Rivers State Beef Up Security.

Rivers State Government has required the services of twenty seven thousand security personnels to record a successful and hitch free National Sports Festival which gets underway today across various centres.

The State's Deputy Governor, Tene Ikuru,told team of sports journalists that the state decided to delve into providing adequate security in order to erase an impression that the state is volatile and that there are series of criminal activities being perpetuated in Rivers State.

The Deputy Governor, said a total of seventeen thousand police as well as a combine team of Joint Task Force had been deployed to nooks and crannies of the state to maintain peace and sustain the security programmes which Governor Rotimi Amechi had put in place since inception of his administration.

Ikuru, said the Games which would officially start on Sunday at the Liberation Stadium would be declared opened by President Goodluck Jonathan as he assured that the state's government had made provision to convey athletes,officials and interested members of the public to the event which he described would be the best ever organised in the history of National Sports Festival.

According to him, the Liberation Stadium would seat 16,000 spectators would witness heavy presence of security personnels to forestall criminal activities, adding that all the games scheduled for Sunday would end early in the morning in order to encourage many people to witness the opening ceremony.

He assured that each state Director of Sports would be provided with a car to easy transportation problems as he urged the Director of Sports to warn their athletes to be law abiding during their stay in Rivers State as he said that any athletes who fail to comply with the directive would incurr the wrath of the state's government.

As part of measures to make the Director of Sports feel the sense of belonging, the Rivers State Government has promised to provide them with telecommunication gadgets.

Chukwumerije, Jegede Get Opponents For WTF Olympics Qualifiers

Nigeria’s representatives at the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-organised 2012 London Olympic Games qualifiers holding in Baku, Azerbaijan, Chika Chukwumerije and Temidayo Jegede have been drawn against athletes from India and Gabon in their first round fights at the championship.

In a draw released on Wednesday by the organizers, Chukwumerije, who will be competing in the men’s +80kg will confront India’s Sandeep Kundu, while Jegede will square up against Gabon’s Emmanuel Ndong Mba.

Chukwumerije, who is not seeded for the competition will on Sunday take to the ring against the Indian Police Constable, who is an eight-time Indian national gold medalist and a Commonwealth Championship winner as well as a quarter finalist at the last Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

The winner between Chukwumerije and Kundu will confront the winner between Austria’s Christoph Decker and Czech’s Dominik Urich in the second round.

However, there are possibilities that Chukwumerije may face his semifinal conqueror at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Greek Alexandros Nikolaidis in the quarterfinal clash and this will be a revenge time for the Nigerian.

In the men’s +87kg category, the seeded athletes are Canada’s Francois Coulombe Fortier (1), Italy’s Carlo Molfetta (2), Kazakhstan’s Arman Chilmanov (3), Uzbekistan’s Akmal Irgashev (4), Korea’s Dong-Min Cha (5), France’s Mickael Borot (6) and Morocco’s Abdelkader Zrouzi (7).

For Jegede to progress to the next round, he has to overcome his counterpart from Gabon on Saturday July 2, while the top 12 seeded players in -87kg category are Canada’s Sebastien Michaud, Italy’s Mauro Sarmiento, Morocco’s Issam Chernoubi, Jordan’s Nabil Hassan, Spain’s Nicolas Garcia Hemme, Azerbaijan’s Ramin Azizov, Egypt’s Ahmed Abdelrhaman, America’s Steven Lopez, Afghanistan’s Nesar Ahmad Bahawi, Turkey’s Yunus Sari, Australia’s Burak Hasan (AUS) and France’s Mamedy Doucara.

Nigeria’s sole flagbearer in the women’s -67kg, Ijeoma Obi, failed to make it to the championship and she was not listed among the 19 athletes that will jostle for places in the weight category.

The top three athletes in each weight category will automatically qualify for the 2012 London Olympics and 24 athletes are expected to make it to London through the Baku tournament.

Out of the 128 that will make it to London 2012, 24 spots will be decided each through the Baku tourney. The Asian qualification tourney holds from November 4 to 6 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Pan-American qualification event takes place from November 18 to 20 in Queretaro, Mexico, while the European qualification games holds from January 27 to 29, 2012 in Kazan, Russia.

