President Federation Cup: NFF insists on this weekend for finals in all States and the FCT

The Nigeria Football Federation has again declared that all 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory must stage the final matches of their 2025 President Federation Cup competition on Saturday, 22nd February or Sunday, 23rd February 2025. In a statement to secretaries of Football Associations in all the 36 States and the FCT, NFF’s Director of Competitions, Ruth David, reiterated: “Final matches are to be played ONLY ON 22nd/23rd, except in special cases and as approved by the NFF “Failure to adhere to the above attracts a fine of N1,000,000 (One million naira only).” The National Play-Off of this year’s competition has been scheduled for 5th March, with the National Draw one week later, while the Rounds of 64, 32 and 16 are scheduled for 19th March, 2nd April and 16th April 2025 respectively. The quarter-finals have been slated for 3rd and 4th May, with the semi-finals fixed for 17th and 18th May.

Read More

NFF sets Tuesday deadline for CAF B-License Coaching Course registration

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that midnight on Tuesday, 25th February 2025 will be the deadline for registration, for those who desire to participate in the four-month CAF B-License Coaching Course that will run between April and August this year. The course, according to the NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, is designed to enhance the capacity of Nigerian coaches and prepare them for current and future challenges, and is for both men and women coaches. “As I stated some weeks ago, the CAF B-License course is part of NFF’s strategic effort to build the capacity of coaches across the country, and will be done in modules. It will run between 7th April and 25th August 2025, and to be eligible, a candidate must be an active coach, possess a CAF C-License certificate that has been put to use in the past two years, must be able to read and write in the English language, have basic computer skills and a laptop, have a valid G-mail account, and must submit a medical certificate that proves he/she is physically and mentally fit to undertake the course. “The response has been pretty awesome, and that is why we now have to bring the deadline forward. The new deadline is midnight of Tuesday, 25th February 2025 for intending participants.” Last year, the NFF organised a CAF C-License programme exclusively for women – the first-ever – which drew 30 women coaches from across the country, including a good number of former Nigeria international players. The three-module course took place between July and September 2024.

Read More

NFF mourns passing of midfield pearl, Ayo Ogunlana

The Nigeria Football Federation has condoled the family of former Nigeria international midfielder Ayo Ogunlana, who died in Kaduna on Friday after observing his early-morning walk. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, showered tributes on the departed midfield pearl, who was a star attraction during a number of important Nigeria FA Cup battles in the 1980s and held sway in the middle for the Super Eagles in the late 1980s, and at the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Algeria. “We are very sad to learn of the sudden passing of Ayo Ogunlana, only a couple of weeks after the demise of another former Eagle, Moses Effiong (a member of the 1980 AFCON-winning Green Eagles squad, in far away USA). Ogunlana was a great midfielder who made playing football look so easy with his majestic touches and turns, and his magnificent free-kicks. “We pray that the Almighty will grant both of them eternal rest and grant the families they have left behind the fortitude to bear the losses.” Ogunlana was magisterial in the midfield as Nigeria overhauled Guinea and Zimbabwe to qualify for the 1990 Africa Cup of Nations, and was imperial against Cameroon in a 1990 FIFA World Cup qualifying match in Ibadan that the Super Eagles won with an emphatic 2-0. He also played in the 1990 ECOWAS Cup competition that Nigeria hosted in Kaduna. In March 1990, the midfield generalissimo earned rave reviews as Nigeria finished with the silver medals at the 17th Africa Cup of Nations in Algeria, even coming close to bagging Nigeria a late equalizer in the final against hosts and winners Algeria, from his favourite dead-ball position.

Read More

Osogbo Stadium to host Super Eagles, others -Gov Adeleke

Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has assured that the Osogbo Township Stadium will be remodelled and upgraded to host Super Eagles and other international football matches in no distant future. The state’s helmsman gave this assurance after flagging off the remodelling plans for the sporting edifice alongised his Deputy, Prince Kola Adewusi and the Speaker of the Osun State Rt. Hon. Adewale Egbedun on Tuesday in Osogbo. “I officially flagged off the remodeling and upgrading of the Osogbo Stadium to a world class status. This marks the commencement of our administration’s comprehensive Sports Agenda in Osun State. “In my address, I disclosed that our government has a big vision for Osun State, with plans to provide the best sporting facilities in the country, while assuring that by the time we finish the remodeling, the stadium will be a beautiful edifice to behold. “I affirmed that our plan is to build a stadium with capacity to host various sporting events, such as the National Sports Festival, National Youth Games and more importantly, to host some of our national teams, including the Super Eagles in their various continental and International matches. “I highlighted the different stages of the remodeling, including three (3) major football pitches of international standard; pitches for other games, such as volleyball, swimming, handball, hockey, basketball and a host of others. “The remodeling will also include a befitting indoor sports hall, hostels for the athletes and a state-of-the-art 4-star hotel. This project has been designed with revenue generation mindset to ensure sustainability with short and long term viability. We envisaged a self-sustaining and holistic sporting infrastructure. “I reiterated that the two (2) state owned teams namely; Osun United and Osun Babes Football Clubs would continue to receive greater attention and support from our government,” Governor Adeleke assured on his official X handle.

