football Archives | Page 8 of 12

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.

NFF launches monthly Football Awards

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago04 mins

As football leagues across the globe resumed fully last month, the Nigeria Football Federation is proud to announce the launch of the much- anticipated NFF Monthly Awards, a celebration of the outstanding performances of Nigerian football players across various Football Leagues including Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL. With the football calendar in full swing, the NFF Monthly Awards aim to honor the brilliance, dedication and passion that Nigerian football players bring to the game, recognizing the top players who have left their mark on the pitch. Award Categories: 1. Player of the Month (Male & Female) 2. Goal of the Month 3. Discovery of the Month Nomination Process The nomination process for the awards is scientific, ensuring a fair and accurate selection of nominees. An independent organization will collect and analyze players’ statistics throughout the month, ensuring that the best performances are highlighted. This unbiased, data-driven approach guarantees that the nominations reflect the top-performing players based on their contribution to their teams. Nominations for the first round of awards will be announced on 3rd October, 2024. From there, voting will be opened to fans and journalists alike, making this a truly inclusive and engaging event for the Nigerian football community. Voting Process Fans and journalists will have the chance to vote for their favorite players via the official NFF voting portal on the website www.thenff.com. The voting period will run for one week following the announcement of the nominations. Fan Votes will account for 40% of the final decision, enabling supporters to have their voices heard and directly influence the outcome of these prestigious awards. The remaining 60% will be determined by journalists and industry professionals, ensuring a balanced and well-rounded selection process. Speaking on the launch of the awards, NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said: “The NFF Monthly Awards are a key part of our efforts to further elevate Nigeria football, not only by recognizing outstanding talent but by engaging with fans and the media in a way that brings the football community closer together. We believe that this initiative will encourage excellence on the field and foster a deeper connection between players and their supporters. “The NFF Monthly Awards are a step forward in celebrating the rich and growing talent pool, and we look forward to the excitement that the awards will bring to fans, players and the media.” Key Dates: Nominations Announcement: 3rd October, 2024; Voting: 3rd October – Midnight of 7th October, 2024.

64th Independence: SWAN felicitates Nigerians, urges robust sports development

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

The Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has felicitated with Nigerians as the country celebrates its 64th Independence Anniversary on Tuesday October 1, 2024. SWAN President, Mr. Isaiah Benjamin, in a statement through the Association’s Secretary-General, Amb. Ikenna Okonkwo, enthused that Nigeria from independence in 1960 has witnessed ups and downs in all spheres of its national life. However, the number sports journalist noted that with over two hundred million people, Nigeria as the most populous nation in Africa can deploy its vast resources using sports as major economic driving force. He said, “First of all, I want to congratulate Nigerians, particularly the sporting media on this auspicious day in the nation’s history. It’s supposed to be a proud moment considering the years that have come by. At 64, a man is fully matured after witnessing several developmental stages in life. “For any country desirous of fundamental and genuine development in time, human capital development interest should be the major focus and sports being a big entrepreneurial/business drive globally has what it takes to turn around the fortunes of Nigerians. “Again, the population of people in Nigeria has continued to grow geometrically with little plan to engage mostly young people. Nigeria’s abundant human talents and mineral resources can be channelled to tackle unemployment and give hope to many through sports like it obtains in other parts of the world. “All that is now needed is the political will amidst implementation of practical policy geared towards harnessing teeming human assets in the over 40 different sporting areas. The truth remains that only sports have the vast opportunities to absorb and keep millions of youth busy, then give their lives meaningful living.” While expressing optimism that the future could be better than the past and present, the SWAN President also tasked government at all levels to channel efforts towards addressing various societal menaces including insecurity through sports. “Sports development is not just a Federal Government affair, political, business leaders and philanthropists have crucial roles to play. Nigeria recently participated at the 2024 Paris Olympics Games and returned home empty handed. Such disastrous outing shows that as a country, we have a long way to go. “It’s time to make our population count among the comity of Nations and grassroots sports development is key in this regard,” he said. The President of SWAN also congratulated the current leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau for reaching two years since its emergence. President Benjamin hailed NFF’s visionary leadership which has witnessed a turn around of the various leagues’ administration and called for sustainable approach and focus in the development of all aspects of Nigeria’s football drive, though Super Eagles have witnessed unexpected hiccups in their 2026 World Cup qualifying series, efforts should now be channelled towards ensuring they win remaining qualifier matches to brighten their chances of qualification at last.”