Sixteen slots will be decided through the African tournament to be held from January 11 to 12, 2012, in Port Said, Egypt, while the Oceania leg will decide eight spots for the taekwondo competition.

Four spots will be decided through the tripartite consultation among the IOC, the ANOC and the WTF, which are known as “wild cards,” while the host country, Great Britain, will secure four spots automatically.

Flying Eagles set off for Portugal

The Flying Eagles will on Thursday fly out to Faro, Portugal for a 16-day training camp ahead of the FIFA Under20 World Cup finals starting in Colombia at the end of July. The team will travel from Port Harcourt aboard an Air France flight, through Paris and Lisbon.

After spending 16 days in Faro fine-tuning strategies and tactics for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Sam John Obuh-led squad will depart for Panama, for a four-nation tournament, before flying to Colombia for the finals.

NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu confirmed that the Flying Eagles will trade tackles with the Portugal U-20 team in Lisbon on July 13.

A number of friendly matches have also been lined up for the reigning African champions, who reached the Final of the FIFA Under 20 World Cup competition in 1989 and 2005.

The team has been in Port Harcourt for the past few weeks intensifying its training programme ahead of the competition. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that the delegation will be made up of 24 players and 10 officials, with the remaining five players to join the team later.

The Nigeria Football Federation will submit to FIFA a final list of 21 players for the World Cup next week Friday.

Flying Eagles set off for Portugal

The Flying Eagles will on Thursday fly out to Faro, Portugal for a 16-day training camp ahead of the FIFA Under20 World Cup finals starting in Colombia at the end of July. The team will travel from Port Harcourt aboard an Air France flight, through Paris and Lisbon.

After spending 16 days in Faro fine-tuning strategies and tactics for the FIFA U-20 World Cup, the Sam John Obuh-led squad will depart for Panama, for a four-nation tournament, before flying to Colombia for the finals.

NFF’s Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu confirmed that the Flying Eagles will trade tackles with the Portugal U-20 team in Lisbon on July 13.

A number of friendly matches have also been lined up for the reigning African champions, who reached the Final of the FIFA Under 20 World Cup competition in 1989 and 2005.

The team has been in Port Harcourt for the past few weeks intensifying its training programme ahead of the competition. Officials confirmed on Tuesday that the delegation will be made up of 24 players and 10 officials, with the remaining five players to join the team later.

The Nigeria Football Federation will submit to FIFA a final list of 21 players for the World Cup next week Friday.

Lagos State Sports Council Blames Rivers Accommodation Committee.

The Lagos State Sports Council has exonerated itself from the unruly attitude of the Rivers State Government on its athletes ahead of the National Sports Festival.

Its Welfare and Accommodation Committee Chairman, Niran Adeniji, who blamed the organizers of the Garden City Games for closing registration of athletes into the camp,said it was disheartening that the state's athletes were being denied the opportunity to gain entrance inside hostel, the King Jaja Hall.

He said the Accommodation Committee should expect that participating states for the Games were likely to arrive Rivers State late, thus, the committee should be on ground to receive and also pave the way for athletes to gain entrance inside their allocated hostels, adding that athletes from Kaduna and two others slept outside their allocated hostels.

Adeniji, said the gesture demonstrated by the Rivers State Government showed that there are still some challenges which the state is confronted with as the Lagos State Sports Council has fulfilled necessary documentations to permit the athletes into the hostel in readiness for the Games.

He said the committee contacted Elias Gora, a senior official in the National Sports Commission to permit the athletes inside the hostel but their frantic efforts failed to heed positive results.

According to him, the gesture would affect the athletes zeal to top the medals table as the Sports Council had engaged the athletes in rigorous open and closed camping to win the Games.

Wale Edun Boosts Lagos Pugilists Zeal To Win.

In a bid to motivate the Lagos State Boxers to win Gold medals at the Garden City Games, the State's Amateur Boxing Association, has provided a first class treatment to its pugilists as the boxers arrived Port Harcourt, Rivers State, by air.

Sportsweight.blogspot.com, reports that majority of the state's
athletes boarded Marco polo Mercedes Benz buses made available by the
State's Sports Council.

