NFF Appoints Manu Garba, Moses Aduku for Golden Eaglets, Falconets

The Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has approved the recommendation of the Federation’s Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of experienced strategist, Manu Garba, as Head Coach of the U17 Boys National Team, Golden Eaglets. Garba was Head Coach of the U17 Boys that won the FIFA U17 World Cup trophy for Nigeria – for the fourth time – in the United Arab Emirates in 2013, and has also led the team on two occasions since then, including qualifying the team to the 2019 FIFA U17 World Cup finals in Brazil. The Executive Committee also endorsed the proposal by the Technical and Development Sub-Committee for the appointment of experienced women’s football tactician, Moses Aduku, as Head Coach of the U20 Girls National Team, Falconets. Aduku takes over from Coach Chris Danjuma. Aduku is highly respected in women football coaching circles, having led Bayelsa Queens and Edo Queens football clubs with distinction in recent years. He was also assistant coach of the Nigeria U20 girls, Falconets, as they reached the quarter-finals of the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in Costa Rica in 2022. Both Garba and Aduku will officially resume on Sunday, as their different teams have important upcoming engagements. The U20 girls have a 2026 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture against Rwanda in September, while the Golden Eaglets will take part in the WAFU B U17 Boys Tournament that Nigeria is set to host the same month.

Read More

Sanusi Charges Nigerian Coaches to Keep Advancing their Knowledge

The General Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (MON) has called on coaches who have successfully completed their Coaching Educators’ Course to continuously enhance their knowledge, given that the laws of the game frequently evolve. The closing ceremony was held at the NFF/FIFA Technical Centre auditorium inside the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Thursday, with the presence of all fifteen participating coaches, their instructors, and a CAF expert, Mr. Michael Amenga. Sanusi emphasised the importance of mastery in specific subject areas related to coaching. “In coaching education, acquiring knowledge, understanding the methods of imparting that knowledge, and effectively communicating it, are vital. To achieve this, one must have a thorough understanding of the subject matter,” he stated. He also noted that feedback received from the technical officer indicated areas that require serious improvement. “I have received plenary reports and engaged in discussions with the CAF expert, who has recognised that while considerable progress has been made, certain challenges still need to be addressed.” In conclusion, Dr. Sanusi advised the coaches to remain committed to keeping themselves updated with the latest innovation, emphasising that continuous learning is essential in their profession. “This type of programme necessitates ongoing engagement. Improvement must be a constant goal. We, as educators, are dedicated to enhancing our knowledge in line with the dynamic nature of football and sports. “There are continual advancements in our field, and without staying abreast of global trends, one risks falling behind. Therefore, I encourage you to internalise, comprehend, and apply what you have learnt. If you have any doubts, always feel free to consult your peers, and when necessary, reach out to the educators for guidance,” he concluded. Also present were NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen; CAF expert Michael Amenga; NFF Director of Communications, Dr. Ademola Olajire; Head of Education, Dr. Terry Eguaoje; Consultant on Finance and Administration, Mr. Charity Kadiri and; Deputy Director, Women’s Technical Programme, Mrs Faith Omon Ben-Anuge.

Read More

WAFCON 2024: Falcons’ Captain, Ajibade Wins Woman of the Match Again

Super Falcons’ skipper, Rasheedat Ajibade has once again been adjudged as Woman of the Match in their semi-final win over arch-rivals, South Africa at the ongoing Women Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco. The Spanish Liga F club Atlético Madrid player was in tears after she announced as the award for the second consecutive time. She however dedicated the award to her teammates for working hard to qualify for the final match of the tournament. “The captain leading the way! “Rasheedat Ajibade earns the TotalEnergies Woman of the Match award for her semi-final performance!,” CAF wrote on Twitter now X. Victory meant the Super Falcons’ first win over the Banyana in the Africa Cup of Nations in the three tournaments, with the South Africans having won group stages matches in 2018 and 2022 with 1-0 and 2-1 score-lines respectively.

Read More

Sport Integrity Foundation Presents Half-Year Report of Activities in Nigeria Football

The Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday received an independent Mid-Year report of Activities in Nigeria Football from the Sport Integrity Foundation. NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi (MON) hailed the efforts of the Foundation and praised it for contributing its quota as partners-in-progress to moving Nigeria football, which is in line with the objectives of the Ibrahim Gusau-led administration to inspire all stakeholders to contribute what they can to grow the Nigeria game. “We’re very impressed to see such initiative coming from your organisation. The NFF cannot see everything but having organisations like yours delights us. You are becoming an important eye for the integrity of the game. “The NFF board is very committed to ethics and integrity and we’re doing everything to make sure that anybody trying to bring the game into disrepute will be punished. We also need the collaboration of law enforcement agencies so that when we pass resolutions, such individuals can be punished within the ambit of the law,” Dr Sanusi said. The delegation of Sport Integrity Foundation included Abiola Shodiya, Co-ordinator and; Sammy Ejegwa, Georgina Bode and Taofeek Lawal, who are members.