Sam Sodje condemns pedophilia among coaches in Nigeria

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

Former Super Eagles and Premier League football star Sam Sodje over the weekend condemned in very strong terms the prevalence of paedophiles among youth coaches in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria. The retired footballer, who presently shuttles between London, England, and Delta State where he contributes to youth engagement and empowerment through sports, is sad that coaches who are entrusted with young children are abusing them sexually and destroying their tomorrow and the society is not doing enough to arrest the criminal practices. Said Sodje, “Sports is a powerful tool that takes millions out of poverty in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the present economic difficulties in Nigeria have led many parents to encourage their children to participate as a get-out-of-poverty vehicle. “In their hurry to ensure their wards participate in sports, they give them out without doing due diligence or proper background checks of the so-called youth coaches. “Majority of the so-called youth coaches are of questionable character and their motive is to sexually abuse these children, not to give them coaching tutorials.” Sodje who has traversed every nook and cranny of Delta State and other parts of Nigeria in the course of promoting his initiative “Life After Sports” revealed that he has heard too many stories of coaches who engage in the act of sexually abusing children in the course of offering coaching services in the different sports across the country, Delta State not being an exception. The former football star isn’t just condemning the act; he’s also demanding urgent action. He’s calling for coaches involved in such immoral acts to be named, shamed, prosecuted, and punished similarly to how pedophiles are treated in Europe, America, and other regions. Sodje also urge parents to do serious background checks about coaches they want to entrust their children with, “I am therefore using the medium to offer strong advice to parents to ensure that they carry out due- diligence from top officials of various sports associations across the country, Delta State inclusive, to ensure that children do not fall prey to the activities of these unscrupulous coaches with their high inclination for immortality and sexual abuses against underage children. “As parents, we have the responsibility and the duty to protect our children from these wicked people that are living amongst us in the society.” He also called on administrators to “I want to also seriously call on all the administrators of the various sports associations to make it a point of duty to carry out proper character venting of individual coaches that are attached to them and ensure that the bad eggs in their midst are disengaged and specifically banned from working with children to protect our innocent boys and girls for the good of the family, the sports sector and the society in general.” Sodje said that instead of romancing the issue, we need to call a spade a spade and stop the shenanigans before it gets out of control. The football star who played for top and iconic English sides like Brentford, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Charlton Athletic, Notts County, Portsmouth, and Greek club Skoda Xanthi, said he is ready to lead the fight against this ugly practice in sports and the society at large so that our children that practice and excel in their God’s given talents, without their today and tomorrow being destroyed by paedophiles.

Sam Sodje condemns prevalence of paedophiles among coaches in Nigeria

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago06 mins

…Urges parents to be vigilant Former Super Eagles and English Premier League football star Sam Sodje over the weekend condemned in very strong terms the prevalence of paedophiles among youth coaches in Delta State and other parts of Nigeria. The retired footballer who presently shuttles between London, England, and Delta State where he contributes to youth engagement and empowerment through sports is sad that coaches who are entrusted with young children are abusing them sexually and destroying their tomorrow and the society is not doing enough to arrest the criminal practices. Said Sodje, “Sports is a powerful tool that takes millions out of poverty in Nigeria and elsewhere in the world, the present economic difficulties in Nigeria have led many parents to encourage their children to participate as a get-out-of-poverty vehicle. “In their hurry to ensure their wards participate in sports, they give them out without doing due diligence or proper background checks of the so-called youth coaches. “Majority of the so-called youth coaches are of questionable character and their motive is to sexually abuse these children, not to give them coaching tutorials.” Sodje who has traversed every nook and cranny of Delta State and other parts of Nigeria in the course of promoting his initiative “Life After Sports” revealed that he has heard too many stories of coaches who engage in the act of sexually abusing children in the course of offering coaching services in the different sports across the country, Delta State not being an exception. The former football star isn’t just condemning the act; he’s also demanding urgent action. He’s calling for coaches involved in such immoral acts to be named, shamed, prosecuted, and punished similarly to how pedophiles are treated in Europe, America, and other regions. Sodje also urge parents to do serious background checks about coaches they want to entrust their children with, “I am therefore using the medium to offer strong advice to parents to ensure that they carry out due- diligence from top officials of various sports associations across the country, Delta State inclusive, to ensure that children do not fall prey to the activities of these unscrupulous coaches with their high inclination for immortality and sexual abuses against underage children. “As parents, we have the responsibility and the duty to protect our children from these wicked people that are living amongst us in the society.” He also called on administrators to “I want to also seriously call on all the administrators of the various sports associations to make it a point of duty to carry out proper character venting of individual coaches that are attached to them and ensure that the bad eggs in their midst are disengaged and specifically banned from working with children to protect our innocent boys and girls for the good of the family, the sports sector and the society in general.” Sodje said that instead of romancing the issue, we need to call a spade a spade and stop the shenanigans before it gets out of control. The football star who played for top and iconic English sides like Brentford, Reading, West Bromwich Albion, Sheffield Wednesday, Watford, Charlton Athletic, Notts County, Portsmouth, and Greek club Skoda Xanthi, said he is ready to lead the fight against this ugly practice in sports and the society at large so that our children that practice and excel in their God’s given talents, without their today and tomorrow being destroyed by paedophiles.