Head Coach of the State's Amateur Boxing Association, Obafemi Babafemi, said the State's former Commissioner for Finance, Olawale Edun,provided the first class treatment on the pugilists has part if his support to aid the pugilists quest to win many Gold medals at th Garden City Games.

While appreciating the Chairman of Lagos State Hall of Boxing Fame, Obafemi, said the various Saturday Boxing Shows would an added advantage for the pugilists to make the state proud at the Games,stressing that the boxers are good frame of mind to outwit their opponents.

Accommodation Hitches:Lagos Athletes Sleep Outside

The readiness of the Rivers State Government to host a hitch free 17 edition of the National Sports Festival is hanging in the balance as the Lagos State Athletes slept outside King Jaja Hall, Block A, Delta Park, of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The action which was widely condemned by the Lagos State athletes and officials negated the reports widely published that Rivers State is ever ready to host the event.

Th state's athletes who departed on Monday for River State were demoralize when they found out that the hostel allocated to them was locked and no members of the Main Organizing Committee or the Local Organizing Committee were available to open the hostel for them to rest having embarked on a long journey.

While speaking on the issue, the Director of Sports in the state's Sports Council, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, who was devastated over the unruly attitude on its athletes, said the State's Sports Council had sent an advance party to Rivers State to make arrangement for athlete's accommodation but he was disheartened that the organizers failed in their responsibilities to make available the assigned hostel to the state's athletes.

Ogunsanya, who claimed that the gesture was not geared at humiliating them ahead of the Games which gets underway today, said the Sports Council had intimated the Games Main Organizing Committee of th exact number of the state's contingent to the Rivers State Garden City Games.

Secretary of the Main Organizing Committee, Abba Yola, has apologized of behalf of the Rivers State Government over the unruly attitude towards the Lagos State athletes as he assured that the committee would resolved the issue without further delay.

As at the time of filing this report, the State's athletes had already being offered rooms inside the King Jaja Hall as they were also given necessary materials.

Dream Team lash Ghana’s Meteors 3-1

Nigeria’s Dream Team showed big game temperament and ability when trouncing the Black Stars of Ghana in an immensely entertaining All-Africa Games qualifying match at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin on Saturday evening.

It was always going to be a showdown with Ghana’s Black Queens having eliminated the Super Falcons from the race and the Black Meteors accounting for Nigeria’s failure to make it to the last All-Africa Games in Algiers.

A tense battle raged back and forth and Nigeria should have gone up by at least two goals before Ghana latched onto a momentary loss of concentration in the Nigerian defence to shoot ahead in the first minute of added-on time in first half.

Ever-lively Ekigho Ehiosun dragged his purchase too hard with only the goalkeeper to beat and then was foiled by the impressive Daniel Agyei in the Ghanaian goal.

Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led the spontaneous support for a fight-back, with a charge to the Dream Team players in the dressing room to ‘show the Nigerian spirit”. He was in company with the NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh.

The talks and support worked wonders as the Nigerians were back on level terms only six minutes after the re-start, Nosa Igiebor scooping the ball in after a goal-mouth melee.

Nnamdi Oduamadi worked very hard and enlivened the afternoon with sublime skills, and it was no surprise when he was brought down in the Ghanaian box and the referee awarded a penalty to the Dream Team. Nosa Igiebor stepped forward to convert and put Nigeria ahead for the first time in the match. This was in the 61st minute.

After some more misses, by Igiebor and Ehiosun, defender Ibok Edet came all the way from defence to blast another goal-mouth scramble high into the net, with goalkeepr Daniel Agyei nowhere.

The second leg takes place in Accra in two weeks’ time, with the winner on aggregate going on to the 10th All-Africa Games in Maputo in September.

MY BOYS SHOWED CHARACTER ………… EGUAVOEN.

After seeing his lads come from a goal down to beat the Black meteors of Ghana in an All Africa Games qualifier at the Weekend, Chief Coach of the National U-23 side, the Dream team V, Austin Eguavoen has admitted that his team had to dig deep to get victory.

