Governing Bodies
GAC MOTOR BECOMES NFF’S 1ST EVER AUTOMOBILE PARTNER
For the first time since its formation 87 years ago, the oldest sports federation in Nigeria, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday had an automobile partner.
At a simple but telling and historic event in Lagos on the NFF and GAC Motor signed a partnership agreement that had all the components of a groundbreaking relationship.
The union confers on GAC Motor the title of Official Automobile Partner of Nigeria Football Federation.
The momentous signing ceremony at the GAC Headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos marked the first time Nigeria’s football governing body was having a remarkable partnership with an automobile company, and both the NFF and the fastest-growing automobile company in the country were delighted with the consummation of the union.
“We are thrilled to extend our partnerships with GAC as our exclusive automobile partner,” said NFF President, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, as he exchanged mementos with Chief Diana Chen, Chairman of CIG Motors (authorized distributors of GAC Motor in Africa).
“This union moves us forward in our determination to become a self-funding Football Federation.
“We are happy to be partners with GAC because it is a fast-growing organization with a lot of qualitative and farsighted persons, just like the NFF.
“After our long and hard deliberations, NFF is convinced that GAC is our ideal partner, because of its long-standing history of premium partnerships and support tied to youth development in Nigeria.
“With its involvement in the Lagos City Marathon, Asaba Marathon, the AMVCA, The Voice and much more, this partnership is a pivotal step towards deepening an already-existing relationship between the brand and the sports industry.”
In her own remarks, Chief Chen said: “Football has always been a reckoning power for uniting all interests and differences of Nigerians, over time, bringing together the old and the young from all walks of life – united in the spirit of true sportsmanship that knows no tribe, gender or religion.
“Football will always have a special place in the hearts of Nigerians because of the pride and sense of honour that it brings, and the spirit of unity that it fosters, and these matters to us too as a company operating in this country.
“Our company and Nigeria football share the vision of a great future.”
It is a three –year agreement in the first instance, but Pinnick said: “It is renewable and we believe that we are in this relationship for the long haul.” GAC Motor, which has been operating in Nigeria since 2014, has been at the forefront of championing the cause for the sports and entertainment industries, providing opportunities and supporting the dreams of Nigerians.
Deputy Chairman of the House of Reps’ Committee on Sports, Afolabi Olalekan Rasheed, reiterated that football is big business globally and it was important that big business continues to get very much involved with the game in Nigeria, and hailed GAC Motor for the gesture to Nigeria football, describing football as the greatest unifying factor in the country.
Jubril Arogundade, General Manager (Commerical) of CIG Motors said the company was proud of the partnership as sports partnership was a culture of the company.
As part of the terms of the agreement, GAC Motor will present official cars to the President of NFF, General Secretary, the National Technical Director and the Super Eagles’ Technical Adviser, as well as a fully –equipped ambulance and a mini-bus in the first instance.
Also present at the ceremony were 1st Vice President of the NFF, Seyi Akinwunmi; NFF Executive Committee members Aisha Falode and Ganiyu Majekodunmi; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; NFF’s Head of Marketing, Alizor Chuks; former Nigeria international and personal assistant to NFF President, Nasiru Jibril and Miss Queen Otarakpo of the NFF Legal Unit.
Super Eagles’ players Paul Onuachu and Samuel Chukwueze also graced the occasion.
By Kunle Solaja.
Nigeria is set to host the 48th Ordinary General Assembly of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), marking the third time the country will stage the continent’s top football gathering.
The development was confirmed in a statement issued by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), which disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, on the sidelines of the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, approved Nigeria’s proposal to host the event.
The approval followed a meeting between President Tinubu and CAF President Patrice Motsepe, attended by Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, NFF President Ibrahim Musa Gusau, former NFF President and Special Adviser to the CAF President Amaju Melvin Pinnick, as well as CAF Acting General Secretary Samson Adamu.
Sports Villages Square affirms that Nigeria previously hosted the CAF Congress at the National Theatre in Lagos in March 1980 and again in February 2009, when the late CAF President Issa Hayatou secured another four-year term in office.
In addition to this year’s 48th Ordinary General Assembly, scheduled for October, Nigeria also secured the hosting rights of the CAF Awards ceremony. The annual awards gala, which celebrates Africa’s top football performers, has been staged in Morocco over the past three years.
Nigeria had earlier hosted the CAF Awards when telecom firm, Globacom, was the headline sponsor. This year’s event will be the seventh to be held in Nigeria after those of 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 and 2016.
The CAF Ordinary General Assembly traditionally attracts key football stakeholders from across the continent, including presidents of CAF’s 54 member associations, representatives of the six zonal unions and senior football administrators.
The CAF Awards ceremony is regarded as one of African football’s flagship events, honouring outstanding players, coaches, clubs and officials in a glamorous setting that showcases the continent’s football excellence.
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FIFA’s independent Ethics Committee has banned former Guyana Football Federation (GFF) General Secretary Ian Alves from all football-related activities for five years after finding he sexually harassed female staff members.
FIFA also fined Alves 20,000 Swiss francs ($22,000) after determining that he had breached provisions of the FIFA Code of Ethics relating to the protection of physical and mental integrity, abuse of position and general duties.
“FIFA has a strict stance against all forms of abuse in football,” the organisation said on Monday.
The decision followed a review of written statements from the victims, documents provided by the GFF, submissions from Alves, and other evidence gathered during the investigation.
Alves stepped down from his position in 2024.
The ban came into force on Monday, when the terms of the decision were notified to Alves, and the full grounds for the ruling will be communicated within 60 days in accordance with the Code of Ethics, FIFA added.
The GFF did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Alves could not immediately be reached for comment.
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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said on Thursday that he planned to seek re-election for a fourth term in a bid to continue to lead the governing body of world soccer.
Infantino confirmed he would run for the 2027–2031 term in the closing moments of the FIFA Congress in Vancouver, which comes less than two months before the start of the World Cup.
The election will be held on March 18 in Morocco, which is set to co-host the 2030 World Cup.
Infantino said he was “honoured and humbled” to have the chance to run for a fourth term.
The Italian-Swiss took office in 2016, replacing Sepp Blatter, and was re-elected unopposed in 2019 and 2023.
Infantino has pushed for the expansion of FIFA competitions during his tenure, with this year’s World Cup in North America the first to feature 48 teams, while the women’s tournament in 2023 has been expanded to 32 teams.
Infantino’s tenure has also drawn some criticism over issues such as high World Cup ticket prices and the decision to award the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize to U.S. President Donald Trump at the World Cup draw in December.
Earlier this month, the council of South American football’s governing body (CONMEBOL) said in a statement it would unanimously support the 56-year-old if he decided to seek another term.
-Reuters
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