Sanusi denies speaking on FIFA sanction

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Abdullahi Shehu, Amaju Pinnick, Barrister Seyi Akinwumi, NFF

The General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi has categorically denied telling any media organization that he was aware of defender Abdullahi Shehu’s ineligibility for the Algeria/Nigeria 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in Constantine last month.

“I am shocked to be so copiously quoted in a national newspaper of Friday, 15^th December 2017. The reporter even said I was aware of the player’s ineligibility among so many other things. I am disgusted because I did not say what the reporter attributed to me.

“The reporter called me and I told him that a panel has been set up to look into the entire matter of the negligence, recommend appropriate sanctions and make other recommendations that would forestall such an occurrence in the future.”

 The NFF chief operating officer insisted that he was too experienced an administrator to make statements on an issue for which an inquiry had been instituted.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick on Wednesday set up a four-man committee headed by Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi (NFF 1^st Vice President) to thoroughly investigate the matter and submit a report, alongside their recommendations, within two weeks.

“I earnestly appeal to all Football Stakeholders, including the media, to allow the committee to do its work without making insinuations or dwelling negatively on the subject,” Sanusi added. 

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Uruguay 2018: Flamingoes scrape through to final round

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Amaju Pinnick, Flamingoes of Nigeria, Hon. Ayo Omidiran, NFF

Nigeria’s U17 girls, Flamingoes scraped through to the final round of the African qualification series for the 6^th FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup on Saturday, but only on the away goal rule after tying 1-1 with Ethiopia on aggregate.

The saving grace was the away goal in the 1-1 draw in Addis Ababa in the first leg a forthnight earlier, as the Flamingoes were downright disappointing even with Edo State Deputy Governor, Hon. Philip Shaibu and NFF President Amaju Pinnick seated in the VIP box.

There was no discernible pattern to the game of Bala Nikyu’s girls, and their output cried for an overhaul ahead of the final round of the series against the Cameroon U17 girls in seven weeks’ time.

Even when they managed to get into the opponents’ six-yard-box, they contrived to let the visitors off the hook. Substitute Abibat Abdulgodir was the only one who had an idea of the urgency of the day, but her deliveries from the right were wasted one after the other.

“There is a big difference between the U20 girls that we have become used to here in Benin and these U17 girls. I believe that the team will become much better with good coaching before the next round of matches,” Deputy Governor Shaibu told the media at the end.

NFF President Pinnick was glad the Flamingoes got through to the second round: “The coaches have a lot of work to do. Now that the team is in the final round, and they have some time to work on the squad, I believe they will do what is necessary to turn the team around. We use this opportunity to appreciate the Edo State Government for their tremendous support for all our women teams.”

Chairman of the NFF Women’s Football Committee, Hon. Ayo Omidiran insisted the team is work-in-progress: “The coaches have some weeks at hand to do proper work with the girls and bring in others who can help the squad. The performance today was not gratifying. But I plead with all Nigerians to continue to support all our women teams, including the U17 girls.”

North West, South East clash in NFF/Zenith Bank U15 final

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Amaju Pinnick, bitrus bewarang

A week of exciting youth football in the ancient city of Kano will witness the grand finale in Lagos on Tuesday with the U15 final of the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship at the Agege Stadium.

Tuesday will be exactly a week on one year that the finals of the inaugural edition of the competition (U13 and U15) took place at the Onikan Stadium, with South West emerging champions in the U15 category with a 2-0 defeat of South East, while South East defeated South South 4-2 in the final of the U13 category.

This year, an enterprising North Central squad overcame equally ambitious South West team 4-2 on penalties in Kano to emerge champions of the U13 category.

North West and South East take to the Agege Stadium turf on Tuesday afternoon for the intermediate honours, with last year’s runners-up South East determined to take the step up to the champions’ podium this time.

Following last year’s inaugural competition that took place in Ijebu-Ode and Lagos, NFF Technical Director, Mr. Bitrus Bewarang told thenff.com: “I am delighted with the entire good job done by the NFF Youth Football Committee, headed by the NFF 1^st Vice President, Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi. I saw excellent football by young, talented and ambitious kids. On the evidence of what I saw in Ijebu-Ode and Lagos, I believe that in the nearest future, we would be making use of very young players, in the mould of Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi, for the Super Eagles.”

The former Super Eagles’ Assistant Coach also hailed competition sponsors Zenith Bank International PLC, assuring the bank that its name would be etched in gold once the prodigies start making waves in the NPFL, Super Eagles and top Leagues overseas.

“The bank has put its money in the right place, and I am using this opportunity to call on other big players in Corporate Nigeria to embrace sports, because by embracing sports, they are assuring the future of the youth.

“Certainly, the NFF/Zenith Bank Future Eagles Championship is a welcome development. I want to implore the bank not to rest on its oars, but rather guarantee that the competition has come to stay as an annual carnival for the young and determined boys from the grassroots.”

Zenith Bank’s chieftains are enamoured at the essence and glamour of the competition, and will again storm the Agege Stadium in full force on Tuesday.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick, 1^st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi (who is the Chairman of the NFF Youth Football Committee), a number of NFF Executive Committee members, NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi, some top officials of the Lagos State Government, a couple of NFF Management officials, as well as members of the NFF Youth Football Committee will also be in attendance.

RESULTS (U13)

South South 3 North East 0 (W/O)

North Central 2 North West 1

North East 0 South West 3 (W/O)

North West 3 South East 0 (W/O)

South West 0 South South 0

South East 0 North Central 3 (W/O)

South West 2 North West 1

North Central 2 South South 1

 

FINAL

South West 2 North Central 4 (after penalties)

 

RESULTS (U15)

North East 2 South South 3

South West 0 South East 2

South South 2 North West 4

South East 4 North Central 0

North West 1 North East 0

North Central 1 South West 3

North West 4 South West 3

South East 4 South South 1

 FINAL

North West Vs South East