“We knew from the on set that it was not going to be an easy game. But we would have easily won the game 5-1 if we had converted our chances. Ghana played well; they are team I have always respected. But we thanks God that my boys showed character and determination coming out in the second half to score three goals” Eguavoen stated after the game.

The Ghanians had gone ahead at the brink of half time as Rabiu Mohammed punished the defense line of the Dream Team for poor making.

Two goals from Nosa Igiebor and one from Edet Ibok ensured the Coach Eguavoen tutored side won the game 3-1.

The Dream Team V have so far won all the matches played at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium beating, Equitorial Guinea, Liberia, Tanzania and now Ghana. “we would continue to work hard because hard work pays. Having won the game against Ghana, the victory puts us in an advantageous position.

All we need do is score one goal in Ghana and we will be through” Cerezo declared while reacting to how he intends to approach the return leg.


The Former Super Eagles Coach was also full of praise for Edo supporters.


The return leg comes up in a forthnight in Accra.

OSHIOMHOLE SPLASHES 15M ON DREAM TEAM V.

Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole on Saturday splashed fifteen million naira largess on the Dream Team V following their 3-1 thrashing of the Black Meteors of Ghana in an All Africa games qualifier.

The Governor made the announcement inside the locker room of the coach Austin Eguavoen tutored side.

“ On behalf of the people of Edo state, I want to say thank you to you all for making us proud. You have always won on this soil and today you have showed Nigerians that you are a great team. I want to urge you to continue this way and as a token of our appreciation for the good job done today, we the people of Edo state give the team a token of fifteen million naira.” The Governor declared.

The Governor had earlier during the half time charged the players to draw inspiration from former super Eagles Captain and NFF football ambassador Kanu Nwankwo.

“ You know you have never lost on this ground, you will not lose today. Don’t mind that you are one goal down, go out their and draw inspiration from Kanu, Okocha, and others that are here to cheer you. We believe in you and know that you can do it. When you do it in return I will do says thank you” the comrade governor charged the team during his visit to the locker room at half time.


The Dream Team V have so far played four matches in Benin, scored 17 goals and conceded two.

The Team will now move to Lagos to begin preparations for the return leg game against Ghana.

Chukwumerije Leaves For Azerbaijan

BEIJING 2008 Olympics bronze medallist, Nigeria’s Chika Chukwumerije, on Sunday departed for the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)-organised London Olympic Games Qualifiers holding in Baku, Azerbaijan with the intention of picking a slot at the global championship.

The world’s number 61 ranked Algiers 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist left his based inManchester, United Kingdom (UK) aboard a Lufthansa Airline to Baku enroute Frankfurt.

Chukwumerije who will be competing in the men’s +80kg category with 27 other athletes said he had prepared well for the competition and he was optimistic that he would make it to London from the Baku qualifiers.

He said: “Most of my opponents have a good reputation and have obtained great results over the past years, but while I admire their credentials off the ring, I will do no such thing in the ring. In there, I really do not care one bit about their history. All I will be concerned about is trying to get my job done, no matter how rough it might get out there. If I thought I did not have a chance, I would have just chilled and waited for the African regional qualification event in which one is ‘meant’ to have a ‘better’ chance. However, I think I have as much chance as every other athlete coming to the event.”

Aside his semi-final conqueror at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Greek Alexandros Nikolaidis, who is two-time Olympics silver medalist and the current European champion, Chukwumerije will also contend with other top athletes in the world.

Chukwumerije will take to the ring on Sunday July 3, four days after the kick-off of the event at the Sarhadchi Olympic Centre in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Other Nigerian athletes listed for the qualifiers are Temidayo Jegede, who will compete in the men’s -80kg, and Ijeoma Obi, who will jostle for place in the women’s -67kg.

24 spots will be decided each through the Baku tourney for the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Aside the Baku qualifiers, other Nigerian athletes have opportunity to make it London 2012 when 16 slots will be decided through the African tournament to be held from January 11 to 12, 2012, in Port Said, Egypt.

However, four spots will be decided through the tripartite consultation among the IOC, the ANOC and the WTF, which are known as “wild cards,” while the host country, Great Britain, will secure four spots automatically.

