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Promise fulfilled: Kalli hails Gusau

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Promise fulfilled: Kalli hails Gusau

As enhanced indemnities for match officials become a reality

 

Kalli Clarifies Further On Eligibility Criteria For Match Commissioners | Sports247 NigeriaChairman of the NFF Match Commissioners’ Appointment Committee, Alhaji Babagana Kalli

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Chairman of the NFF Match Commissioners’ Appointment Committee, Alhaji Babagana Kalli has showered encomiums on the President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau for matching words with action with regards to enhancement of payments to football match officials in the country.

 

“You will recall that at our Match Commissioners’ seminar in Abuja last month, the NFF President promised that indemnities paid to match commissioners and other officials would be enhanced. I am happy to report that this has become a reality.

 

“Officials for last weekend’s matches got the new improved rates. Most of them got their money before they arrived at their match venues. This is a step in the right direction for our football.”

 

Echoing the words of Gusau at the seminar, Kalli reiterated that to whom much is given, much is expected.

 

“The enhanced package comes with responsibilities, as there cannot be benefits without responsibilities. We want officiating and match commissioning at our league and other matches in the country to improve greatly. There is now virtually no excuse for shenanigans. There must be high-level professionalism and a commitment to meeting the highest standards.

 

“We implore the Board of NPFL to maintain the enhanced payments and they will see wonders. Match officials now have absolutely no reason not to be fully focused on their match or not to upskill and bring new touches and flair to their work. We will continue to monitor our match officials and scrutinize their reports thoroughly, and those who fail to measure up will be excused without ceremony,” Kalli added.    

 

NFF congratulates Morocco on 2030

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NFF congratulates Morocco on 2030

FIFA World Cup: Backs Saudi Arabia’s quest for 2034

 

Nigeria's Fashionable Super Eagles Are an Important Symbol of National Identity

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The Nigeria Football Federation has congratulated the Government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco over Wednesday’s decision by FIFA that the North African country will co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup finals with Spain and Portugal.

 

Morocco first threw her hat into the ring more than three decades ago, with a bid to host football’s biggest showpiece in 1994, but lost to the United States of America. The country lost a couple of other bids after that, including that for the 2010 finals which went to South Africa.

 

President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, said on Thursday that Morocco fully deserves the honor: “The NFF is celebrating with the Government and people of Morocco for the success of their tripartite bid with Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 FIFA World Cup. We have no doubt that the tournament will be a huge success, as the stadia infrastructure and other relevant facilities are already there on ground, and the country has an established culture of hosting major tournaments.

 

“The whole of Africa is excited at the prospect of the continent hosting the FIFA World Cup for the second time.”

 

The 2030 finals will be the centenary anniversary of the FIFA World Cup, which began in 1930 with Uruguay as host and Cup winners. FIFA has also announced that as part of the celebrations, the first three matches in 2030 will be staged in Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, before the whole party moves to North Africa and the Iberian Peninsula.

 

Gusau added that the NFF will be throwing its weight behind the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s bid to stage the 2034 finals – four years after the expected spectacle in Morocco, Spain and Portugal.

 

“We believe the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has the infrastructure and facilities to stage a spectacular FIFA World Cup in 2034.”

 

USA, Mexico and Canada will stage the next FIFA World Cup finals in 2026. 

 

FIFA name officials for Nigeria friendly

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FIFA name officials for Nigeria friendly

Super Eagles versus Saudi Arabia game: FIFA appoints referees, VAR officials for Super Eagles, Saudi Arabia game

 

Luis Godinho au sifflet | Nice - CologneLuis Godinho

 

By Edwin Emeanua

 

World football-governing body, FIFA has appointed Portuguese official Luis Godinho as referee for the international friendly match between three-time African champions Nigeria and Asian giants Saudi Arabia, coming up at the Estadio Municipal de Portimão next week Friday.

 

Godinho will be assisted by compatriots Bruno Jesus (assistant referee 1), Tiago Costa (assistant referee 2) and Miguel Noguera (fourth official) at the match kicking off by 5pm Portugal time (same time as in Nigeria).

 

Also appointed are Helder Carvalho to head the situation in the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) room, to be assisted by Bruno Vieira.

