Governing Bodies
CAF AWARDS: WILL SADIO MANE LOSE AGAIN TO CLUB MATE, SALAH?
Here is how in the previous three editions where Sadio Mane has been a finalist, yet he never won:
2016: Mahrez (1st), Aubameyang (2nd), Mane (3rd)
2017: Salah (1st), Aubameyang (2nd), Mane (3rd)
2018: Salah (1st), Mane (2nd), Aubameyang (3rd)
2019đ
Senegalese forward Sadio Mane has been a finalist in the previous three editions of the CAF Player of the Year, but in all those instances, he never went back home with the coveted piece of silverware.
His Liverpool teammate Mohamed Salah and Algeriaâs 2019 Total Africa Cup of Nations winning captain Riyad Mahrez stand in the way of his dream to finally earn the title when the awards are held on Tuesday in Hurghada in the Egyptian city of Hurghada.
Mane was Senegalâs main man at the 2019 AFCON where he netted three goals on the Teranga Lionsâ path to the final where they lost by a solitary goal to Algeria. He netted a brace in the 3-0 group phase victory over Kenya and added one more in the round of 16 1-0 win over Uganda.
He was also a vital part of the team as they beat Benin and Tunisia in the quarters and semis respectively, his influence playing a big role in Senegalâs run to the final.
For his club Liverpool, Mane was just as sensational as he was for Senegal as he played another crucial role aiding them to the UEFA Champions League title for the first time since 2005.
The forward scored crucial goals, key among them a double over Bayern Munich in a 3-1 victory in the round of 16 and once in the aggregate 6-1 win over Porto in the quarter finals as the Reds steamrolled into the final and ultimately bag the Champions League title.
In the English Premier League, Mane shared the Golden Boot crown with Salah and Arsenalâs Gabonese front-man Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, all three having netted 22 times for their respective clubs.
On top of that, Mane scored 39 goals across all competitions for Liverpool in the 2018-2019 season.
The forward kept his form into the new campaign and in the season opening UEFA Super Cup, Mane scored twice in a 2-2 draw with Chelsea, a game they ultimately won 5-4 on penalties to pick up yet another trophy.
At the just concluded FIFA Club World Cup in Doha, Qatar, Mane laid up the assist for Roberto Firminoâs winning goal in the final against Flamengo.
The Senegalese hitman was also in the top five for the Ballon dâOr, a crown ultimately won by Argentine wizard Lionel Messi.
In seven of the last eight awards, the winner has come from the English Premier League.
It is certain that tradition will continue with all three of the 2019 finalists plying their trade in England. With all the numbers looking impressive for him, many will ask, is this the year that Mane finally breaks the duck?
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeriaâs football politicians assemble in Asaba
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Speculations gathered ahead of the 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Nigeria Football Federation holding in Asaba on Friday have it that tenure elongation for the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, is a major item on the agenda.
Neither formal confirmation nor denial has been issued since one of the leading newspapers in Nigeria, ThisDay dropped the hint. Â
 The agenda of the meeting is also not made public. Dr, Sanusi is the longest-serving General Secretary in history having been in office from 30 March 2015 making 3,476 days or nine years six months and four days.
It easily drowned that of his closest rival in tenure – Sani Toro whose tenure from 21 December 1993 to 3 May 1999 is merely 2020 days or five years, six months and 12 days.
 Thus, no one had enjoyed a longer period in office than the incumbent, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.  It is speculated that the tenure will be extended as NFF has reported that all delegates have arrived in the Delta State capital by Thursday evening.
The NFF Annual General Assembly, the first of which took place 90 years ago in Lagos on 19 February 1934, is the biggest assemblage of football administrators and stakeholders in the country.
In one such meeting on 24 July 2008 in Makurdi, the football body changed its name from NFA to NFF.
This year, according to a press release by the NFF, the plenary will have in attendance, the chairmen and secretaries of football associations in the 36 States and the Federal Capital Territory, chairmen and secretaries of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Nigeria National League, Nigeria Women Football League and the Nationwide League One, as well as chairmen and secretaries of the refereesâ association, playersâ union and coachesâ association. This group of 88 makes up the Congress.
 They are joined by the members of the NFF Executive Committee and the management team as well as former NFF Presidents and General Secretaries.
The Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh, is announced as the special guest. Nigeriaâs Member of the FIFA Council, Amaju Melvin Pinnick is also expected as well as a representative of the West African Football Union (WAFU B).
The Governor of Delta State, Sheriff Francis Oborevwori will declare the General Assembly open.
Venue is the Unity Hall of the Delta State Government House.
Governing Bodies
Like in Egypt, former Nigerian Olympian, Sadiq Abdulahi wants Tinubu to declare âState of Emergencyâ in Sports
Former Nigerian tennis player and Olympian, Prof. Sadiq Abdulahi has called for drastic action to arrest the decline of Nigeria in global sporting events.
The former tennis player who is now a professor in the United States declared that the âfailure to win a medal at the regular 2024 Paris Olympics, the few medals at the Paris Paralympic and the fallout at the National Youth Sports Festival has exposed the deep problems facing the sportâs sector.â
He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the countryâs performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.
Egyptâs President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi ordered  a comprehensive evaluation of sports federations that  participated at the Paris Olympic Games, following a mission report submitted by the countryâs sports minister.
According to Prof. Abdulahi, the National Sports Federations charged with the preparation of elite athletes have failed to do their job despite the cry for funding from the government.
âFederal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.
âBy declaring a state of emergency, new people, new approaches and new funding models will be identified. More importantly, the Federal Government will redefine grassroots sports development.
âWe will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.â
Continuing, he called for the return of the National Sports Commission (NSC) which enabling decree was abolished through Decree No. 7 of 1991, but came back through presidential proclamation under Sani Abacha before it was abolished again.
The original NSC was established in 1964 as National Sports Council before the promulgation of Decree 34 of 1971 which legalised it as the apex Federal Government agency to control, regulate and organize sports.
âThe FG may now bring back the National Sports Commission or the National Sports Authority. Our emerging national economy with the full participation of the private sector can support this new beginning. I hope this helps.â
RELATED STORY: President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
Governing Bodies
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of âOLAâ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
The ConfĂ©dĂ©ration African of Football, CAF, has given the linguistics interpretation of OLA, the confederationâs official match balls produced by Puma which has also unveiled a special edition for the Super Cup duel holding on Friday in Saudi Arabia.
According to CAF, OLA, symbolizing the dynamic and energetic nature of African football, means “wealth,” “honour,” and “respect” in Yoruba and ârise” and “success” in Arabic.
The OLA ball stands out with its vibrant design and cultural significance. “OLA”
The ball is a mix of black and gold, representing power and sophistication. The ball will be the centrepiece of the eagerly-awaited match between the two giants of African football.
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