Governing Bodies
38 YEARS ON, FLYING EAGLES’ CLASS OF ‘83 CRY OUT OVER NIGERIA GOVERNMENT’S UNFULFILLED PROMISES
The vice-captain of the Flying Eagles squad to the 1983 FIFA U-21 World Cup in Mexico, Paul Okoku, has urged Minister of Sports and Youth Development, Sunday Dare, to include the scholarships promised members of the team by the Federal Government in 1983 in a supplementary budget to be presented to the National Assembly for prompt passage.
Speaking against the backdrop of recent scholarships palliatives given to retired footballers and their families by the Minister of Sports, Okoku commended the initiative and good intentions of Dare in coming to the aid of some of his former teammates, now living in abject penury.
While recalling that the 1983 Flying Eagles squad were promised scholarships by President Shehu Shagari immediately after the tournament finished in Mexico City, Okoku, noted that the presidential proclamation was not implemented by successive governments, causing untold hardship to many of the members of the team.
In fact, while waiting for the fulfilment of the scholarship, some members of the team, like Ali Jeje, the skipper, have died, albeit in penury, prompting renewed calls for the redemption of the presidential declaration before other members of the glorious team die unrewarded.
While thanking the Minister of Sports for visiting the family of late Ali Jeje, where he gave them financial aid, Okoku urged Dare to deepen the narrative by revisiting the pending scholarship through a supplementary budget to the National Assembly.
Okoku said, “We the members of the Flying Eagles squad to the 1983 FIFA World Cup in. Mexico, commend the Honourable Minister of Sports for his visionary leadership.
“We also thank him for all he is doing to ease the suffering of many former players of the national team, like my deceased captain, Ali Jeje. We are pleased with his kind heart.
“But it is important to bring to the minister’s notice the presidential declaration of former President, Shehu Shagari in 1983, where he said all the members of the Flying Eagles team to the FIFA World Cup in 1983, be given scholarships to study in universities as all of us were school kids
“Regrettably we are yet to get the scholarships but have been made aware by the National Assembly, who has acknowledged our yearning that the Minister of Sports should include our scholarship in a supplementary budget to be forwarded to then for passage so that the labour of our heroes past will not be in vain”, added Okoku.
Okoku informed that his former teammates in Nigeria and Diaspora, have been calling him to know the extent of progress that has been made on the scholarship, pointing out that he has been trying to assure them that the government would soon make good on its promise by giving then the scholarship.
“As the vice-captain of the team, my former teammates have been calling me to know where we stand on the scholarship. Humphrey Edobor, Femi and Segun Olukani, Chigozie Ehizojie, Deji Akinlotan and a host of others have called me and I just hope that the promise of 1983 will be redeemed this year “, said Okoku
The 1983 Flying Eagles side, were the first team in the history of Nigeria, to play in any FIFA organized tournament.
They also won the WAFU Cup, defeating Ghana in the finals, in October, 1983.
The side also defeated Cote d’Ivoire to win the Tesema Cup, to become the best U-21 team in Africa, after both countries had qualified for the U-21 World Cup in Mexico.
The Ivorian side was led by Yusuf Fofana, who went on become one of the legends of African football.
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
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
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Magic Johnson Leads Campaign to Showcase Los Angeles Ahead of World Cup
Fallen Giants: Club Enyimba Beat for Historic CAF Title Suffers Relegation in Egypt
Morocco Welcomes Africa’s Rising Stars for U-17 AFCON 2026
Breaking! Uzoho suspended from Super Eagles’ next match with Sierra Leone
No longer Super League as CAF changes name of its new clubs competition
NIGERIAN FOOTBALL CHIEF EXECUTIVE, SANUSI CHARGES NIGERIAN COACHES TO BE UPRIGHT, DILIGENT
- World Cup5 days ago
FIFA Plans Three Opening Ceremonies in All Host Nations for 2026 World Cup
- World Cup4 days ago
United States Unveils Hollywood-Style FIFA World Cup 2026 Opening Ceremony
- World Cup4 days ago
Mexico president wavers on plan to cut school year by 40 days for the World Cup
- World Cup5 days ago
Burna Boy Joins Shakira for Official 2026 World Cup Song ‘Dai Dai’
- World Cup1 week ago
Despite 2026 Absence, Nigeria Still Leads Africa’s World Cup Winners’ Chart
- Premier League5 days ago
Man United’s Fernandes and City’s Shaw win FWA Footballer of the Year awards
- Nigerian Football4 days ago
Sporting Lagos Crowned 2026 NNL Champions After Dramatic Super Four Finale
- Premier League2 days ago
Arsenal survive huge scare to edge towards title