 

It is the second-ever clash between both countries. The Super Eagles and the Green Falcons battled to a scoreless draw in a pre-2010 FIFA World Cup friendly game at the Alpenstadion in Wattens, Austria on 25th May 2010.

 

The Eagles have another friendly encounter against the Mambas of Mozambique at the same venue on Monday, 16th October 2023, starting at 4pm.  

 

Benin City set for Eyoto Meet

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Benin City set for Eyoto Meet

Athletes set Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium tartan track on fire in Benin City

 

Ogazi, Nathaniel Set For Intense 400m Showdown As AFN Golden League Concludes | Sports247 Nigeria

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The fourth edition of Eyoto U-15 AthIetics Championship will kick-off on December 12th -13th, 2023, inside the main bowl of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

 

The competition which is fully Sponsored by US based former shot-put AthIete and friends is targeting over 50 schools and 500 pupils in Benin City and environs.

In a chat with TheNiche, technical director of the competition Mutiu Oluwa, said the 4th edition promises to be thrilling as most schools have been preparing for the Competition.

“The U-15 competition which enters its fourth edition and is aimed at talents discovery in primary and secondary Schools.
The Eyoto’s passion for young AthIetes is top notch following their potent sponsorship of the yearly competition,” he said.

Mutiu averred that through the assistance of ex-athletes in Eyoto’s gang and Princess Mabel Madojiemu U-15 AthIetics competitions and others, Edo State was able to harvest young AthIetes for the recently concluded National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State Capital.

The competition director further said, events that would feature in the 2-day competition include, 100/200m, 400m, long jump, 4×100, 4×400m and mixed relays among others.

At previous meets, AthIetes received prices, including writing materials, books and so on. Oluwa also informed that the actual date for the competition is now December 12th-13th not November as earlier announced.

 

Four players make Super Eagles return

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Four players make Super Eagles return

International Friendlies: Omeruo, Iwobi, Osayi-Samuel, Moffi, back to Super Eagles fold

 

Alexander Iwobi (@alexiwobi) / XAlex Iwobi: Back to the fold

 By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Head Coach Jose Santos Peseiro has recalled defenders Kenneth Omeruo and Bright Osayi-Samuel, as well as midfielder Alex Iwobi, and forward Terem Moffi to the Super Eagles’ squad for this month’s international friendly matches against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique in Portugal.

 

The quartet were absent from the team that demolished Sao Tome and Principe in last month’s 2023 AFCON qualifier in Uyo.

 

Midfielder Fisayo Dele-Bashiru of Hatayaspor FC of Turkey, gets his first-ever invitation, while Peseiro has decided to retain the trio of Francis Uzoho, Adebayo Adeleye, and Olorunleke Ojo in goal. Yet-to-be-capped defender Jordan Torunarigha is also called.

 

Wilfred Ndidi, who captained the team against Sao Tome and Principe, as well as Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Moses Simon, Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho have also been invited.

 

The Super Eagles take on the Green Falcons of Saudi Arabia in the city of Portimão, Portugal on Friday, 13th October 2023, starting at 5pm before a clash with the Mambas of Mozambique in the same city three days later.

 

The players are all expected to arrive in Faro, Portugal on Tuesday, 10th October. Both encounters have been arranged as tune-up games for the Eagles ahead of the commencement of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches, in which the three-time African champions host Lesotho’s Crocodiles in Uyo on 17th November before travelling away to play Zimbabwe four days later.

 

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

 

Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Omonia FC, Cyprus); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC); Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel).

 

Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Nottingham Forest, England); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Jordan Torunarigha (KAA Gent, Belgium); Kenneth Omeruo (Kasimpasa FC, Turkey); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Calvin Bassey (Fulham FC, England); Jamilu Collins (Cardiff FC, Wales); Bruno Onyemaechi (Boavista FC, Portugal).

 

Midfielders: Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Raphael Onyedika (Club Brugge, Belgium); Joe Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Fulham FC, England); Fisayo Dele-Bashiru (Hatayaspor FC, Turkey).

 

Forwards: Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Samuel Chukwueze (AC Milan, Italy); Moses Simon (FC Nantes, France); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Terem Moffi (OGC Nice, France); Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany).

