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AKINWUNMI MOURNS AS REALITY OF OGUNJOBI’S PASSAGE SINKS IN
The morning after, it was still like the strike of thunder; like a bad dream. The death of Chief Taiwo Joseph Ogunjobi, former international defender, former Secretary General of then NFA, former NFF Board Member and Chairman of Osun State Football Association remained a huge shock.
First Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Seyi Akinwunmi, said: “It has taken me 24 hours to truly accept the reality of Chief Taiwo Ogunjobi’s passage.
True, it was confirmed to me by many who should know, all through yesterday (Monday, 11th February 2019) including Tunde Shamsudeen (his sort of adopted son) and Ade Somefun (close friend and brother).
“I was even present when the NFF President spoke to his blood brother, but it was not until I woke up this morning (Tuesday, 12th February 2019) to remember my telephone conversation of late last night with Mazi (Amanze) Uchegbulam and I read Big Seg (Chief Olusegun Odegbami) tribute that it finally sunk in…”
In a chat with thenff.com, Akinwunmi, who is also Chairman of the Western Nigeria Football Forum of which the late Chief Ogunjobi was a strong pillar, added: “He was a humble, charismatic and humorous personality. For someone who had seen it all, from being a former international and hugely successful club player and administrator, to being the Chief Operating Officer of the NFF and later as Member of the Board, he was down-to-earth.
“It is still like a bad dream. But we have to accept the reality that Chief Ogunjobi is no longer with us. He led very well and supported very well, at different situations. His life was a testimonial of integrity.”
Akinwunmi said he saw in Chief Ogunjobi, who was also a Member of the NFF Reforms Committee of which Akinwunmi is chairman, a commitment and passion for success capable of infecting and impacting anyone close to the former defender and administrator of repute.
Ogunjobi, who captained then IICC Shooting Stars FC (now 3SC) to the final of then African Champions’ Cup (now CAF Champions League) in 1984, was Sole Administrator of the same club when it again reached the final 12 years later.
He also left huge footprints at Gabros FC and Julius Berger FC, before he was appointed Secretary General of then NFA in February 2002. He worked with Brigadier General Dominic Oneya’s board, and also with Alhaji Ibrahim Galadima’s board, before leaving the post in 2005.
The following year, he was elected Chairman of Chairmen of Nigerian Football, earning a seat on the Executive Committee led by Alhaji Sani Lulu Abdullahi, and was Chairman of Technical and Development Committee in a period that Nigeria qualified for and participated in every competition it registered for.
During the Lulu presidency (2006-2010), and with Ogunjobi as Chairman of Technical and Development Committee, Nigeria won the FIFA U17 World Cup (2007), won the Women Africa Cup of Nations (2006), won the silver medals at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament (Beijing 2008), won the silver medals at another FIFA U17 World Cup (Nigeria 2009), won the African Beach Soccer Cup of Nations twice (2007 and 2009) and played at the first –ever FIFA World Cup finals held on African soil (South Africa 2010).
The Nigeria Football Federation has opened a condolence register for its deceased former Chief Operating Officer at its secretariat in Abuja.
UEFA appears poised for an emergency vote on suspending Israel from European competition next week, with national federations scrambling to position themselves amid mounting political pressure following calls for action.
The brewing crisis intensified this week when United Nations experts called for Israel’s suspension from international football amid the unfolding genocide in occupied Palestinian territory.
A source confirmed that Europe’s soccer body could potentially decide next week to vote on whether to suspend Israel from European competition.
Should UEFA vote to ban Israel, it would put the organisation on a collision course with the government of the United States — co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup — which is vehemently against such a motion.
“We will absolutely work to fully stop any effort to attempt to ban Israel’s national soccer team from the World Cup,” a spokesperson for the U.S. state department told Sky News.
But even though UEFA has the power to suspend Israel or its clubs from their competitions, it may not be able to stop them from competing in World Cup qualifiers, which fall under the ambit of global soccer body FIFA.
The general secretaries of all UEFA national associations are meeting this week in Marbella, where Israel is not officially on the agenda, but officials expect UEFA to call an emergency vote next week.
FIFA did not respond to a Reuters request for comment while UEFA declined to comment.
Palestinian Football Association president Jibril Rajoub said Israelis should not be allowed to participate in any matches, whether they are under UEFA or FIFA.
“Israel has violated the principles, values and FIFA’s statutes. Therefore, I believe that Israel should be sanctioned,” Rajoub told TV2.
“The sanctions should come from UEFA and FIFA.”
WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
Israel’s national team are set to face Norway and Italy, the top two teams in their World Cup qualifying group, next month.
“We don’t have any indications that we are facing such an act (UEFA suspension),” a spokesperson for the Israel Football Association told Reuters.
“We are focusing on our international matches against Norway and Italy.”
Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported the Norwegian Football Federation (NFF) is one of the member associations that have been the driving force behind calling for a meeting on the Israel situation. The NFF declined to comment.
Lise Klaveness, the president of the NFF and a member of the UEFA Executive Committee, has also been vocal about the crisis in Gaza ahead of her country’s home game against Israel on October 11.
“Neither we nor other organisations can remain indifferent to the humanitarian suffering and disproportionate attacks that the civilian population in Gaza has been subjected to for a long time,” Klaveness said in a statement last month.
“We want to donate the proceeds (from the game) to a humanitarian organisation that saves lives in Gaza every day and provides active emergency aid on the ground.”
The Dutch football federation (KNVB) said it knows nothing about a vote to suspend Israel.
“As soon as the football association receives a message about this, it will take a position,” the KNVB told Dutch outlet NOS.
Last week, Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Israel should be banned from international sports competitions. However, officials from the Spanish FA (RFEF) have kept a low profile on the matter.
Israel maintains that its war is not against the population of Gaza but against the Hamas militant group whose fighters led the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that killed 1,200 people, according to Israeli tallies, and precipitated the war.
The subsequent war in Gaza has killed more than 65,000 people, according to local health officials.
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A hat-trick from George Agha and a sublime free-kick goal from David Edeh ensured a comfortable start for five-time world champions Nigeria in the WAFU-B U17 Championship, as the Golden Eaglets routed Baby Cheetahs of Benin Republic 4 -1 in Yamoussoukro on Wednesday.
Agha converted from the spot three minutes into the game after Boluwatife Thompson was hacked inside the box.
Edeh displayed fantastic football artistry to score from a free-kick in the 5th minute of the encounter.
The Eaglets were in cruise control as Agha bagged his brace in the 14th minute. The charges of Manu Garba were very dominant with a three-goal advantage.
Warris Soumanou in goal for Benin Republic was caught napping and his error of judgement gave the Eaglets another goal after a beautiful exchange of passes and dribbles between Thompson and Edeh, which set up Agha for his hat-trick in the 32nd minute.
It was raining goals and it was the turn of the Beninoise in the 45th minute, as a low drive from Jeremy Zannou gave the Baby Cheetahs a consolation goal.
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Mohamed Salah’s dramatic stoppage-time penalty ensured Liverpool maintained their winning start to the Premier League season with a 1-0 victory at promoted side Burnley on Sunday.
With British record signing Alexander Isak forced to wait for his Liverpool debut having been left out the squad for the trip to Lancashire, the champions struggled to break down a dogged home side in the first half.
After a regroup at the break, the visitors upped the ante in the second half, with Dominik Szoboszlai finally forcing a fine save from Martin Dubravka in the Burnley goal.
Burnley were holding on for a well-earned point with ease, before the ball agonisingly struck substitute Hannibal Mejbri’s arm in the penalty area and Salah slotted the spot kick into the net in the 95th minute to break home hearts.
Liverpool are still to really get going this season, requiring a winner in the last 10 minutes of all four of their league victories so far. The goal that clinched an undeserved success at Turf Moor was certainly the most fortunate.
After one of the longest transfer sagas in Premier League history finally reached its expected conclusion, Liverpool supporters were forced to wait two weeks for their first glimpse of their 125-million-pound ($169.45-million) goal machine due to the international break.
While coach Arne Slot said this week that Isak would have to be utilised carefully due to his previous injuries and lack of action so far this season, the Swede was still expected to at least be on the bench at Turf Moor.
The wait goes on as, without their expensive new forward, Liverpool mustered just one shot on target in the first half, from left-back Andrew Robertson.
Burnley, who conceded the fewest goals in English football league history last term to earn them promotion, otherwise frustrated the champions with ease. Even Lesley Ugochukwu’s red card for two bookings in the 84th minute did not seem to fluster them.
Even without Isak, Liverpool still had much attacking talent on the Turf Moor pitch but they just could not find that killer pass.
Salah was especially below par but he made no mistake in the most pressurised moment after Hannibal had stuck up an arm to block Jeremie Frimpong’s cross
The champions’ impressive Premier League goalscoring streak stretches to 38 games nonetheless, their longest such run in the competition.
-Reuters
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