Sports Archives | Page 23 of 36

NFF budgets N17.6bn for 2025

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has budgeted a whopping sum of N17.6 billion for the year 2025. Raising from its Annual General Meeting held in Asaba, Delta State on Thursday, the Congress in a communique approved the new budget. “The Congress approved the NFF’s 2025 budget proposal amounting to the sum of N17.6 billion,” the Communique stated. The Congress also approved the NFF’s Financial Statements for the Year ended 2023. The Congress acknowledged the Federal Government’s expectation for the Super Eagles qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations and the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Congress assured the government of its commitment to ensuring that necessary preparations are made to meet these objectives, while urging the Executive Committee of the NFF to prioritize decisions that will further develop Nigeria football. The Congress lauded the efforts of Nigeria’s national teams, especially the Super Eagles for their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations’ silver-medal feat and the Super Falcons for their participation in the Women’s Olympic Football Tournament after 16 years.

Ex-Super Eagles goalie, Dosu Joseph cheats death

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

Former Nigerian goalkeeper Joseph Dosu has revealed he narrowly escaped death in a road accident in Lagos on Wednesday, 2 October. Dosu shared his ordeal on Facebook on Friday; “To God be the glory, another death escape by Grace and Mercy of God… I and my friend SM were at Enyo filling station after Ojodu Berger bus stop, to get fuel… when this MACK TRUCK with registration number LND 470 XX, fully loaded with IRON, left the road and crushed my car.” Dosu, a member of the Atlanta 1996 Olympic gold-winning team, escaped in 1997 after an accident that ended his football career. After the 1996 Olympics, Dosu signed with Serie A club Reggiana but never made an impact due to his career-ending injury.

CDS tourney: Rivers Hoopers advance to quarterfinals

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

Rivers Hoopers have qualified for the quarterfinals of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Independence Basketball Championship after they defeated Bauchi Nets 55-50 at the Mo Arena on Thursday. The Ogoh Odaudu-led team started the game with consecutive three-pointers to end the first quarter with a one-point lead, 13-12. The second quarter was a low-scoring game for the two teams who failed to score, but it was Hoopers who took a three-point lead (22-19) to the break. Rivers Hoopers head coach Ogoh Odaudu was disappointed in his team, who played with less aggression against Nets. Asked about how he felt about the two wins against City Chiefs and Bauchi Nets, Odaudu said, “We played terribly in both games, but it was expected we have not played competitive basketball since we finished for the Basketball Africa League, so I didn’t expect anything less. We will keep working, getting better, and pushing hard. The KingsMen were down by five with two minutes left to play but crawled their way back at crunch time to seal their spot in the quarterfinals. ”It’s a great tournament, and we are using it to test ourselves and how far we can go. It is a good practice session for us ahead of the league later this month. Odaudu made comparisons between their two opening games played on Wednesday and Thursday (today). ”We didn’t play very well; yesterday’s game was more experienced than the team we played today. It was a lack of aggression on our part that happened today.” The Hoopers boss said he has two targets for the CDS tournament and hopes to accomplish both. ”Our goal is to see how our team is and to win the prize money attached to the tournament. It will be good to kill two birds with one stone.Test our team, get prepared for the league, and win the prize money, but every team comes with the intent of winning, and ours is a podium finish. The KingsMen will play their last group game against Gilali on Friday.

NFF holds Annual General Assembly in Asaba

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

All is set for the 2024 Annual General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation taking place in Asaba on Friday, with all delegates having arrived in the Delta State capital by the evening of Thursday. The NFF Annual General Assembly is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country in a given year, and serves as the melting pot of interplay of ideas and eventual formulation of policies and rules and regulations that govern the administration and organization of the game nationally for the succeeding one year. The plenary welcomes chairmen and secretaries of Football Associations in the 36 States and the FCT, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ association. This group makes up the Congress. Members of the NFF Executive Committee and Management will be in attendance, with former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries also welcome. The Honourable Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, is set to be the special guest. Nigeria’s Member of the hallowed FIFA Council, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick will be in attendance, as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B) to witness proceedings. The Executive Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open, and a number of chieftains of the Delta State Government and some other dignitaries, alongside observers and representatives of the media, will witness the opening ceremony. Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.

