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Nigeria in Seychelles for serious business, not vacation’ – Gernot Rohr
Only a win would do for the Super Eagles in the archipelago nation, according to the German handler
Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has highlighted the importance of a win against Seychelles in Saturday’s 2019 African Cup of Nations encounter.
A 2-0 loss to South Africa in June 2017 saw the three-time African champions, who have failed to qualify for the last two continental tournaments, place third in Group E, with Libya and South Africa leading the way in that order.
Victory over bottom-placed Seychelles would put the Super Eagles back on track; a result the German handler insists his side must get.
“Everyone realizes the importance of this match. We are currently number three in our group and that position does not befit Super Eagles of Nigeria,” Rohr told thenff.com.
“It is not good for us because it is outside the qualification range.
“The players know this. They know that on Saturday they have to show character to put our campaign back on track with a good result.”
“We are not here on vacation. We are here for serious business,” he stated.
“We have a young, ambitious team and Nigeria has a better pedigree in the game of football than Seychelles. But we must not underrate them in any way or take things for granted.
“The World Cup is behind us now, but we must allow the lessons we learnt in Russia to make us better and more efficient in our approach.
“The Cup of Nations is the focus now and we must get a good result on Saturday to get our campaign back, and then we can now look ahead with determination to win the remaining matches in our group to qualify easily for the championship.”
Salisu Yusuf banned from all football-related activities for a year
A source in the ethics committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) told TheCable that Salisu has been found guilty of receiving “cash gift” to field certain players at the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations.
He was also promised 15 percent of the players’ contract fee if they are signed by a foreign club.
The video clip of the alleged transaction, which was made public by BBC African Eye on July 24, showed the coach receiving the sum of $1000 from undercover reporters led by Anas Arameyaw Anas.
The meeting took place in Ghana during the 2017 WAFU Cup where Nigeria finished second after losing the final 4-1 to host Ghana.
The Cable
NFF Election Saga: Amaju Pinnick and Ifeanyi Ubah trying frustrating me – Chinedu Okoye
By Verbinski
As the NFF elections draw nearer, interested candidates have been doing the needful by picking, filling and submitting forms as directed by the regulations. However, trouble, saga and hints of corruption are never far away at every corner
As part of the election requirements, interested persons are meant to get the support of their State FA Chairmen but it appears that even that section of the rules is being abused by Amaju Pinnick.
In a letter to FIFA titled: “PETITION AGAINST THE CHAIRMAN OF THE ANAMBRA STATE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION, DR. IFEANYI UBAH OVER HIS REFUSAL TO NOMINATE ME TO CONTEST FOR THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION (NFF) AS STIPULATED IN ARTICLE 4.3 OF THE “GUIDELINES FOR THE NIGERIA FOOTBALL FEDERATION EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE ELECTIONS, 2018”
Mr Chinedu Okoye, a native of Ogidi in Anambra State, a former football referee in the Swiss Liga, President of Bimo FC and a Diploma holder in Physical and Health Education from the University of Nigeria, laid his frustration as the deliberate ploy by the Anambra State Football Association, Ifeanyi Ubah under instructions from Amaju Pinnick to disenfranchise him from contesting the position of the office of the Presidency of the NFF.
Ifeanyi Ubah told Mr Okoye that he will not support or nominate him to contest despite his eligibility unless he gets the explicit go-ahead from Pinnick
It is important to note that Pinnick is nursing ambitions of reelection despite overseeing the most horrible era in Nigeria Football which broke a whole lot of negative records but none comes close to the fact that this is the first time in the history of Nigeria Football that the League ended mid-season for no just cause, also the first time the league is having a champion by proxy not based on merit and now we are looking at the first time an Administrator is handpicking who his opponents will be in an election
It will be pertinent to recall that Ifeanyi Ubah was installed as the Chairman of the Anambra State Football Association, in clear violation of every rule and tenet associated with the said office in 2016
Also, Ifeanyi Ubah’s club, FC Ifeanyi Ubah notorious for owing players salaries that run into months, have been accused of practising slavery by falsifying players contracts and forcing players to BUY their freedom even when they are supposed to be free agents with no punitive measure on the club, despite the public outcry of the enslaved players of the club.
Meanwhile, Mr Okoye has submitted his form having obtained endorsement from State FA Chairmen from different regions of the country.
FIFA: Nigerians Make 2018 World Cup Unforgettable
About 50-day after the 2018 FIFA World Cup have been concluded, FIFA has reckoned that the Russia hosted mundial was a successful phenomena football fiesta.
FIFA President, Gianni Infantino on Thursday wrote a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) stating that the success of the 21st FIFA World Cup could not be distanced from Nigeria’s participation in the June-July mundial.
Infantino acknowledged that the efforts of Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr, as well as his assistants, the backroom staff, officials and fans participated graciously to make it an unforgettable ceremony.
The letter reads; “I would like to express our most sincere appreciation to your National Team for participating in this 21st edition of the FIFA World Cup.
“The 2018 FIFA World Cup was an unforgettable celebration of football and a major factor in this was the participation of the Super Eagles, their sixth FIFA World Cup appearance.
“I personally was very happy and proud to be able to attend in your presence two of your National Team matches, against Croatia and Iceland.
“Please pass on my compliments to all those who have contributed to this campaign, the players, the head coach Gernot Rohr but also the technical and medical team and, of course, the fans.
“Such achievement is no doubt based on hard work, professionalism and attention to detail, as well as passion and love of the game. All this augurs well for a very promising future and will undoubtedly pave the way for future success.”
The Nation
Modric beats Ronaldo, Salah to UEFA Player of the Year award
Real Madrid Croatian midfielder Luka Modric receives the UEFA Champions League player of the Season during the draw for UEFA Champions League football tournament at The Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 30, 2018. the draw for UEFA Champions League football tournament at The Grimaldi Forum in Monaco on August 30, 2018.
Luka Modric has been named as UEFA Men’s Player of the Year after leading Real Madrid to their third successive Champions League title.
The Croatian, who enjoyed a surreal year for club and country, beat fellow nominees, Mohamed Salah and Cristiano Ronaldo, to the award.
Ronaldo picked up as the Champions League’s best forward last campaign with Real Madrid after becoming the top scorer in the competition for a sixth-year running.
Sergio Ramos was voted as the competition’s best defender last season, while Modric collected his second award after he was named as the best midfielder for his incredible tournament.
Real and Costa Rica keeper, Keylor Navas made it four out of four award categories after he was named as the best goalkeeper of last season’s Champions League with Real Madrid.
Wolfsburg’s Penille Harder also won the UEFA Woman’s Player of the Year.
Former Manchester United and Real Madrid star and football icon David Beckham received the president’s award for his work outside of football and the impact he had made throughout and after his career.
Guardian