Governing Bodies
Eto’o under harsh fire in Cameroon
Still smarting under a recent paternity row on a Cape Verde girl and call for his resignation, African football legend and president of Cameroon football federation (FECAFOOT), Samuel Eto’o has entered another problem.
A former third vice president of FECAFOOT, Henry Njalla Quan, has accused Eto’o as being responsible for the row in the camp of the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon at the last World Cup in Qatar.
He accused Eto’o of lying, manipulation and embezzlement in his management of the episode.
Last November at the World Cup in Qatar, Andre Onana was decamped. Quan, according to Spanish publication, Marca, pointed at Eto’o as being responsible for the goalkeeper’s expulsion.
The Spanish publication further revealed that Quan asserted that Onana’s return to the Cameroon national team depends on Eto’o.
“André Onana’s call for the national team depends on the president of Fecafoot. I asked him formally about the future of our goalkeeper in the national team, and he replied that the boy’s career is over, and that the letter he sent to his club – Inter FC – was to get rid of him, so how can someone be so mean?” Henri Njalla Quan was quoted as saying.
“André Onana’s call for the national team depends on the president of Fecafoot . I asked him formally about the future of our goalkeeper in the national team, and he replied that the boy’s career is over, and that the letter he sent to his club – Inter FC – was to get rid of him, so how can someone be so mean?” Henri Njalla Quan said.
Henri Njalla Quan explained the real reason for the expulsion of André Onana from the World Cup in Qatar. It was because the president of the Cameroon Football Association, Samuel Eto’o, was desperate to get rid of the Inter goalkeeper .
During the press conference, Henri Njalla Quan denounced many other irregularities, which led him to resign from his position: “The stars of the national team are being suffocated by someone who himself was a star when he was a footballer and who wants to continue being a coach He is present in all the meetings, in all the training sessions. Even the coach feels suffocated by Eto’o’s omnipresence”.
The former FECFOOT official also accused Eto’o of not being transparent in financial matters. “I used my pocket money to make donations to the soccer players. Eto’o promised not to touch his salary as president of FECAFOOT, where is that promise? Today, FECAFOOT is in debt of several tens of billions of francs, whose fault is it?” continues Henri Njalla Quan.
“No member of the FECAFOOT general assembly ever proposed extending the term of the president from four to seven years. The only thing that was discussed was increasing the number of terms for the president from two to three terms of four years, as occurs in CAF and FIFA. Eto’o has manipulated an entire country!”
The complaint from the former third vice president of the Cameroon Football Federation continues: “I was president of the FECAFOOT marketing committee, but I did not have access to any document related to the different sponsors. I do not know how much the contracts with One All Sports amount to, Orange and MTN. I have requested these documents on several occasions, the last time questioning the president, but the employees of the Federation told me that they would not give them to me…”.
Henri Njalla Quan even assures that Samuel investigated him. “Eto’o gave 1 million francs to a football official to monitor me, and this man started threatening my family. I contacted the prosecutor, who took steps to guarantee my safety. President Samuel Eto’ or held a meeting with the other members of the executive committee at the Starland Hotel, during which he said that he no longer trusted me because I asked too many questions.”
Regarding his resignation, he explained: “I don’t regret having resigned. Things were not going the way I wanted. In the southwestern region, I gave material to the clubs, the players and the referees. I even gave financial support to certain media outlets. communication, even if they insult me today. I have spent about 10 million francs”.
“In the executive committee of FECAFOOT there are competent people, such as teachers, councilors and others. I don’t understand how they can be manipulated to such an extent. If I were them, I would be ashamed“, Quan concluded.
-Marca
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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