 

Gombe wins first ever Athletics medal

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Gombe wins first ever Athletics medal

Gombe Athletics breaks winless medal duck in National Athletics events

 

NYG 2023: How lads from Gombe AthIetics Academy made history at Youth Games - TheNiche

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

As the closing bell tolls to signal the end of the 7th National Youth Games in Asaba, Delta State Capital, the performance of Gombe State Athletics Academy lads will not be forgotten in a hurry as they thrilled Spectators and unexpectedly, won medals-one silver and two bronze-in the process.

 

Since the creation of Gombe from Bauchi State back in the 80’s, the state’s Athletes have not won a medal in any organized competition in track and field, a feat which remained unbroken until Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe raised the bar through the establishment of an Athletics Academy after a successful Gombe inter-primary school AthIetics championship on 4th August 2023.

Gombe Academy AthIetes not only attracted talent scouts, they soon earned media focus for their performance and decent appearances in months to come.

To sustain the management of the Academy, a 13 man committee was inaugurated by Hon. Gara Gombe to thinker the academy activities, headed by Prince Simon Ayuba as Director and Haruna Isah kalshingi as Registrar.

Interestingly, this is the first under-15 National Youth Games these talented AthIetes attended and was fully sponsored to it by Hon. Gara Gombe.

Gladly, the Athletes came out strongly to appreciate the opportunity given to them by winning a silver and two bronze medals.

The athletes were so excited with the level of experience they had acquired in Asaba, and assured of more in the forthcoming AthIetics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) under 13 competition in November.

Young Abdullahi Abdullahi Adamu is the first Gombe indigene make to run in the finals of an event in the history of Nigeria’s Athletics, and he made the feat by running the 200m finals.

Lamech Danladi, won Gombe athletics Academy Silver medal in the 800m event for his first medal in athletics at the Youth Games in Nigeria.

Picking interest by giving these young lads the opportunity to attend the Youth Games in Asaba was highly commendable which makes Hon Gara Gombe’s contributions to Gombe Athletics development very outstanding.

His interest in developing Athletics in Gombe is highly exemplary as Hon Gara Gombe has also set his mind not only in developing Athletics in just one local government area of his state but all of Gombe’s LGAs.

For instance, the AthIetes that won the medals-Adamu and Lamech Danladi-came from different LGAs , namely, Tula and Gombe.
This is how Hon Gara Gombe has penetrated and taken Athletics to all Gombe indigenes.

These AthIetes would need to be encouraged, they have gone to Asaba and what they experienced and how Gombe people have welcomed them would lay a solid foundation on how other youths would abandon the streets and take to Sports.

These Talents were not born with silver spoons, most of them came right the streets and through their talents, were recruited into the Academy.

 

Nigeria/Benin AFCON bid ahead

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Nigeria/Benin AFCON bid ahead

West African neighbors’ joint bid in the forefront as CAF picks AFCON 2025 and 2027 host nations

 

FIFA U20 Women's World Cup: Uyo's Nest of Champions is “the best” to host in Nigeria - Illo (AUDIO)Uyo’s Nest of Champions is one of the venues picked to host the event in Nigeria

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The joint bid by Nigeria and neighboring Republic of Benin has jumped to the forefront in the race for hosting of the 36th edition of Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, as the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football is set to vote on the bids for the hosts for both the 2025 and 2027 edition in Cairo on Wednesday.

 

The meeting will take place at the Cairo Marriott Hotel in Zamalek, downtown Cairo. With Morocco virtually guaranteed the honor for the 2025 finals, the joint bid by Nigeria and Republic of Benin, is in contest with Senegal, Egypt, Botswana, and a tripartite arrangement of Uganda/Kenya/Tanzania for the 2027 event.

 

Algeria was a strong candidate for the 2027 event until the North African country withdrew from the race on Tuesday morning.

 

Guinea was originally selected to host the 2025 finals, on the same day that Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire were given the mandates for the 2021 and 2023 editions respectively. But the Guineans fell behind badly in the preparations with infrastructure and other facilities unattended to.

 

A new military government in place has not helped the country’s case, leaving CAF with no other option but simply withdrawing the hosting right from the country.

 

Nigeria has put forward the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja; Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos; Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna; Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba; Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City and; Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano.

 

In the Republic of Benin, the Stade Mathieu Kerekou in Cotonou and the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo are listed.

