Governing Bodies
FIFA President, Infantino, congratulates Gusau and new NFF Board
In accordance to custom, President of world football-ruling body, FIFA, Gianni Infantino has sent a message of congratulations to the new President of Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau and members of his new Board, following the Elective General Assembly of the NFF that took place in Benin City last Friday.
In a letter dated 5th October and personally signed by him, world’s football supremo wrote: “Please accept my warmest greetings and sincere congratulations for your recent election as President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
“Your knowledge and leadership, your passion and experience will undoubtedly have an important impact on the development of our beautiful game in Nigeria. Convinced of the potential of football in the country, you can count on my personal support and the help of FIFA to achieve this your goal. The doors of the Home of FIFA are always open if you wish to discuss our sport, its development and the promotion of its values.
“I also seize the opportunity to convey my felicitations to the Vice-Presidents and the Members of the Executive Committee elected with you and I wish you and your team good luck and success for all the challenges that lie ahead, in creating and witnessing a lasting legacy for the future of football in Nigeria…”
Gusau, an unassuming but thoroughbred administrator, rose through the ranks in the game, serving as Team Manager of Club 50, Sambo Babes and Zamfara United football clubs in Zamfara State as well as Kassim Stars FC in Sokoto State, before his election to the board of Zamfara State Football Association. He is the current Chairman of Zamfara State Football Association and has served as Chairman of the Zamfara State Sports Commission.
At the national level, he served two terms as Chairman of Chairmen of Nigeria Football under the administration of Amaju Melvin Pinnick, before his election last Friday as Nigeria Football’s supremo.
At the continental level, Gusau has served in the organizing committee for the African Nations Championship, is a CAF Safety and Security Officer and is presently a Member of CAF’s organizing committee for youth competitions, viz U17, U20 and U23.
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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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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