Chess Height Holds On Saturday

All preparations for the July edition of Chess Heights Monthly have been completed.

The monthly event will now take place on Saturday, at the Sports Center of University of Lagos .

The event usually features some of the most brilliant chess minds in the country.

Players expected include three times winner Dapo Odugbesan, two times winner Toyin Jegede, chess veteran Ogolowa Clifford and upcoming sensation Chike Aniunoh.

The sponsor of the event is Lagos Island Local Government whose chairman is Honourable Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun.

Lagos State Athletes Commend Governor Fashola Over KADA Reward.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos State, has given monetary reward of more than N27m to the athletes who represented the state at the KADA 2009 National Sports Festival in Kaduna.

At a brief ceremony held at the Mobolaji Bank Anthony Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, Lagos on Thursday, the athletes were given Automated Teller Machine, ATM cards to withdraw their money in any Zenith Bank.

Gold medal winner received the sum of N100,000, silver medal winner received the sum of N75,000 and bronze medal winner gets N50,000. Athletes who took part at the KADA Games but failed to win any medal were also gioven N20, 000 to show for their participation.

Chairman of the state’s Sports Council, Agboola Dabiri, disclosed the reward would have come long before this time if not for the repeated postponemnet of the Garden Games 2011 Sports Festival which begins next week in Port Harcourt, River State.

One of the athletes, Arnold Fatolu, a karate gold medallistn commended the gesture of Governor Fashola, adding that the reward should motivate Team Lagos going to the Garden Games to do the state proud.

Meanwhile, a farewell ceremony will be held for Team Lagos to this year’s Sports Festival tomorrow at the Rowe Park, Yaba.

Governor Fashola is expected to bid the athletes bye in a ceremony put together by the Sports Council before the team leave for the Games on Monday.

We Want Credible Candidates To Vie For DFA's Election,Says Tijani

The Electoral Committee set up by to conduct election into the Divisional Football Associations has fixed 18th of July,2011,as the date for the 2011/2014 lection into the DFA’s.

While speaking with Sportsweight.blogspot.com,the committee’s Chairman, AbdulAzeez Tijani,said the election which should had been staged in June,2011, was postponed for two weeks because some of the candidates who are xpected to contest for positions on the board of the DFA’s would be in PortHarcourt,Rivers State for the National Sports Festival which would between 27th of June to tenth of July, 2011.

The former board member of the Lagos State Sports Council, said the committee which was mandated by the state’s Football Association, LSFA, is ready to change the face of the State’s Divisional Football through the election as the wants vibrant DFA’S through credible candidates whose expertise in football administration and management would take football to the next level.

According to him, some of the Association’s Chairmen had been on the Association’s board for over ten years without impacting positively on football development at their respective divisions and that they had made it a family affairs,thus, the committee through the LSFA has decided to to bring a new lease of life to the DFA’s as most of the DFA’s Chairmen are political appointees.

To this end,the Committee has concluded plans to visit each of the DFA’s in a bid to familiarise and sensitize lovers of football to be bold enough tovie for positions,adding that the Committee would first visit Badagry DFA on the 12th of July,2011, after which they would move to Ikorodu, Epe, Ikeja and Lagos Island.

He said an individual candidate stand a chance to vie for the Association’s Chairmanship position if he has unbroken three years of football administration and management preceeding the year of electin and he must possess a minimum of school cerfiticate or its equivalent.

NFF Appoints Arbitrator.

The Nigeria Football Federation on Thursday appointed its own arbitrator for the Arbitration Panel set up by the Executive Committee to adjudicate on issues arising from the elections into the boards of the National, Women and Amateur Leagues.

The elections into the boards of the various Leagues took place on January 29, 2011 in Abuja, as directed by the NFF Congress at the conclusion of its Annual General Assembly in Uyo on December 29, 2010.

Some aggrieved candidates petitioned the NFF Electoral Appeals Committee, which went ahead to nullify the elections.

However, at a meeting of the NFF Executive Committee which took place in Abuja on March 4 this year, it was resolved that the matter be taken to an Arbitration Panel.

The NFF’s Arbitrator is Chief Victor Uqua Kaiso Iyanam, who was Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Akwa Ibom State between 2007 and 2009.

