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Chelsea complete Noni Madueke signing

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Chelsea complete Noni Madueke signing

England Under-21s winger joins English Premier League giants on £30.7m January transfer from PSV Eindhoven

 

Chelsea and PSV Eindhoven move into talks over England under-21 winger Noni Madueke | Daily Mail Online

England under-21 star joins Chelsea from Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in a move worth about £30.7m

 

BBC Sports reports that Chelsea has completed the signing of England Under-21s winger Noni Madueke from PSV Eindhoven in a move worth about £30.7m.

 

The 20-year-old joins on a seven-and-a-half-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year.

 

Madueke is the club’s second signing in five days, following Mykhailo Mudryk’s arrival in an £89m deal.

 

He is their sixth January signing, and Transfermarkt puts their spending this month at 178.50m euros (£156m).

 

The Blues have also signed David Datro Fofana, Andrey Santos, Benoit Badiashile, and Joao Felix on loan during the January transfer window.

 

It comes after a summer that saw them spend a Premier League record £270m – the second-highest summer by any club in the world after Real Madrid (£292m) in 2019.

 

“I’m pleased to sign with one of the best clubs in the world,” Madueke told the club’s website.

 

“To return to England and play in the Premier League is a dream for my family and me, and I can’t wait to start.

 

“I am excited for what the future holds, the owner’s vision for the future, and to be at a club like this and winning at the highest level.”

 

Madueke entered the youth system at Crystal Palace and Tottenham before leaving England to move to the Netherlands and sign for PSV in 2018.

 

He scored 21 goals in 77 appearances for the Dutch side and has four England Under-21s caps.

FCT appoints Roseline Collins-Okah Athletics chairperson

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FCT appoints Roseline Collins-Okah Athletics chairperson

Tasked with the coordination and regulation of athletics in the FCT

 

 

Collins-Okah grabs FCT Athletics Association chairperson's post - TheNiche

Roseline Collins-Okah is the new FCT Athletics boss

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The 2nd Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Roseline Collins-Okah, is now the Chairperson of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Athletics Association.

 

The appointment was signed by the FCT director of Sports, Mr. Luka Istifanus. A letter of introduction sent to AFN stated that Collins-Okah would be responsible for coordinating and regulating all AthIetics activities in the FCT and urged AFN to accord her all needed assistance.

 

“The appointment of the former Africa/National Triple jump Champion as FCT Chairperson is well deserved as She has the needed wealth of experience to function without stress. A slice of her well-built resume makes it clear.” the letter insisted.

Rosa Collins was an AFN Federation Member to the World Athletics Championship in Oregon, USA, in August 2022; she achieved a world record and gold medal through Tobi Amusan (12:12) in the 100m hurdles and a Silver medal courtesy of Ese Brume in the Long jump.

 

Her athletic achievements, Political philanthropism, and program Sponsorship are top-notch.

 

According to her resume, the latest assignment with FCT may not be too challenging, having played similar roles, especially in Edo State as Vice Chairman of Athletics in the past.

 

She was also recently on the board of the FCT Athletics association.

 

Gusau extends the life of IMC 

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Gusau extends the life of IMC 

Committee to live till the end of the season

 

Withdraw LMC Licence To Avert Collapse Of Local Football League—FG Tells NFF | Business Post Nigeria

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, has extended the Interim Management Committee of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) tenure until the end of the 2022/2023 League Season.

 

The NFF President said he decided to extend the IMC’s tenure to allow the team to concentrate fully on the organization and management of the ongoing NPFL season, which is only heading to its Matchday 3 this weekend.

 

It can be recalled that the NFF President had inaugurated the Interim Management Committee of the NPFL, headed by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye, on 21st October 2022, with an initial mandate of three months and a slew of terms of reference aimed at engendering a new life generally for Nigeria’s elite division.

 

At the Draw Ceremony for the new season, staged on 28th December 2022, the NFF President thumbed up the IMC for the tremendous work it had been doing since its inauguration and assured it of NFF’s support in turning around Nigeria’s domestic League for the better, including fostering a viable football economy.

