Governing Bodies
Ghanaian publication claims Eguavoen alleges Onazi imposition on Super Eagles
According to Ghanasoccernet, Augustine Eguavoen has shockingly revealed that he did not make the decision to recall Onazi Ogenyi to the squad that will play the final qualifying matches for the Qatar World Cup.
The publication alleges that Eguavoen remarked that Onazi’s invitation for the crucial 2022 World Cup playoff against Ghana was to ‘pacify everybody’.
The Super Eagles interim trainer astonishingly revealed that the technical team are not even aware of the form of the Saudi Arabia-based player even though he is part of the 32-man team he named for the two-legged matches.
His claims, reports Ghanasoccernet, suggest that Onazi was imposed on him by persons he did not name even though the technical team was not keen on calling the Al-Adalah FC midfielder.
Onazi was included in the 32-man team to play in the 2021 World Cup playoffs and he was placed on the list of standbys.
However, his recall has caused massive controversy in Nigeria leaving many Super Eagles supporters stunned.
Eguavoen has added more fuel to the fire by revealing that he was not the one who made the decision to invite the player.
“Onazi, good player. Whether he’s still good and can play at that level, we don’t know,” coach Eguavoen said indicating that he did not even monitor the player for the call-up.
“But that’s why I said to pacify everybody, to ensure there’s harmony here, put him on the standby. While he’s on the standby, I have the final say.” Eguavoen said.
The Super Eagles’ coach’s revelation shows that people within the federation have been interfering with his call-ups to the national team.
The two sides will be playing in an upcoming two-legged playoff later in the month which is expected to be fiery.
That is becasue the two matches will determine which will secure qualification to the 2022 World Cup tournament scheduled to take place in Qatar in the coming year.
Ghana hosts the opening leg of the World Cup play-off in Cape Coast on Friday, March 25.
The return leg will be in Abuja next Tuesday March 29.
The Black Stars appointed former Newcastle and Brighton manager Chris Hughton as technical advisor this month.
Otto Addo is head coach of the team.
Ghana has fired coach Milovan Rajevac after their group stage exile of the Nations Cup in Cameroon.
FIFA has sanctioned two lower division clubs in Kenya and Vietnam for match manipulation, relegating them to the third tier, world soccer’s governing body said on Friday.
FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee found Kenyan side Muhoroni Youth guilty of “activities related to the manipulation of football matches and competitions”, expelling the club from the second-tier National Super League.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has further ordered the relegation of the Muhoroni Youth senior team to the Football Kenya Federation Division One League (third tier) ahead of next season,” FIFA said.
Vietnamese club Phu Tho was also found guilty of match manipulation. The club’s senior team was expelled from the Vietnamese Football League Second Division and relegated to the third division.
FIFA said the clubs had been notified and can appeal the decision.
-Reuters
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The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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