NFF, Sevilla, Leicester celebrate Iheanacho at 28

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Sevilla FC and Leicester City have showered encomium on Kelechi Iheanacho as the striker marks his 28th birthday on Thursday. The NFF its on social media platform wrote; “Happy birthday Seniorman Kelz.” “Today is a very special day… “Happy birthday, Senior man!,” Sevilla FC also wished the player. In similar vein, Leicester City wrote; Wishing a happy birthday to Kelechi.” Iheanacho represented Nigeria at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2021 and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, finishing as runner-up in the latter tournament. Iheanacho was voted the Most Promising African Talent twice in 2013 and 2016 and named as a substitute for the 2016 CAF Team of the Year. On 31 July 2024, Iheanacho joined Spanish club Sevilla on a free transfer following the expiration of his contract at Leicester City.

Basketball: Rivers Hoopers dig deep to defeat Gboko City Chiefs

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

Rivers Hoopers beat Gboko City Chiefs 51-46 in their opening game of the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Independence Basketball Championship at the Mo Arena in Abuja on Wednesday. It was not the best of games for the KingsMen, who were playing their first competitive game after the Basketball Africa League (BAL) in May. They turned over the ball multiple times and gave out too many possessions to their opponents from Gboko. The titled men held a four-point lead for most part of the game, leaving Hoopers to chase the game too. With a four-point deficit (36-40) into the fourth quarter, the KingsMen were left with no choice but to control the game if they wanted a different outcome. Hoopers, who tied the game 44-44 with 1:37 minutes remaining, outscored the Chiefs 7-2 from the line to pick up their first win of the competition against the determined City Chiefs.

Ademola Lookman scores first ever Champions League goal

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago01 mins

Nigeria international Ademola Lookman on Wednesday scored his first ever Champions League goal in Atalanta 3-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk. Lookman got the goal by finishing off a well-worked move that he had started with a back-heel flick. Earlier in the match, Lookman grabbed an assist before Raoul Bellanova completed a classic Atalanta move in a dominant Champions League performance over Shakhtar Donetsk. La Dea were already leading from the Berat Djimsiti chest and volley on a Lookman cross when they doubled their lead on the stroke of half-time on neutral turf in Gelsenkirchen. The third goal then arrived with a classic Gian Piero Gasperini move, as one wing-back set up the other, Bellanova at the back post to meet the Davide Zappacosta cross.

NFF takes match commissioners to examination hall to select best hands

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

All individuals presently serving as match commissioners in Nigeria football will have to undertake an examination to retain their places, as the Nigeria Football Federation moves to ensure that only capable hands are left in the vocation. This was disclosed on Wednesday by President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, while addressing the match commissioners on the wing of their annual seminar, at Merit House, Abuja. “We want only the best hands to continue to function in the very important role of match commissioner in this country. Apart from the fact that this seminar will now be biennial, we are going to conduct an examination to pick the very best who will always make us proud. “I am sure that you are all looking forward to becoming FIFA and CAF match commissioners. You can only get to that level if you are competent, capable and digitally-literate. You must also consistently enhance your capacity.” Earlier, Chairman of the NFF Match Commissioners Committee, Alhaji Babagana Kalli, had praised Alhaji Gusau and the NFF Board for their support and encouragement of match commissioners, as well as remarkable improvements in the various leagues over the past two years. “The Ibrahim Musa Gusau administration has accomplished a number of feats in the past two years, including the Super Eagles’ silver medals at the AFCON which remains the best performance by the team since we won the trophy in South Africa in 2013; the Super Falcons’ return to the Olympics after 16 years and; the qualifications of the Falconets and Flamingos for their various FIFA World Cup championships. There has also been resurgence in grassroots football in the States as well as schools’ football. “However, we are most fulfilled with the improvements in officiating in the Leagues, and the new moves to rebrand our match commissioners for better performance.” Kalli announced that the theme for this year’s seminar is ‘Match Commissioning and the Challenges of Match Reporting,’ with Sir Emmanuel Ochiagha, Dr. Sunday Obaseki and Mr. Danlami Alanana as resource persons. Gusau later announced that match commissioners who pass the upcoming examination, as well as referees and referee assessors, will be presented with new kits being sponsored by Premium Trust Bank, official bank of the NFF and the National Teams. Present as well at the occasion were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu; NFF 2nd Vice President, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye; Member of NFF Executive Committee, Alh. Sharif Rabiu Inuwa; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Member of NFF Executive Committee and Vice Chairman, Match Commissioners Committee, Alh. Ganiyu Majekodunmi; Members of the Committee, Barr. Paul Edeh, Alh. Sabo Abdullahi Dutse, Chief Kenneth Nwaomucha, Mr. Davidson Owumi and Alh. Idris Abdullahi Musa; Chairman of Abia State FA, Dr. Obioma Onyeaghala; Chairman of Bauchi State FA, Mr. Pascal Patrick; Chairman of Anambra State FA, Mr. Chikelue Iloenyosi and; NFF Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire.