Nigerian Football
NFF CALLS ON STAKEHOLDERS TO SHOW INTEREST IN STATE FA POLLS
First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwumi has made a clarion call on football stakeholders and enthusiasts to show greater interest in and strive to participate in the on-going electoral processes in the local councils and Football Associations of the 36 States and the FCT.
Speaking in Lagos on Wednesday, the respected legal practitioner with over 30 years in the bar said the realm is open for those who believe they possess great ideas on how to run the game to be involved in administration at local and State levels.
“Our dear country, Nigeria is blessed with multitudes that possess great ideas and ideals about how to run the game of football. These include the current FA Chairmen who I must say I am very proud of in the way they carry out the tenets of association football. The Councils and State Football election process is on now and the opportunity is there for everyone to get involved. It would be a dis-service to the system and to the game itself for people who have worthy and brilliant ideas to stay aloof.
“It is not rocket science. The guidelines are available at the offices of each State FA. People should go there, look at the guidelines and if they meet the requirements, vie for offices. It is from the local councils and State levels that people come to the national body, which is the Nigeria Football Federation.”
Akinwunmi, who is also the Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association and Member of the CAF Committee on Youth Competitions, said those who possess ideas on how to grow the game but refuses to be part of the electoral processes are not doing Nigerian Football any good.
“As Chairman of the Lagos State Football Association, who is also interested in contesting, I have been encouraging those who have much to offer to be part of the processes from the grassroots level, and then come to the State level and vie for positions in the Executive Committee.
“Some persons do not realize that they can actually effect changes by being part of the processes. It is not enough to stand aside and simply criticize the system. Get involved and try to get inside, and then float your ideas in a robust manner for everyone to see and take on board.”
Electoral processes are ongoing into the local football councils and Football Associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, with most of the States having already announced dates for their respective Elective Congresses.
TIMETABLE FOR STATE FA ELECTIONS
. Rivers State: Wednesday, 30th January 2019
. Kano State: Friday, 8th February 2019
. Niger State & Ekiti State: Saturday, 9th February 2019
. FCT: Monday, 11th February 2019
. Kebbi State: Tuesday, 12th February 2019
. Benue State, Zamfara State & Plateau State: Wednesday, 13th Feb. 2019
. Kwara State: Thursday, 14th February 2019
. Nasarawa State: Friday, 15th February 2019
. Bauchi State. Kaduna State & Kogi State: Tuesday, 19th February 2019
. Gombe State & Osun State: Wednesday, 20th February 2019
. Imo State & Taraba State: Thursday, 21st February 2019
. Enugu State: Friday, 22nd February 2019
. Yobe State: Saturday, 23rd February 2019
. Ebonyi State: Tuesday, 26th February 2019
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.
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.
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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