Nigerian Football
NFF Issues First Clubs’ Ban in 72 Years of National Competition
BY KUNLE SOLAJA
Kogi United and Zamfara United have entered the black book as the first clubs in 72 years to be banned from making entry into the national football competition in Nigeria.
Both are barred from the next two editions of the Nigerian national football competitions now renamed AITEO Cup.
Zamfara United failed to honour their scheduled Round of 64 match with Bales United and did not provide any reason for the ‘no-show’
Kogi was found guilty of disrupting the Round of 64 match it played as hosts with Rangers International.
At the time of disruption in the 75th minute, Kogi United were leading 2-1 when the referee awarded a penalty kick to Rangers.
According to the report of the AITEO Committee which sat on Thursday, the Chairman of Kogi United, Abdul Sule, rushed to the table of the fourth official and banged on it twice, protesting against the penalty decision.
“Instigated by the action of the club chairman, the leader of the Kogi United Supporters’ Club, identified as Maikudi Kanin-Bala, led a group of Kogi United supporters, who invaded the field of play, chased the referee, assaulted and attacked him, before he was eventually rescued and taken to a nearby police station”, read the AITEO Committee report.
The committee ruled that Kogi United breached Rule 3.11.1 of the competition. Consequently, “Kogi United shall forfeit the match to Rangers International and is consequently eliminated from the Competition.
Furthermore, Kogi United is banned from the next two (2018 and 2019) editions of the Competition”, ruled the committee which also fined the club the sum of one million Naira.
“In addition, Kogi United shall pay the sum of two hundred and fifty Naira only as compensation to the referee for assault; as well as the costs of any certified medical bills”.
Other punishments dished out are stated thus:
• For the failure to provide and or ensure adequate security, in breach of Rule 3.2.1 of the Competition Rules.
• The Kogi State Football Association shall pay a fine of Two Hundred and Fifty Naira only.
• The Kogi State Football Association shall be suspended from hosting any match in the on-going competition. This sanction is however suspended and will take effect in the event that the Kogi State Football Association is found to be in further breach of Rule 3.2.1.
• For inciting supporters of the club to commit acts of violence and or breach of the Rules of the Competition, pursuant to Rule 6.2.1, the Chairman of Kogi United, Abdul Sule, is banned from all match venues and all activities of the Competition for the remainder of the current edition of the Competition.
• For leading and participating in the acts of encroachment, assault on the Referee and consequential disruption of the match, the Head of Kogi United Supporters’ Club, Maikudi Kanin-Bala is banned from all football-related activities forthwith and for the next two seasons i.e. until the end of the 2019 Season.’
Nigerian Football
Season’s first win for Akwa United and Ikorodu City
The miserable run of Akwa United and Ikorodu City came to an end after six games in the Nigerian Premier League this season. Both teams were initially glued at the bottom of the league table.
They now got respite as Akwa United beat Kano Pillar by 2-0 while Ikorodu City even did what could be considered an upset, beating Bendel Insurance 3-0.
Remo Stars bounced back to the top of the log after a 3-0 defeat of Nasarawa United. Shooting Stars are yet to get their rhythm this season, playing a barren draw with Enyimba in Ibadan.
Kwara United who got their first full points of the season last week after a 1-0 defeat of Remo Stars could not consolidate as they were beaten 1-0 by Abia Warriors.
Heartland under Emmanuel Amuneke are gradually recovering as they got a valuable away draw against El-Kanemi Warriors.
Nigerian Football
Behold! Nigeria Football’s October 8 Magic
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
It is 75 years since Nigeria’s national football team first played an international match. That was on 8 October 1949 when the first set of Nigeria’s assembly on their return voyage stopped over in Freetown and engaged Sierra Leone in an international football match. Nigeria won 2-0, setting a chain of positive results on 8 October.
The country never lost any competitive duel on that date. More significantly, the Super Eagles first qualified for the World Cup on an 8 October date.
That was in 1993 when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Algeria in the quest for USA ‘94 World Cup.
Nigeria became the first English-speaking African country to qualify for the World Cup. Another significance of the October 8 match at the July 5 Stadium, Algiers is that Nigeria were unbeaten for the first time by Algeria at home.
The only deviation from the 8 October Magic was in 2015 when Nigeria lost 2-0 to Congo in a friendly match.
Twenty-six years after Nigeria’s debut international match, one of Africa’s biggest football nations, Egypt fell to the October 8 magic, losing 4-0 to Nigeria in the last stage of the triangular World Cup qualifying series for Argentina ’78.
Up till October 15, 2013, when Ghana beat Egypt 6-1 in Kumasi, the October 8, 1977 duel with Nigeria remained Egypt’s biggest loss in a World Cup qualifying match.
Before the 1977 duel, Nigeria in 1963 played a friendly match with Liberia in Monrovia. The October 8 magic was active, even in an away match. Nigeria drew 2-2 in their very first encounter with Liberia. It was shortly after the team had, through a protest, upturned a victory by Guinea to pick Nigeria’s very first African Nations’ Cup ticket.
Little wonder then that when FIFA suspended Nigeria in 2010, the world governing body provisionally lifted the ban on October 8!
Nigeria on 8 October
- 1949 – Freetown (Friendly) Sierra Leone 0-2 Nigeria
- 1963 – Monrovia (Friendly) Liberia 2-2 Nigeria
- 1977 – Lagos (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 4-0 Egypt
- 1993 – Algiers (World Cup qualifier) Algeria 1-1 Nigeria… qualify for USA ‘94.
- 2005 – Abuja (World Cup qualifier) Nigeria 5-1 Zimbabwe
- 2010 – FIFA, in apparent respect to the 8 October magic, provisionally lifted a ban imposed on Nigeria.
- 2011 – Abuja (African Nations Cup qualifier) Nigeria 2-2 Guinea. Although undefeated, Nigeria failed to make it to the 2012 African Nations Cup.
- 2015 – D.R. Congo beat Nigeria 2-0 in Visé, Belgium. The ‘October 8 Magic’ is finally broken.
Nigerian Football
Rivers flow to the top!
Rivers United have launched themselves to the top of the log at the end of the match day 5 of the Nigeria Premier League. The Port Harcourt side beat Akwa United 2-1 to go afloat after initial leaders, Remo Stars crumbled to a 1-0 defeat at Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday.
It was Remo Stars’ first defeat in the season. Rivers United are now with 13 points. Stephen Mayo put Rivers United ahead after 31 minutes. But it turned a temporary lead as Akwa United bounced back almost at the blast of the referee’s whistle for the second half.
Friday Apollos levelled up for Akwa United before Ndifreke Effiong Udo scored the winner in the 85th minute.
Sunday Results
- Kwara United 1-0 Remo Stars
- Rangers International 1-0 Abia Warriors
- Heartland FC 2-0 Niger Tornadoes
- Kano Pillars 2-0 Sunshine Stars
- Plateau United 1-0 Ikorodu City
- Rivers United 2-1 Akwa United
- Enyimba 3-0 Katsina United* Suspended
- Nasarawa 0-0 Bayelsa United
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