Chief Iyanam, 47, was a member of the Nigeria Cycling Federation in 1994, has been a Notary Public for Nigeria since 1995 and is married with four children. He was called to the Nigerian Bar as Solicitor and Advocate in 1986.

With this development, the other disputants can now appoint their own arbitrators, in order that the Arbitration Panel will be composed and have its first meeting.

The persons in contention are Chief Emeka Inyama, Ms. Aisha Falode and Mrs Dilichukwu Onyedinma.

Under 23 Camp Bubble With 23 Players.

The number of players in the National Under 23 camp in Benin City on Thursday jumped to 22 following the return of AC Milan midfielder Nnamdi Oduamadi and new entrant from Israeli club, Sakhnin, Agboola Babalola who was invited following the delayed return of Nurudeen Orelesi.

“Yes, am rested and fully ready for the game against the Black Meteors” declared Nnamdi Oduamadi on arrival from Lagos.

Agboola Babalola who is getting his first call up to the National team said” I am glad to be here. I have been looking forward to an opportunity to play for my fatherland now that I have found it in the Dream Team V I will put in my best if am called upon by the coach”

Still being expected in camp as at the time of this release, is Nosa Igiebor, VVV Venlo attacking midfielder, Ahmed Musa who was permitted to see his family in Kano.

Nurudeen Orelesi, Haruna Lukman whom both left camp to complete their contracts in Ukraine and Albania still remain doubtful for the game against Ghana.

There has however been tremendous improvement on the injury worries in the team as Obiora Nwankwo and Eneji Otepka began training on Wednesday.

Oseni Ganiyu who has not been able to kick a ball in the last three days due to blisters suffered in the game against Tanzania, is nowfully fit. “ I am now fit, the blisters have healed. I cannot wait tojoin my colleagues in today’s training session” an excited Osenideclared.

The Dream Team rested this morning to train this evening at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium.

Meanwhile the Black Meteors of Ghana arrived the country today with a 28 man contingent.

The Coach Kwesi Appiah tutored side would have a feel of the Samuel Ogbemudia astro turf on Friday by 4pm.

The Nigeria Ghana game kicks off by 4pm on Saturday.

Olubayo Adefemi To Be Honoured At Paris 2011 Homeless World Cup.

Less than sixty days to the commencement of the 9th edition of the Homeless World Cup to be held in the city of Paris; Champ de Mars in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, plans have been finalized by the organizers of the Nigerian team, to give a befitting post humous recognition to Late Super Eagles right back and Ambassador of the Nigerian team, Olubayo Adefemi.

Officials of Search and Groom led by its Executive Director, Yomi Kuku had a private meeting with the Adefemi family led by Adetunji Adefemi and Biodun Adefemi.

The outcome of the meeting includes the unveiling of the Nigerian National street soccer team jersey to the Homeless World Cup which will bear Olubayo’s portrait on the arm to be unveiled at a media event alongside a specially designed casual wear with his giant portrait before the team departs for Paris.

Kuku confirmed that the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Olubayo’s Super Eagles and Xanthi Skoda team officials and mates will be communicated to in the coming days to seek their inputs and support.

In his reaction during the meeting, Mr Adetunji Adefemi, thanked the Search and Groom team for its relentless pursuance of the dream of the family’s late son; Olubayo, promising to abide by the agreement Olubayo had with the organization before his untimely death.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Homeless World Cup team will commence the second phase of their training programme at the AstroTurf2000, Osborne road, Ikoyi, Lagos under the supervision of head Coach Ndubisi Duruna, assistants Olumide Ajayi and Adeyinka Adejuwon.

The invited team comprised of players selected and shortlisted from the annual Street Soccer League Cup organized by Search and Groom Youth for development Centre; official selectors of Nigeria’s National street soccer team, a social project based in Lagos with a commitment to rehabilitating indigent people.

Thirteen players have been shortlisted for the final phase of preparation ahead the renowned World Street Soccer Championship.

They include Kujenya Ibrahim, Afolabi Michael, Adebiyi Sunday, Okafor Uzoma, Abubakar Haruna, Adekunle Peter, Ogundimu Oluwaseun, Uzoka Amaechi, Chukwu Emmanuel, Olujide Opeoluwa and Aliu Sulaiman.

