Governing Bodies
Peseiro dropped as NFF keeps faith in Eguavoen and Amuneke
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
The gamble to have Augustine Eguavoen to lead the Super Eagles to the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations seemed to have paid off as the man fondly called ‘Cerezo’ has been given further mandate to guide Nigeria into the World Cup.
He will be assisted in the two-match qualifiers next month by former national team-mate Emmanuel Amuneke.
Amuneke, an electrifying left winger was the first Nigerian to score two goals in a World Cup edition and the scorer of the goal that delivered the Atlanta ‘96 Olympic Games gold medal to Nigeria.
Both Eguavoen and Amuneke were pivotal to Nigeria’s first off-shore victory at the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994.
While Eguavoen was the on field captain before Stephen Keshi stepped out to receive the cup after the defeat of Zambia, Amuneke was the scorer of the two goals with which Nigeria won the trophy.
Both last played together for the Super Eagles in the 27 April 1997 World Cup qualifiers against Burkina Faso in Ouagadougou.
With the duo’s role, it would appear that the initial deal with Portugal’s Jose Peseiro may have been stalled.
In the media release by the NFF Communication Department, General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi was quoted to have remarked: “We acknowledge and appreciate the interest that Mr Jose Peseiro has shown in Nigeria Football during our very cordial discussions and have absolutely no doubt about his capacity.
“We believe that perhaps in the future, there could be an opportunity to work with him.
“However, in view of the positive performance of the Super Eagles at the just-concluded Africa Cup of Nations which has given hope to Nigerians and boosted our confidence in the present coaching crew to qualify us for the World Cup in Qatar, we have decided to accept the recommendation of the Technical and Development Committee to retain the Eguavoen-led coaching crew and strengthen it with the addition of Emmanuel Amuneke.”
The acid test for the reconstituted technical crew is getting cumulative positive results in next month’s two matches with Ghana.
Amuneke is not new to national assignments as he was an assistant to Manu Garba in the cup-winning Golden Eaglets at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE before he led his own team to also win in 2015.
He was drafted to assist former team-mate in the Super Eagles, Samson Siasia to prosecute the two matches against Egypt in the failed bid for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
But on his own, he took Tanzania out of obscurity to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time 39 years.
In his second ‘missionary’ journey to the Super Eagles as coach, Amuneke has been designated as the Chief Coach while Salisu Yusuf will be the 2nd Assistant Coach and Chief Coach of the CHAN team.
Former skipper and first Nigerian player to hit 100 caps, Joseph Yobo will be third assistant.
Aloysius Agu remains the Goalkeepers’ Trainer.
NEW SUPER EAGLES COACHING CREW
- Augustine Eguavoen – Technical Director/Technical Adviser (interim)
- Emmanuel Amuneke – Chief Coach/1st Assistant
- Salisu Yusuf – 2nd Assistant/Chief Coach, CHAN
- Joseph Yobo – 3rd Assistant
- Aloysius Agu – Goalkeepers’ Trainer
Governing Bodies
Sanusi set for record-extending tenure as Nigeria’s 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.
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 referees’ association, players’ union and coaches’ 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. Nigeria’s 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 ‘State of Emergency’ 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 “failure 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 sport’s sector.”
He wants Nigeria to have the same approach that the Egyptian president has taken while reacting to the country’s performance at the Paris 2024 Olypics.
Egypt’s 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 country’s 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.
“Federal Government cannot adequately fund all the Olympics sports. It is impossible.
“By 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.
“We will lay sustainable foundation for sports development.”
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.
“The 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.”
RELATED STORY: President Al-Sisi orders sports system overhaul
Governing Bodies
CAF gives Yoruba and Arabic interpretations of ‘OLA’ the Super Cup 2024 Official Match Ball
The Confédération African of Football, CAF, has given the linguistics interpretation of OLA, the confederation’s 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 “rise” 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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