 

Due to time factors, the IMC opted for an abridged format for the 2022/2023 NPFL Season, with 10 Clubs in Group A and 10 Clubs in Group B. The current season is scheduled to end in May.  

Oyo State government is a fraud

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Oyo State government is a fraud
Former 3SC forward Ochuko Otis blasts state government over unfulfilled promises to players

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi 

 

Former 3Sc forward Ochuko Otis has lambasted the Oyo State government, calling it a fraud for failing to fulfill the promises made to 3SC players 25 years ago.

 

Ochuko, alleged that 25 years after helping the Ibadan-based team to win the premier league title and the WAFU cup, the state has failed to redeem the landed properties promised to the players by the then military governor of the state, Adore Oyakhire.

 

Speaking on behalf of the 1998 set of 3SC, Ochuko fumed: “Justice must be served to all the players that suffered to write the name of this great club in the history books. Governor Oyakhire gave us the certificate of occupancy (C of O) before he left office, while governor Lam Adesina cunningly took the documents from us immediately after he assumed office.

 

“Lam Adesina told us that most lands were not properly surveyed. They said they wanted to restructure the land. That was the trick they used. In a civilized world, it is stealing by trick. CNN and BBC are ready to interview me on this issue. We will not relent until they give us our land and the one million naira they promised each player.”

 

The former Julius Berger FC of Lagos player said if the administrators knew what he and his teammates went through to achieve this goal, they would not hold on to their properties for 25 years.

 

“I did seven operations when I was in 3SC. I ended my career at the club due to injuries. I was always playing with injections that would last for 2 to 3 hours to enable me to help the team score goals. Other players also had injury problems, but we didn’t allow that to stop us from winning trophies for the club,” he said.

 

Sports Joust reliably gathered that the late Elder Bode Oyewole, former 3SC sole administrator the players gave the power of Attorney, could not solve the problem before passing away.

 

When contacted, Taiwo Adisa, the Chef Press secretary to the Oyo state governor Seyi Makinde, referred Sports Joust to the commissioner for sports adding that: “He is the right person to answer your questions. I am not a sports person.”

 

Pius Daniel, Mojeed Azeez, Daniel Ukar, and Dimeji Adenekan of blessed memories were part of the team.

 

 The complete list of the 1998 3SC squad are;
 
 
GOAL KEEPERS
1) Andrew  Aikhomogbe
2) Leye Akinde
3)Ben Klufi
4)Shankar Ugwah
5) Ebenezer Atayero
 
DEFENDERS
6)Mojeed Azeez
7)Eric Ejiofor
8)Patric Ovie
9)Adebayo Shobayo
10)Seyi Ogunsanya
11)Duke Duke
12)Ben Jonhson
13)Alen Njoh Njoh
14)Christopher Ohonsi
15)Dimeji Adenekan…Dead
16) Adeife Fatoki
 
MIDFIELDERS
17)Sunday Adu
18)Thomas Ekojah
19)Sunday Elibare
20)Isika Haliru
21)Duke Udi
22)Golden Ajeboh
23)Daniel Ukah … Dead
 
RIGHT WINGERS
24)Peter Onehi
25)Samuel Yamta
26)Danjuma Yakubu
 
 LEFT WINGERS
27)Bawdwin Bazuaye
28)Kola Ademola
29)Pius Daniel..  Dead
 
STRIKERS
30)Kazeem Tijani
31)Niyi Elegbede
32)Benjamin Agada.Dead
33)Rafiu Salawudeen
34)Peter Obanon
35)Ochuko Otos

Ugbabe invites 48 U-17 players to camp

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Ugbabe invites 48 U-17 players to camp

 To commence preparations for Algeria 2023 in Abuja on Monday

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

NDUKA UGBADE: How our sweet story turned sour

 Nduka Ugbade

 

Nigeria’s U17 squad, Golden Eaglets, will begin preparations for this year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations on Monday after Head Coach Nduka Ugbade called 48 players to his camp in Nigeria’s federal capital, Abuja.

 

The invitees, including most of the bunch that won the WAFU B U17 Championship in the Ghanaian city of Cape Coast last summer, have been told to report to Abuja today.