Read More

WAFU B U20 Boys Tourney: Flying Eagles Strategise to Stop Ivorians in Final

Nigeria’s U20 boys, Flying Eagles know they must be at their very best to surmount the challenge of in-form Young Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire in Wednesday’s Final match of the WAFU B U20 Boys Tournament in Accra, Ghana. The Ivorians have taken no prisoners at this tournament, winning all their four previous matches. They edged Burkina Faso 2-1 in their first match, and went on to conquer Niger Republic and Togo with 1-0 and 2-0 scorelines in their other two matches in the group phase. In Sunday’s semi finals, they came from behind to defeat host nation Ghana 2-1, underscoring their strength, resilience and adversity quotient. Forward Mohammed Abdullahi earned Nigeria a point with an 84th minute equalizer against the Black Satellites of Ghana in the competition’s opening match, and the Flying Eagles then came from behind to rout Benin Republic’s U20 boys 4-1 in the three-team group A. In their semi final, two-time FIFA U20 World Cup runners-up Nigeria edged the U20 boys of Niger Republic 4-3 after a penalty shootout, following 0-0 in regulation time. There will be plenty of fireworks at Ghana’s Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Wednesday, with the Nigerian President of WAFU B, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), seated alongside other top officials of WAFU at the grand finale. Wednesday’s encounter is an opportunity for Head Coach Aliyu Zubair to put some polish on his rising reputation as a winner, having led the Flying Eagles to win the WAFU B U20 Championship in Togo last year and coming away with a FIFA World Cup ticket from the U20 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt a couple of months ago. Mohammed Abdullahi and Ezekiel Kpangu are the players to watch out for in the Nigerian side, while Abdoul Bamba and Ali Kone constitute potent threats at the fore of the Ivorians.

Read More

Flying Eagles Hold Hosts Ghana to Draw in WAFU B Opener

The Flying Eagles and Ghana’s Black Satellites stifled one another to a 1-1 draw in their opening match of the 2025 WAFU B U20 Boys Tournament at Ghana’s Centre of Excellence in Prampram on Thursday. The Black Satellites took the lead in the 26th minute, with Captain Musbau Azeez finding the back of the net. Thereafter, the Flying Eagles faced significant pressure from their opponents, resulting in a yellow card issued to their captain, Daniel Bameyi, for a hard tackle in the 33rd minute. Despite increasing pressure from the Flying Eagles in the latter stages of the first period, the Black Satellites took their one-nil advantage into the dressing room at recess. Nigeria’s appeal for a penalty in the 66th minute was dismissed by the referee. Subsequently, a free kick taken by defender Odinaka Okoro in the 76th minute narrowly missed the target, as the Flying Eagles went all out for the leveller. As the match approached its conclusion, the Flying Eagles intensified their efforts, culminating in a corner kick awarded in the 84th minute. Mohammed Abdulahi scored with an impressive header to ensure a stalemate in the scoreline.

Read More

Mission X: Super Falcons Qualify for 2024 WAFCON Quarter Finals

Nigeria’s campaign for a 10th continental title at the 13th Women Africa Cup of Nations plodded frontally on Thursday after the Super Falcons bagged all three points against their counterparts from Botswana to reach the competition’s quarter finals. Mexico-based Chinwendu Ihezuo, scorer of the third goal in the 3-0 rout of Tunisia on Sunday, stretched her left leg adroitly to connect from a great pass by Esther Okoronkwo and give Nigeria the day from a largely-scrappy encounter in Casablanca. Refilwe Tholakele indicated early on that it was not going to be an all-Nigeria evening, as her fierce shot from a bold move from the Southern Africans rattled goalkeeper Chiamaka Nnadozie, who had to make a second save as the ball spilled. Botswana threw women in numbers behind the ball as they opted for damage limitation, and nearly came out in flying colours as captain Rasheed Ajibade, Asisat Oshoala, Toni Payne and Rinsola Babajide could find no thoroughfare to the goal-line. Midway into the first stanza, attack-minded defender Ashley Plumptre surged forward again but missed a good chance from Ajibade’s pass. Eleven minutes later, Payne skyrocketed when clear on goal from another cross from the right. The scrappy nature was the same in the second half, with the opposition stifling play with numbers in midfield and defence. Substitute Ihezuo headed over the bar in the 48th minute and the energetic Plumptre saw her tricky shot heaved over the sticks by goalkeeper Maitumelo Bosija in the 64th minute. Substitute Jennifer Echegini came close with a snapshot in the 71st minute, and then called upon the agility of South Africa-based Bosija with an angled shot in the 82nd minute. The Mamelodi Sundowns goalkeeper was finally beaten with a minute left in regulation time, when Okoronkwo foxed the Botswana rearguard before a well-placed pass that Ihezuo converted for all three points. The Super Falcons will take on Algeria in their last match of group B on Sunday evening, at the same Larbi Zaouli Stadium.

Read More

Breaking: Super Eagles Slip on FIFA Ranking

Former African Champions, Nigeria’s Super Eagles has slipped one spot to the 44th position in this month’s Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) ranking. The Nigerian side lost her grip on the 43rd spot despite retaining the Unity Cup title in London, United Kingdom few month ago. The Eric Chelle lads, however, held on firmly to the fifth best ranked country in Africa, they currently trail Morocco, Senegal, Egypt and Algeria. Nigeria will attempt to improve her placement on the World ranking when they host the Amavubis of Rwanda and also travel to face off with Bayana Bayana of South Africa in the next round of matches of the World Cup qualifiers in September. They are currently fourth on the log behind South Africa, Rwanda and Benin. The next edition of the FIFA Men’s World Ranking will be published on 18 September.

Read More