 

Nigeria hosted and won the 12th edition of the AFCON in 1980 and then co-hosted the 22nd finals with Ghana in 2000.

 

On Tuesday night, Nigeria’s contingent of Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ismaila Abubakar; President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau; General Secretary of NFF, Mohammed Sanusi, and Project Coordinator, Mainasara Illo, arrived in Cairo.

 

They have been joined by Nigeria’s FIFA Council Member and Member of the CAF Executive Committee, Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

 

In the corridors of CAF’s headquarters in 6th October City, outside Cairo, the Nigeria/Benin Republic bid is being strongly mentioned, with references to two of Africa’s FIFA Council Members and CAF Executive Committee Members, Pinnick (who is also the former President of NFF), and Mathurin De Chacus, who is the sitting President of Federation Beninoise de Football.

 

On Wednesday, before the vote is taken by the CAF Executive Committee, after it would have discussed the report of the Independent Assessment Committee, the bidding nations will have 10 minutes to make a presentation, with the Nigeria/Benin case to be canvassed by veteran broadcaster and experienced bid campaigner, Mainasara Illo.

 

The presentation  by Illo, who was deputy chief organizer of the 8th All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted in 2003, and chief organizer of the FIFA U17 World Cup also hosted by Nigeria in 2009, led a bid coordinating team that has taken two different CAF inspection teams round Nigeria’s stadia infrastructure and other facilities, and will make a case that is a hybrid of strong oratory appeal and multi-media presentation.

 

The bid’s theme is pegged on how it will spur greater collaboration between both nations in the areas of security and commerce, foster seamless transportation between both nations and by extension the West African region, and be an elixir for the development and improvement of critical infrastructure in the two countries.  

      

‘Curtail age cheating in Nigeria sports’

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‘Curtail age cheating in Nigeria sports’

Edo State Sports Commission Chairman, Yusuf Alli’s recipe for Nigeria to achieve world sports dominance

 

Yusuf Alli
Yusuf Alli

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Former African long champion and Edo State Sports Commission Chairman, Yusuf Alli has called for measures to curtail age cheating in Nigeria sports, if the country wishes to compete and win at the world level.

 

Alli, who still holds the national long jump record of 8.27m was speaking against the background of alleged wide spread use of over aged athletes by some states at the on-going National Youth Games.

He stated that the championship now taking place in Asaba, Delta State is intended as a developmental competition, and not a win at all cost event.

“If we run the right age, sports will grow; if we cheat, sports will not grow,” Alli said at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

“I can give you an example. There was this guy back in the days, who ran in Oluyole ’79 national sports festival. In 1984, he now ran as a junior athlete with the likes of Gabriel Okon.

“This guy am talking about was older than me. When I was running senior he was running junior, but at the end of the day, what was the outcome? What was his input to Nigerian sports? So this is how cheating has been killing Nigerian sports.”

He submitted that by cutting their ages, athletes are only doing themselves a disfavor.

“If an athletes who is 18 is claiming to be 14, how can he improve if he is getting the training of a 14 year old? For instance, for the 14 year olds, you can only load them with 1000m of training per section. For 18-year-olds, you are supposed to do 1700m per section, so how can an athlete improve?

“This is how cheating is gradually killing sports in the country. Some State’s want to win and win at all cost, but it is not about winning but about developing young talents.

“This is what we must be preaching to everyone; that cheating is actually killing sports rather developing it.

“You have people in their prime still running junior. In Edo, we are not winning at all cost, our kids are like diamond, they are still going through the process, and they are going to shine in the future. At the end, they will be happy, and their family will also be happy for the sacrifice.”

He said the country should learn a lesson from how Tobi Amusan and Ese Brume climbed the ladder to the world level.

“Amusan and Brume, they were juniors back in 2013, and in ten years, they developed to achieving results at the world level,” Alli said.

“We must not allow age cheats to continue unchecked if we want more athletes like Amusan and Brume. This country is blessed with so much talents and if we catch them young, and do the right thing, we would be competing with the top sporting nations in the world.”

 

Princess Mabel Madojiemu commends Delta State

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Princess Mabel Madojiemu commends Delta State

For hosting the National Youth Games

 

Youth Games kits scandal rocks Team Ekiti camp

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Nigeria’s Former female quarter-miler Princess Mabel Madojiemu has commended Delta State for being the pathway for talents hunt and discovery by hosting the National Youth Games.