 

The Africa U17 Cup of Nations has been scheduled for Algeria from 8th to 30th April, from which the four top-placed teams will qualify to fly Africa’s flag at the FIFA U17 World Cup finals that will be staged in Peru from 10th November to 2nd December.

 

Nigeria is a five-time FIFA U17 World Cup champion after triumphs in China in 1985, Japan in 1993, Korean Republic in 2007, the United Arab Emirates in 2013, and Chile in 2015.

 

ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

 

Richard Odoh, Hameed Ayomide Balogun, Ebube Wisdom Okere, Umar Abubakar, Tochukwu Simeon Ogbabido, Tochukwu Joseph Ogboji, Utibe Friday Silas, Emmanuel Osaro Onotu, Jubril Odeyemi Azeez, Faruq Jimoh, Kevwe Onomigho Iyede, Suleiman Shehu, Abdullahi Buhari, Victor Divine Emmanuel, Daniel Ayomide Egunshola, Abubakar Shuaibu, Ozor Victor Okeke, Emmanuel Michael, Miracle Jackson Ogwor, Light Chijioke Eke, Raphael Oyebanjo, Miracle Agabi Williams, Yahaya Danjuma Lawali, Prince Oche Bawa, Favour Oluwasegun Daniel, Precious Tonye Williams, Jerry Patrick Ogbole, Emmanuel Junior Chidi, Mubarak Emmanuel Suleiman, Abubakar Ibrahim Zubairu, Richard Oliseamaka Uche, Joseph Oluwatobi Robert, Michael Uche Ogba, John Auta, Shola Oluwafemi Kolo, Pascal Obioma Uzoho, Victor Friday, Itaribo Ayebaekepriye, Jeremiah Oluwaseyi Olaleke, Basil Chimaobi Mbata, Oluwadare Olodan, Precious Benjamin, Tochukwu Michael Agbo, Samuel Aderibigbe, Abubakar Idris Abdullahi, Umar Jamiu, Tijjani Mohammed, Abdullahi Haruna

Enugu Rangers guns for continental slot

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Enugu Rangers guns for continental slot

Despite losing the first game of the 2023 NPFL to Abia Warriors 

 

NORBERT OKOLIE (@Notinbard) / Twitter

 

 

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi 

 

Comrade Okolie Norbert, Rangers International FC of Enugu media officer, says the club’s target this season is to qualify for any of the Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) competitions next year.

 

The Flying Antelopes lost their 2022/23 opening league match 0-2 at home to Abia Warriors on Sunday.

 

In a chat with Sports Joust, Norbert disclosed that Rangers would focus on qualifying from group B in the abridged league and play in the Super six, where the CAF Champions League and Confederation cup representatives will emerge.

 

He added: “The management is trying to get Rangers back to the continental scene, and that’s why we approved 95 percent of the players the coaches requested. They’re all fresh legs.”

 

Norbert insisted that the 2-0 defeat to Abia Warriors was a shock to the entire team and fans, but the club will not relent in its efforts to pick a continental ticket at the end of the season.

 

He also advised the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to instruct all national teams coaches to cultivate the habit of inviting local players for international assignments to help develop, build confidence and expose local talents.

 

Norbert said: “Europe-based players have taken over our national teams. I’ve been following the Nigerian league for over 30 years. Good players in our society can break into the Super Eagles if given a chance.”

 

Lobi Stars FC will host Rangers tomorrow at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi. Rangers came 5th last season, while Lobi Stars placed 6th on the table.

American Waldrum confident of Super Falcons

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American Waldrum confident of Super Falcons

To emulate the Class of ’99 at the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup

 

Women's Afcon: Nigeria coach Randy Waldrum backs squad to retain title - BBC Sport

Randy Waldrum: looking forward to a Super Falcons’ success at the Women’s World Cup

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

Super Falcons Head Coach Randy Waldrum has reiterated his confidence in the Super Falcons as they gear up for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

 

The Super Falcons won their spot in the Mundial after defeating Cameroon’s Lionesses in the quarter-finals of the 12th Women Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco last summer, with Rasheedat Ajibade scoring the crucial goal to earn a semi-final spot and the ticket to Australia/New Zealand.