Read More

Dikko, Gusau inspect proposed NFF hotel, training pitch site in Abuja

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau MON, on Wednesday conducted the Chairman of National Sports Commission, Mallam Shehu Dikko round the proposed site for the NFF Hotel and new training pitch, which is adjacent the NFF Headquarters inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja. This ambitious project is designed to establish a state-of-the-art accommodation facility intended specifically for the national football teams. The vision behind the proposed hotel, which has been a project close to the heart of the Ibrahim Gusau administration since it took office 28 months ago, is to free the NFF of the humongous expenses incurred regularly in accommodating the different National Teams. In drastically reducing expenses on accommodation, the football-governing body intends to redirect such funds towards more critical areas, such as nurturing local football talent and bolstering the overall infrastructure of Nigeria football. During the site inspection, Mallam Dikko and NFF President Gusau evaluated multiple aspects of the location under consideration. Key factors included the ease of accessibility for both players and support staff, the level of security provided by the surrounding area, and the proximity of the site to essential training facilities. Their discussions extended beyond site assessment, as they also strategized about the project’s overall timeline, budget considerations, and the potential for partnerships with private investors or corporate entities that might be interested in supporting the laudable initiative. They were in company with top NFF officials including the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi and Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen, as well as principal aides of the NSC supremo, including Barr. Musa Amadu (former NFF General Secretary) and Mallam Salihu Abubakar. The NFF National Teams Hotel project is in alignment with the overarching mission of the NSC, which is to promote and enhance the development of sports across Nigeria. As the principal authority entrusted with regulating sports in the nation, the NSC is dedicated to endorsing programs and initiatives that bolster Nigeria’s sporting framework.

Read More

CAF announces match schedule for AFCON 2025

The Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) has announced the match schedule for the CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025 that will see nine venues used across six cities for the continent’s greatest football show. Morocco and Comoros will kick-off the tournament on 21 December, 2025 with a Group A fixture at the newly-built 69,500-seater Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, a fitting stage for the grand opening. Rabat will have four match venues, with other host cities Casablanca, Agadir, Marrakech, Fes and Tangier to have one each. The four quarter-final fixtures will be played at the Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat, as well as in Tangier, Marrakech and Agadir. The semi-finals will be in Rabat and Tangier, with the third-place play-off set for the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca. There will be 52 matches over 29 days in a feast of football for fans that showcases the skill and passion of African football. Morocco, hosting the CAF AFCON for the first time since 1988, is also preparing to co-host the FIFA World Cup 2030.

Read More

Ilorin Stadium renamed Rashidi Yekini Stadium

The Kwara State Government has renamed the Ilorin Township Stadium in honour of former Super Eagles striker, Late Rashidi Yekini. This is contained in a statement signed the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Rafiu Ajakaye on Monday. The statement reads in part; “The main bowl of the stadium is named after the late Rashidi Yekini, a football legend renowned for scoring Nigeria’s first World Cup goal and the country’s highest goal scorer till date. “Governor Abdulrazaq, similarly, approved for some other important state facilities to be named as follows: Table Tennis Arena is named after Atanda Musa (Manza Musa), who was a national champion in the games in 1979. “Indoor Sports Hall is named after Gabriel Babatunde Ladipo, the first black principal of the Government Technical Training School Ilorin (GTTS) who was regarded as the father of sports in the state. “Squash Court is named after Coach Bolakale Mogaji, executive chairman of the Kwara State Sports Commission who was the pioneer coach, player, and national champion in the squash game. “KFA Academy is named after Coach Usuman Adenuja, the first football coach who took the Kwara Academicals to the final of Academical football competition. The Governor was among his products. “Hostel A of the stadium is named after Salihu Ishola, the first Kwaran commonwealth games’ medalist; Hostel B is named after Paralympic badminton bronze medalist Bolaji Eniola; and Hostel C is named after Bola Esan, the first female director of sports.” Late Yekini scored 37 goals in international matches and represented Nigeria in seven football tournaments including two World Cups where he scored the country’s first-ever goal in the competition. He was also named the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.

Read More

Super Eagles’ star, Onyemaechi joins Olympiakos

Super Eagles’ left back Bruno Onyemaechi has joined Greek side Olympiakos. Trendbrio.com can report. Though, the details of the transfer deal with the Greek side is undisclosed, but the Nigerian international took to his X handle formerly Twitter to disclose the move. “New home. “God is the greatest, the defender wrote after sealing the deal,” the elated defender wrote. In August 2022, Onyemaechi joined Boavista on a season-long loan with an option to buy, Boavista however triggered the option and signed him on a permanent deal in June 2023. Onyemaechi made his international debut for Nigeria, playing as a left-back for the full 90 minutes of a 6–0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe, in the final group match of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers. Nigeria qualified and went all the way to the finals where they lost 1–2 to Ivory Coast.

Read More