 

The light skinned Athlete, who also sponsors yearly U-15 AthIetics Competitions, spoke from her base in Australia hailing the effort of the state in assisting in the production of budding young talents by playing host to the Games in Nigeria.

“I Want to commend my State, Delta, for chosing to host the Games. This gesture clearly shows the interest our leaders have in the growth of sports in Nigeria,” she said.

According to the Olympian who hails from Agbor in Delta State, the Games will further unearth AthIetes like Mary Onyali, Madojiemu, Ese Brume, Tobi Amusan, and others for the state and Nigeria in general.

She expressed gratitude to kind hearted individuals who had taken it upon themselves to assist in developing young talents by providing grassroots competitions for Youths across the Federation.

Philanthropists such as Hon. Ahmed Gara Gombe, US based Friday Enoye, and others, have raised the bar in not only assisting young AthIetes, but in the creation of Foundations and AthIetics Academies to further sustain efforts for Youth employment through sports, she added.

 

Gombe releases Youth Games Athletics list

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Gombe releases Youth Games Athletics list

State’s Athletics team drawn from the Gombe Athletics Academy

Athletes fear missing FISU games - Punch Sports Extra

Gombe Athletics Association enhancing Youth Athletics stars to gear up for national honors

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

No fewer than 14 AthIetes, led by four officials from Gombe State would feature at the 7th National Youth Games holding in Asaba.

 

The young AthIetes drawn from the Gombe Athletics Academy established by the Chairman of Gombe State Athletics Association, Hon. Ahmed Shuaibu Gara, would contest for medals in 15 events.

 

In a press statement signed by Team leader Prince Simon Ayuba, the Association stated that Athletes and technical officials to feature in the Asaba Youth Games are Blessing Ehi Ikpa, Comfort Emela, Maryam Zarma Aliu, Zainab Nafada, Confidence Eze, Happiness Peter, Safiya Mohammed Adamu, Salma Mohammed, Hamza Dalhatu, Ilesha Kengs, Samuel Okeke, Abdullahi Abdullahi Adamu, Samuel Okeke, and Lamech Danladi.

The Team’s technical Officials include, Prince Simon Ayuba, Academy Director/Technical Adviser to the Chairman of Gombe Athletics Association, Isaac W Linga, Head of Coaching Gombe Sports Commission, Yakubu Maikudi, SWAN /Jewel FM, and Kabiru Lawan, Secretary Gombe Athletics Association.

 

Gombe AthIetes would also seek for honors in 15 Events namely, Hamza Dalhatu 100M 4X100, Blessing Ehi Ikpa, Ilesha Kengs, 100M 4X100, Comfort Emela, Samuel Okeke, 4X100, Maryam Zarma Aliu, Abdullahi Abdullahi Adamu 4X100, Zainab Nafada, Samuel Okeke, 200m, Blessing Ehi Ikpa, Hamza Dalhatu 200m, Confidence Eze, Samuel Okeke, 400M 4X400, Happiness Peter, Hamza Dalhatu, 400M 4X40O, and Confidence Eze and Lamech Danladi, 4X400.

 

Other are, Salma Mohammed, llesha Kengs, 4X400, Safiya Mohammed Adamu, and Abdullahi Abdullahi Adamu, Long jump, Confidence Eze and Hamza Dalhatu, 4x100m Mixed Relay, Blessing Ehi Ikpa and Samuel Okeke 4x100m Mixed Relay, Confidence Eze and Ilesha Kengs, 4x400m Mixed Relay, Happiness Peter, Salma Mohammed, and Lamech Danladi, 4x400m Mixed Relay.

 

These crop of talents mainly from the AthIetics Academy will be competing for the first time and according to the statement signed by the Team leader, Prince Ayuba: “There are high expectations for good competition from the young AthIetes which expectedly would pave way for improved performance.”

 

“Gombe is here to announce that abundant young talents exist in schools, communities and villages in the state. We are also here to showcase these talents for interaction among themselves, exchange positive ideas, and not actually to win medals, which is the essence of the National Youth Games, but if medals come, glory to God. ”

 

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