 

It meant the Falcons had made it to all FIFA Women’s World Cup editions – a record shared with only six other teams globally.

 

In a chat with thenff.com, Waldrum expressed his belief that the Super Falcons are capable of emulating the set of 1999 and matching their predecessors’ feat of a quarter-final berth at the global finals in the U.S.A.

 

The Class of 1999, led by Florence Omagbemi, defeated North Korea 2-1 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena with goals from Mercy Akide and Rita Nwadike before losing 1-7 to the U.S.A. despite taking a second-minute lead through Nkiru Okosieme.

 

Defeat to the Americans in Chicago stirred something in Africa’s lone flag-bearer at the first FIFA Women’s World Cup to feature 16 teams.

 

In their next match, the Super Falcons flew past Denmark 2-0 at the Jack Kent Cooke Stadium near Washington DC, the goals coming from Mercy Akide and Nkiru Okosieme. 

 

In the quarter-finals, at the same venue, the Nigerian girls stormed back from three goals down to Brazil in the first half to tie the game 3-3, with Prisca Emeafu, Nkiru Okosieme, and Nkechi Egbe the scorers, before Brazil won in extra-time, in what was the very first time the golden goal decided a women’s competitive game. This was after 104 minutes.

 

Waldrum added: “I am confident and realistic about this. We have abundant talents in the squad, and I am convinced they can go that far. This particular team is very talented and has the same ability to go far in the tournament, just like the Class of 1999. 

 

“To achieve this and even more, we need to have all players in fit condition, healthy, and most importantly, have enough time together. If we have enough time together, we can be successful at the World Cup.”

 

The Super Falcons have been drawn alongside Olympic champions Canada and co-hosts Australia and the Republic of Ireland in Group B of the 9th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals. The Nigerians will play all their group phase matches in Australia – one game in Melbourne and two matches in Brisbane.

NPFL: Gusau challenges Nigerian league referees

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NPFL: Gusau challenges Nigerian league referees

Tasks them to sustain the first feat of credible officiating

 

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi with the contribution of Edwin Emeanua (Editor)

 

President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has commended the referees who officiated the Match Day 1 of the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), tasking them to sustain their brilliance throughout the season and thence.

 

He urged them to continue to recreate the credibility apparent in their output on the first day of the current professional football league.

 

Match Day 1 of the ongoing NPFL recorded four away wins and four draws, with just two home teams securing the maximum points. Defending champions Rivers United fought hard to tame Lobi Stars 2-1 in Port Harcourt, while Remo Stars thumped their visitors El-Kanemi Warriors 2-0 in Ikenne.

 

Former champions Rangers International capitulated by 0-2 goals to the gallantry of visiting Abia Warriors, while Bendel Insurance usurped hosts Akwa United 2-0. Shooting Stars of Ibadan held their ground against Plateau United in their away game 3-3 thriller over the weekend during multiple NPFL titlists Enyimba tamed hosts Nasarawa United 1-2.

 

Kwara United settled 0-0 with visitors Gombe United in a hard-fought stalemate as Bayelsa United ended their weekend contest with visiting Dakkada FC in a 1-1 draw. Sunshine Stars also held their hosts Doma United to a 1-1 stalemate, while Wikki Tourists lost at home to Niger Tornadoes.

 

Gusau expressed his delight with the weekend results adding: “I am happy with the results in which so many teams won on away grounds, especially by the reports we received from most of the centers concerning the performance of the referees.

 

“I want to commend the NFF Referees Committee for putting their right foot forward from the beginning and also charge the referees themselves to sustain credible output from now on. We are determined to ensure that so many things about the League change for the better, and we will not relent in our efforts.”

 

The NFF boss underscored the commitment of the present NFF administration to rebranding domestic football and giving it life to spur the real growth and sustainability of a football economy that will delight all stakeholders and other indirect income earners.

