Nigerian Football
Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys’ Association honours former national team player, Paul Okoku
Paul Okoku, a 1984 AFCON silver medal winner and a member of Nigeria’s first team that ever qualified for a FIFA championship has been honoured by Saint Finbarr’s College Old Boys’ Association (SFCOBA).
In his school days, he also featured for Saint Finbarr’s College which was one of the powerhouses of school football in Lagos.
The conferment of honour was announced by a Nollywood veteran actor, Patrick Doyle who is the president of the St. Finbarr’s College Old Boys’ Association (SFCOBA).
Okoku, whose class of Flying Eagles was the first Nigerian team to qualify for a FIFA championship, the then World Youth Championship (now U-20 World Cup) in Mexico, in 1983.
The team was also the first Nigeria side to win a match at a FIFA event when they shocked the then-Soviet Union 1-0.
Okoku was bestowed with the Distinguished Conquerors’ (DC) Award for his contribution to Nigerian sports generally and also for elevating the name of his alma mater.
The event took place in Arlington, Virginia, United States of America, celebrating Okoku’s enduring legacy and commitment to the institution, association and community.
Doyle flew in from Nigeria for the occasion which served as a platform for the association members to raise funds for the support of Finbarr’s scholarships, buildings, renovations and other projects.
“The Conquerors. Distinguished Conqueror Award presented to Paul Lucky Okoku, in recognition of your benevolence and outstanding support for the development and transformation of Saint Fibarr’s College Akoka, Lagos and raising the profile and effectiveness of SFCOBA,” the award plaque read.
Paul Okoku was not only a celebrated ex-international footballer and philanthropist but was also honoured with a certificate of recognition in 2019, presented by Nathaniel Ogedegbe, the President of the St. Finbarr’s College Old Boys’ Association North America (SFCOBA).
This recognition acknowledged Okoku as one of the founding members of SFCOBA North America, a testament to his role in fostering unity and development among alumni.
Today, SFCOBA North America continues to flourish, honouring the legacy of St. Finbarr’s College by fostering unity among its members and spearheading impactful initiatives to support the institution’s growth and development.
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President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Wednesday morning paid a visit to the Abuja home of the First Vice President of NFF, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, whose family was attacked by armed robbers some hours earlier.
During the visit, Gusau prayed for a quick return to good health for Anyansi-Agwu, who was injured in the attack, and for the entire Anyansi-Agwu family. He also thanked God that no life was lost in the attack.
“The NFF President has been to the house of Chief Anyansi-Agwu. I will also be going to his house shortly to empathise with him and his family.
“This is an unwholesome incident and the Executive Committee, Management and Staff of NFF feel the stress of the Anyansi-Agwu family at this period,” NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, said.
Thenff.com learnt that armed men invaded the Gwarinpa Estate home of former Enyimba FC chairman, Anyansi-Agwu in the early hours of Tuesday, 8th January 2025 and ransacked the entire house.
They inflicted injuries on Anyansi-Agwu and carted away one of his cars, as well as mobile phones, cash and other items worth several millions of naira.
Anyansi-Agwu is presently receiving treatment at an undisclosed location in the Federal Capital.
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Eric Chelle, who was named the new manager of the Super Eagles on Tuesday, has been tasked with reviving Nigeria’s hopes of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
The 47-year-old’s most recent international job was in charge of Mali for two years and he took them to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, where they lost on penalties to hosts Cote d’ivoire.
In what looked like a reversal of precedents, the Malian is coaching the Nigerian team just as former Nigeria captain, the late Stephen Keshi had coached Mali some years ago.
Chelle also became the first man to guide Mali to be Nigeria in over 50 years as his team inflicted a 2-0 defeat on the Super Eagles in a friendly match last year in Morocco.
The former centre-back was born in Abidjan but won five caps for Mali. He spent his club career in France, most notably with Lens.
The Super Eagles resume their World Cup qualifying campaign in March. They will face Rwanda before hosting Zimbabwe.
The Super Eagles have taken only three points from their opening four matches in Group C and trail Rwanda, South Africa and Benin, who each have seven points.
The top side in each of the nine groups advance automatically to the 2026 finals in North America, while the four best runners-up enter continental play-offs with the potential for one extra place.
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Nigerian Football
Triple nationality Eric Chelle who last led Mali to beat Nigeria is Super Eagles’ new manager
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
Éric Sékou Chelle born in Cote d’Ivoire to a French father and a Malian mother is the new coach of the Super Eagles.
Last year, he led Mali to beat Nigeria for the first time in 50 years. He becomes the first African outside Nigeria to handle Nigeria’s lead football brand, the Super Eagles.
This is the sequel to the Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation endorsing the recommendation of its Technical and Development Sub-Committee.
He had previously handled Mali and was in charge last year when Mali beat Nigeria 2-0 in Morocco. Chelle, who won five caps for the Aiglons of Mali and coached clubs such as GS Consolat, FC Martigues, Boulogne and MC Oran, has been Head Coach of the Aiglons since 2022.
At the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire, Chelle’s Mali came very close to a place in the semi-finals, losing to hosts and eventual winners Cote d’Ivoire 2-1 after extra time, after leading by a lone goal until the final minute of regulation time.
The 47-year-old featured for Martigues, Valenciennes, Lens, Istres and Chamois Niortais in France during his playing career.
His appointment is with immediate effect, and he has the responsibility of guiding the Super Eagles to earn a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup finals, with the next round of matches (Matchdays 5 & 6) taking place in March.
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