nigeria’s Super Eagles is one of the 24 nations participating in the ongoing 32nd Africa Cup of Nations finals.
    While exempting Mr. Pinnick (who is also CAF 1st Vice President and President of the AFCON organizing committee), Justice Ifeoma instructed the NFF counsel to produce evidence of the other persons, namely Barr. Akinwunmi, Mallam Dikko, Alh. Fresh and Dr. Sanusi being presently in Egypt.
    The NFF lawyers led by Barrister Sani Katu have already filed an affidavit at the court on Monday afternoon to show evidence that the officials are indeed in Egypt.
    The court however failed to hear the application of the NFF officials against the SPIP with regards to the panel’s jurisdiction and the court’s order for substituted service, despite the insistence of the NFF defence counsel.
    The NFF chieftains continue to insist that the charges brought by the SPIP are frivolous, spurious and baseless and has since petitioned the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation for an independent review, for which the Office of the AGF has since directed the SPIP to submit the files for review since 23rd May 2019.
    The NFF legal team will also review the entire ruling to determine if there is need to appeal on the face of the fact that the court has delved into substantive matter without resolving the NFF objection on SPIP jurisdiction pending since January 2019.

  • Alleged fraud: Court orders arrest of Pinnick, other NFF officials

    Alleged fraud: Court orders arrest of Pinnick, other NFF officials

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick and four other officials of the organisation accused of misappropriating funds belonging to the football body.
    Justice Ijeoma Ojukwu gave the order on Monday after the case involving the NFF officials was called and they were absent in court.
    Also, those affected by the arrest order are NFF Secretary, Sunusi Mohammed; the 1st Vice-President, Seyi Akinwumi; the 2nd Vice-President, Shehu Dikko and an Executive member, Yusuff Fresh.
    The Federal Government had earlier this year filed a 17-count charge, marked FHC/ABJ/CR/93/2019, before the court, in which it accused the NFF officials of alleged misappropriation of $8,400,000 belonging to the football body.
    The money was said to have been paid by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to the NFF as appearance fees in the group state of the Russia 2018 World Cup.
    The defendants are also accused of “moving dishonestly and intentionally the sum of about N4bn” belonging to the NFF without the consent of the NFF.
    Justice Ojukwu gave the order for the arrest of the defendants upon an oral application by the prosecution lawyer, Celcius Ukpong when the case was called and the defendants were absent.
    Details shortly.

  • Pinnick, Musa, Oshoala others to light up 2018/2019 Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Pinnick, Musa, Oshoala others to light up 2018/2019 Nigeria Pitch Awards

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick, Super Eagles Vice-Captain, Ahmed Musa, and Super Falcons goal-poacher, Asisiat Oshoala and others are potential winners of the 2018/2019 Nigeria Pitch Awards.

    The organisers of the awards, Matchmakers Consult International Ltd., on Thursday announced the list of nominees for the 2018/2019 at a news briefing in Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 6th edition of the award was designed to recognise those who stand out in a particular season.

    For the 2018/2019 edition, NFF president, Pinnick is up in the nominations for Sam Okwaraji category and he is up against his 1st Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi and the Chairman, Bet9ja, Kunle Sonami.

    Al-Nassr striker Musa is up for two gong as he is in the nomination for the Striker of the Year award and King of the Pitch Awards.

    Musa will slug it out with Esperance of Tunisia striker and former NPFL goal king, Junior Lokosa and Shanghai Shenhua striker, Odion Ighalo for the Striker of the Year.

    For the King of the Pitch category, Musa will be up against Ighalo and the Leicester City FC dependable midfielder, Wilfred Ndidi.

    For the Goalkeeper of the Year, Katsina United FC and Super Eagles safe hand Ikechukwu Ezenwa will slug it out with his compatriot, Francis Uzoho and Enyimba FC goalkeeper Theophilus Afelokhai.

    The Defender of the Year category has Brighton and Hove Albion defender, Leon Balogun, Udinese Calcio FC player, William Troost-Ekong and in-form Leganes FC defender, Kenneth Omeruo.

    The Midfielder of the Year contest will have Ndidi, Arsenal FC playmaker, Alex Iwobi and Stoke City FC midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo.

    The Most Valuable Person (MVP) in NPFL, (Male Category) has Rangers of Enugu striker, Godwin Aguda, Junior Lokosa and Akwa United striker, Mfom Udoh.

    The Most Valuable Person (MVP) in NPFL, (female Category) will see Nasarawa Amazon player, Anam Imo, Rivers Angels Evelyn Nwabuoku and former FC Robo striker, Rasheedat Ajibade.

    In the Queen of the Pitch Category, FC Barcelona loanee, Asisat Oshoala, Shanghai Shengli striker, Francisca Ordega and Rasheedat Ajibade are in the contest.

    The Coach of the Year category has Super Falcon chief tactician, Thomas Dennerby, Chief Coach, Rangers FC, Gbenga Ogunbote and 2017/2019 NPFL runaway winners coach of Lobi Stars, Solomon Ogbeide.

    Akwa United, Rangers FC of Enugu and Lobi Stars of Benue are in the running for the Club of the Year while National Team of the Year has Super Sand Eagles, Super Falcons and Super Eagles.

    The Referee of the Year has Ogabor Odey, Adebimpe Quadri and Ferdinand Udoh.

    The Football Friendly Governor of the Year has the Akwa Ibom Gov. Udom Emmanuel, Rivers States Gov. Nyesom Wike and Delta States Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa.

    The State with the Best Grassroots Football Development category has Delta, Rivers and Lagos State.

    Football Journalist of the Year (Print) has Tunde Liadi, The Nation; Johnny Edwards, Complete Sports and Tana Aiyejina, The Punch.

    For the Radio category, George Essien Comfort Radio Tony Bekederemo, Brila FM and Olawale Adigun, Top Radio.

    The Football Journalist of the Year (TV) category has Cecilia Omoregbe, Moses Praiz, Supersports and Austin Okon-Akpan Channels for nomination.

    For the Online category, Naijafootballplus.com CEO, Tobi Adepoju, Sportsvillagesquare.com counterpart, Kunle Solaja and Samuel Ahmadu of Goal.com up for nomination.

    The organisers of the Pitch Awards, Shina Philips, said that the awards ranked as one of the best in the country, adding that it was time to recognise the heroes in football while they are still alive.

    He said that his organisation and its partners, Auditing Firm, SIAO, would continue to protect the integrity of the awards in respect to nominations and transparent voting system.

    “SIAO partners have continued to support our vision. They have approached the responsibility of the collation of the result with all sense of professionalism.

    “In every sense of it, they have demonstrated their integrity and professionalism in the accounting world.

    “The Nigeria Pitch Awards has come to stay and as organisers, we will continue to put in all that is necessary to sustain the standards that the awards have set,” he said.