 

 NPFL Matchday 1 Results

(A)

Nasarawa United 1-2 Enyimba FC

Akwa United 0-2 Bendel Insurance

Plateau United 3-3 Shooting Stars

Kwara United 0-0 Gombe United

Remo Stars 2-0 El-Kanemi Warriors

 

(B)

Bayelsa United 1-1 Dakkada FC

Wikki Tourists 0-2 Niger Tornadoes

Doma United 1-1 Sunshine Stars

Rivers United 2-1 Lobi Stars

Rangers Int’l 0-2 Abia Warriors

NOC mourns olympic coach Ephraim Chukwuemeka

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NOC mourns olympic coach Ephraim Chukwuemeka

As Nigeria losses her first coach to first Olympics team event

 

Mr. Ephraim Chukwuemeka

 

By Rasheed Adewuyi

 

The Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) joins the Handball family in mourning top Olympic Coach Ephraim C Chukwuemeka, 82, who led the National Handball team Team to the 1992 Barcelona Games.

 

Chukwuemeka was also a former chairman of the Abia State Football Association oldest serving FA chairman in the country.

 

In a statement, Tony Nezianya, NOC Public Relations Officer, said that Coach Chukwuemeka, who died on January 2 following brief ill health in Isikwuato, Abia State, was one of the two coaches that led the first-ever national team sport to the Olympic Games.

 

Alongside his partner, Late Coach Paulinus Chukwu, from their days at the Grasshopper’s Handball club of Owerri, they led the national team to the Barcelona Games.

 

They had paired to lead the squad that defeated the then-highly-rated Angolan side at the African Championships in Egypt in 1991 to qualify for the Olympic Games, making handball the first team sport from the country to be eligible for the Olympics Games.

 

During his illustrious sporting career that spanned over three decades, Chukwuemeka doubled as FIFA Badged Soccer Referee.

 

A well-known patron of the NOC, Dr. Lanre Glover was then the National Chairman of the Handball Association of Nigeria (HAN), and Nezianya (Tony), the spokesman of the Association, during the feat.

 

According to Glover, the coaches consistently did well with the popular Grasshoppers. The popular thought then was that they deserved the right to be provided with the opportunity to lead the National squad to the Games.

 

Before then, no Nigerian team sports had ever made it to the Olympic Games.

 

Dr. Toyin Esther Aluko, the Chaperon of the team to the Barcelona Games, remarked that Coach Chukwuemeka lived a good life. He knew how to care for himself while donning his golden B red hallmark Golden bracelets.

 

Coach Chukwuemeka will be buried on February 10 at his ancestral home, Amiyi, Obilohia Isikwuato, Abia State, according to his son in Law, Christian Ihememegbulam.

Jose Paseiro reports NFF to FIFA

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Jose Paseiro reports NFF to FIFA
Over 164,500,000 Naira in unpaid wages
 
FIFA - Wikipedia
 
 
By Rasheed Adewuyi
 
Sports Joust has reliably gathered that Jose Paseiro has filed an official complaint with FIFA, the world’s Soccer governing body (FIFA), over the remainder of his unpaid wages.
 
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is still owing the Super Eagles technical adviser Jose Paseiro three hundred and fifty thousand dollars ($350,000), about one hundred and Sixty-four million, five hundred thousand nairas (164,500,00) in salary arrears.
 
The Portuguese coach was employed in May 2022 on a monthly salary of seventy thousand dollars ($70,000).
 
NFF  communication director Demola Olajire,  in an interview with Sports Joust,  said the soccer ruling body had paid Paseiro three months out of the eight months it owed him.
 
Olajire said, “I cannot give you the breakdown and when the balance would be paid. All I know is that three months have been spent.”
 
Olajire confirmed that the three months salary ($210,000)  was paid in  December 2022, adding that the NFF is doing everything possible to clear all its debts to  Paseiro.
 
He stressed further, “I must tell you that he has been paid. I cannot give you the breakdown and when everything will be paid.”
 
According to FIFA law, Paseiro can terminate his contract and still be paid in full by the NFF. After sacking  Gernot Rohr in December 2021, FIFA ordered the NFF  to pay $378, 000 about 185 million naira, to compensate him for the early termination of his contract.
 
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