Awoniyi’s Foundation donates jerseys to 14 Kwara Kiddies League teams

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago03 mins

In line with his commitment to giving back to his community, Super Eagles and Nottingham Forest striker, Taiwo Awoniyi, has presented jerseys to all 14 teams participating in the Kwara Kiddies League through his foundation, Taiwo Awoniyi Foundation. On Saturday, at the Kwara Football Academy, Awoniyi’s parents, Mr. Solomon and Mrs. Mary Awoniyi and his grassroots coach, Rasaq Olojo, presented the jerseys to the teams on behalf of the foundation. This gesture was aimed at promoting football development, encouraging teamwork, and providing support to young athletes in Kwara State. “He is passionate about nurturing the next generation of football talent in Nigeria,” said Mr Solomon Awoniyi. “Through his foundation, he’s committed to providing opportunities for these young players to grow and succeed.” The jersey presentation ceremony was attended by officials of the league board, its directors, coaches, and players of the participating teams. “We appreciate Taiwo Awoniyi’s kind gesture,” said Chairman Kwara Kiddies League Proprietors, Barr. Luqman Balogun. “This will undoubtedly motivate these young players to strive for excellence.” Taiwo Awoniyi Foundation remains dedicated to empowering youth through sports, education, and community development initiatives. As a Dettol ambassador, Awoniyi also secured support from the leading hygiene brand, which provided essential gifts to young athletes. This partnership underscores Awoniyi’s commitment to promoting health, hygiene, and sports development among Nigeria’s youth. To further support the well-being of the young athletes, Awoniyi’s foundation also introduced a meal program, providing a nutritious meal to each player.

FIFA names 12 stadiums set to stage historic FIFA Club World Cup 2025

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago05 mins

FIFA has confirmed the 12 stadiums in the United States that will stage matches at the new FIFA Club World Cup 2025 when the 32 best clubs in the world play for the only official title of FIFA Club World Champions. The tournament kicks off on Sunday, 15 June 2025, with all roads leading to the MetLife Stadium in New York New Jersey on Sunday, 13 July 2025 where the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ final will be played, just over a year before the venue stages the FIFA World Cup 26™ final. This venue is joined by 11 more – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta), Bank of America Stadium (Charlotte), TQL Stadium (Cincinnati), Rose Bowl Stadium (Los Angeles), Hard Rock Stadium (Miami), GEODIS Park (Nashville), Camping World Stadium (Orlando), Inter&Co Stadium (Orlando), Lincoln Financial Field (Philadelphia), Lumen Field (Seattle), and Audi Field (Washington, D.C.). “Football is the most popular sport on the planet, and in 2025 a new era for club football will kick off when FIFA stages the greatest, most inclusive and merit-based global club competition right here in the United States,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who made the announcement at the Global Citizen Festival in Central Park, New York while simultaneously announcing FIFA’s new four-year partnership with Global Citizen to mobilise football fans globally to help end extreme poverty and provide access to education for millions of children. “The FIFA Club World Cup 2025 will feature 12 fantastic stadiums where a new chapter in football’s global history will be written by great players from the 32 best clubs in the world,” Mr Infantino continued. “This new FIFA competition is the only true example in worldwide club football of real solidarity and inclusivity, allowing the best clubs from Africa, Asia, Central and North America and Oceania to play the powerhouses of Europe and South America in an incredible new World Cup which will impact enormously the growth of club football and talent globally. “This is about opportunity and hope for those who need it most, and also about prestige and true football for those who make our sport shine. My thanks go to all. We never discriminate; we include everyone. This is the true spirit of the brand new FIFA Club World Cup. “It has been an honour to make this significant tournament announcement before an enormous, energetic crowd at the Global Citizen Festival here in New York. The fans of the 32 competing clubs will create a similar buzz at the FIFA Club World Cup next year when we take it to the world,” the FIFA President concluded. With the draw set for December, just two of the 32 teams are yet to be confirmed: one from South America, the other representing the host country. Further information regarding the draw, which will see the 32 best clubs in the world divided into eight exciting groups of four, will be released in due course. The tournament match schedule will be published shortly after the draw.

Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania to host CHAN 2024

Prince Odutola3 months ago3 months ago02 mins

The Confederation African Football (CAF) has confirmed that Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania as co-host Nations of the CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN). The Africa Nations Championship will be played between 01- 28 February 2025. The host stadiums and training venues will be confirmed in due course. The road to Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will kick-off with the first round of Qualifiers on the weekend of 25-27 October 2024 and 01-013 November 2024. The Second Round of the Qualifiers will be played on 20-22 December and 27-27 December 2024. The qualification slots for the tournament have been allocated as follows: Zones WAFU A, WAFU B, UNAF, UNIFFAC, and COSAFA will each have three qualifying teams. The CECAFA zone, which includes the three host countries, will receive an additional slot due to their automatic qualification as hosts. As a result, the total number of teams qualifying for the final tournament will be increased to 19 teams. Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania will participate in the Qualifiers and in addition to their automatic qualification as hosts, the team achieving the best result in the CECAFA qualifiers will also advance to the final tournament.