sports
FIFA President congratulates Amaju Pinnick on his re-election as NFF President
Gianni Infantino, President of World Football ruling body, FIFA has sent a congratulatory message to Amaju Pinnick on his re-election as the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
In the polls conducted by the NFF Electoral Committee in Katsina, Pinnick beat three other contestants, polling 34 votes.
The second-placed Aminu Maigari got eight votes, with former international, Taiwo Ogunjobi securing only 2 votes, while there was none for club owner, Chinedu Okoye.
In the letter addressed to the NFF and copied to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Infantino congratulated Pinnick and the other executive members who were elected and wished them the best of luck for the challenges ahead.
“Dear Pinnick, allow me to extend to you my warmest congratulations on your re-election as President of the NFF for the 2018 – 2022 period, at today’s NFF Elective Congress in Katsina State.
CAMEROON PRESIDENT SPEAKS OVER BUHARI’S VICTORY(Opens in a new browser tab)
“Also convey my congratulations to all your colleagues of the Executive Committee who were elected with you.
“I wish you and your team the best of luck, strength and every success for all the challenges that lie ahead.
“I look forward to continuing to work with you and seeing you soon to congratulate you in person,” Infantino said.
Why I’m studying Ronaldo training regime – Joshua
Anthony Joshua is studying Cristiano Ronaldo’s training regime in a bid to prolong his career.
The Portugal star’s Juventus medical this summer showed he has a biological age of 23 – despite being 10 years older.
The world heavyweight champion claims tests undergone by sports manufacturers Under Armour go even further to show Ronaldo’s body is in fact just 21 years old.
Joshua, who defends his IBF, WBO and WBA titles against Alexander Povetkin at Wembley on Saturday, said, “Cristiano Ronaldo did a body test. He is 33, but has the body of a 21-year-old. You have to preserve your body.
“I could go in there and knock out Povetkin in a round or two, but then there is the eight weeks of ¬intense sparring, doing 200 rounds, you have to protect your body.”
Fellow boxers Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquaio and Vasyl Lomachenko are also inspiring Joshua.
The British-born Nigerian said, “It’s a bit weird because boxing is old school. But I am learning to ¬adjust my life.
“When I watched a Pacquiao documentary, he runs and trains when his body is ready, Mayweather and Lomachenko the same.
“There is so much information out there. I tried it and feel much better. It looks lazy, but you’re still getting the same amount of work done and in a better way.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes Joshua is streets ahead of any other British boxers in terms of looking after his body.
And he puts this down to an “obsession” with improving –not fast cars and women.
He said, “When he went to Under Armour for a body analysis, it blew his mind.
“For a British fighter, Anthony is by far the most advanced in terms of training facilities or what he does. These –scientists looked at his sleep and ¬rehab.“Joshua’s drive now is purely the challenge to improve himself, and there are more people working with him in new areas. Early-¬morning runs have gone. Joshua sleeps until he wakes.
“He is obsessed with improvements. He has brought all these people into camp. The only thing that is on his mind is performance and improving. Not cars, not women, not jewellery, just improving. He won’t do anything that affects his ability to prepare.
“He knows when he has to eat, he knows when he has to sleep and nothing will get in the way of that.”
Punch
Kwara United, Sunshine Stars swell the list of Round of 16 entrants
The Harmony Boys and Owena Whales are among the four teams that booked their group stage ticket on Monday in the 2018 Federation Cup
All the group stages teams will be known by Wednesday evening in Nnewi after Kwara United, Katsina United, Wikki Tourists, El Kanemi Warriors and Sunshine Stars all booked their places in the last 16 on Monday evening.
In Lokoja’s Confluence Stadium, Kwara United stopped the Plateau State reps, Mighty Jets 3-1 while Katsina United went past Osun United 1-0 in Abuja.
Wikki Tourists spanked Bayelsa United 4-1 at the Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi in a repeat of what Fasbir FC of Sokoto experienced against the Restoration Boys in the Round of 64 when they lost 5-0. Sunshine Stars needed two goals from returnee striker, Ajibola Otegbeye in the seventh and 77th minutes to halt the impressive run of Cofine of Uyo.
The 15 teams that will vie for the eight tickets at stake during the group stages are Akwa United, Enugu Rangers, Kogi United, Kwara United, Nasarawa United, Plateau United, Rivers United, Kano Pillars and katsina United.
Others include Wikki Tourists, Supreme Court, J. Atete, Abia Warriors, Sunshine Stars and El Kanemi Warriors.
The last ticket to the Round of 16 will be decided on Wednesday when Enyimba face Dynamite Force of Benin in the Round of 32. The People’s Elephant have their match shifted to Wednesday because of their Caf Confederation Cup quarter-final first leg tie against Rayon Sports in Kigali.
The draw for the group stages is expected to hold later in the week immediately the 16th qualifier has been revealed on Wednesday in Nnewi
Source: Goal.com
I want to play for Nigeria – German star, Jonas David
The German-born 18-year-old defensive midfielder, Jonas Benjamin Chimezie David, has revealed why he has chosen to play for Nigeria instead of Germany.
David, who led the U-19 of Hamburg to glory last season, is widely viewed as one of the top prospects in the club’s academy.
OwnGoal revealed why he opted for Nigeria ahead of Germany and his immediate aim of playing for Nigeria at any level.
He was quoted as saying, “I want to make my father proud and playing for the country that he comes from will help me fulfill my aim of making him very happy.
“I am blessed with the most wonderful set of parent. They support my decision and I pray it comes to pass soonest than later.
“I have not been to Nigeria yet, but this is a fact I really want to change in the nearest future. Hopefully, before, or if I get invited to any of the national teams of Nigeria.
“Honestly, I want to progress through the ranks, meaning, I will love to start from the youth teams but that doesn’t mean I’m not eyeing the senior national team of Nigeria.
“John Obi Mikel, the captain and I share similar characteristic as midfielders and I hope to emulate his success with the Nigerian team and also match his achievement at club level.”
OwnGoal.
Nigeria got their 2019 African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign back on track after condemning Seychelles to a defeat at Stade Linite on Saturday.
Goals from Ahmed Musa, Chidozie Awaziem and Odion Ighalo saw the Super Eagles pick up their first win of the qualifiers, with debutant Samuel Kalu causing havoc to the Pirates defence.
Musa and Awaziem handed the visitors a two-goal advantage in the first-half and Ighalo added the third from the spot after one of Kalu’s numerous teasing runs was halted in the box.
The buildup to the game had seen Gernot Rohr deal with several disappointments with team captain John Obi Mikel and some key players ruled out through several injury concerns.
The German handler had to make four changes to the team that started against Argentina in their last outing, at the World Cup.
Awaziem came in as a surprise pick for the right-back spot, Ogenyi Onazi partnered Wilfred Ndidi at the base of the midfield, Bordeaux new signing Kalu handed his international debut and Ighalo was restored to lead the lines.
From the blast of the whistle, the Super Eagles, expectedly, directed proceedings with the East African minnows sat deep in blocks.
Much of the visitors’ threats came from the wings as stand-in skipper Musa and Kalu’s quick feet and directness caused troubles for Gavin Jeanne’s men.
In the 15th minute, Nigeria’s dominance paid off through Musa who let fly with a wicked left-footed volley, with goalkeeper Dave Mussard’s back burying the audacious effort.
Before the interval, Awaziem doubled the lead beating Mussard from a rebound after a clever Iheanacho free-kick hit the foot of the crossbar.
The Seychellois tried to distort the flow of the game with some ambitious attacking forays after the restart, but Rohr’s men retook dominance and they got a third from the penalty spot.
Ighalo sent the stocky shot-stopper the wrong way after livewire Kalu was upended in the area.
Jeanne’s men caused a few nervy moments for the three-time African champions’ backline and Musa came close to getting a second with his effort in the 72nd minute missing the target by whiskers.
Rohr suffered yet another blow as Awaziem was stretched off injured, however, it allowed Rotherham United Defender Semi Ajayi make his international bow.
There was also time for Henry Onyekuru who came on in place of lively Kalu with few minutes to go as the Super Eagles mounted pressure on the hosts to see out the final minutes of the game.
Despite the maiden victory, Nigeria – now with three points – remain third in Group E standings after the other group game between South Africa [second] and table-topper Libya ended in a goalless stalemate.
GOAL
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