Two guest players from Olubayo Adefemi's social project being implemented at Myoung Barracks, Yaba Lagos, will complete the list.

The players are to report to the Astroturf 2000 on July 11, 2011 for a comprehensive one month final lap of training from where a final eight-man playing staff will be handed flight tickets to Paris, France.

The Homeless World Cup is a platform for social integration through football and creates fresh, inventive solutions to end homelessness and poverty worldwide.

Nigeria has participated in four previous editions of the global tournament: Cape Town 2006 (South Africa), Copenhagen 2007 (Denmark), Melbourne 2008 (Australia) and Milan 2009(Italy).

Nigeria played in the semi final at the Milan 2009 tournament and also got a UEFA Fair play award to cap a glorious outing.

WTF Confirms Chukwumerije, Two Others For Olympics Qualifiers In Azerbaijan

The World Taekwondo Federation, WTF, has confirmed Nigeria’s Chika Chukwumerije and two others as competitors at the 2012 London Olympic Games Qualifiers holding in Baku, Azerbaijan.

Chukwumerije won a bronze medal at the Beijing 2008 Olympics.

Chukwumerije who is ranked 61 in the world would be contending in the +80kg category with 27 other athletes across the globe as Over 345 athletes competing for places at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

As part of his build up for the qualifiers, the 2007 All Africa Games gold medalist is at present in his based in United Kingdom perfecting his skills ahead of the championship.

In readiness for the Olympics qualifiers, Chukwumerije had featured the Belgian Open and the World Championship in Korea this year as he settled for silver medal at the Belgian Open after coping an injury in the semifinal tie while he made it to the quarter final stage at the Korea World Championship.


In Azerbaijan, the Abia State-born athlete will contend the best fighters in the world, which include his semifinal conqueror at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Greece’s Alexandros Nikolaidi and the current European champion.

Other Nigeria athletes listed by WTF are Temidayo Jegede, who will be competing in the men’s -80kg, while Ijeoma Obi will jostle for place in the women’s -67kg.

There are indications that Obi may not feature at the qualifiers following the inability of the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) to raise fund for the player to make the trip to Azerbaijan.

The WTF World Taekwondo Qualification Tournament for the 2012 London Olympic Games will take place on June 30 to July 3, with 345 athletes from 109 countries in action.

194 men and 151 women were listed for the championship, which serves as the first qualification platform for athletes hoping to make it to London 2012 Olympics.

The four-day tournament, will feature four male and four female Olympic weight categories: -58kg, -68kg, -80kg and +80kg in the men’s division, and -49kg, -57kg, -67kg and +67kg in the women’s division.

The top three athletes in each weight category will automatically qualify for the 2012 London Olympic Games and 24 athletes are expected to make it to London through the World Qualification Tournament.


Of the 128, 24 spots will be decided each through the Baku World Qualification Tournament, the Asian Qualification Tournament holds on November 4 to 6 in Bangkok, Thailand, the Pan American Qualification Tournament takes place on November 18 to 20 in Queretaro, Mexico and the European Qualification Tournament holds on January 27 to 29, 2012 in Kazan, Russia.

Sixteen places will be decided through the African Qualification Tournament to be held on January 11 to 12 in Port Said, Egypt, while the Oceania Qualification Tournament will decide on eight spots for the taekwondo competition of the 2012 London Olympic Games.

Four spots will be decided on through the tripartite consultation among the IOC, the ANOC and the WTF, which are known as “wild cards,” while the host country of Great Britain will secure four spots automatically.

Promised Fulfil,Says Lagos State Government.

Lagos State Government in conjunction with the Title Sponsor of the 2011 “Legacy Edition” of the Lagos Street Soccer Championship MTN has fulfilled the promise of a foreign playing tour to Aspire Football Academy in Dubai to the Champion of the Legacy Edition, Lawal Akapo Street of Apapa Local Government Area.

While speaking at a send-forth ceremony held on Wednesday at the Conference Room of the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Social Developme, the Director of Administration and Finance in the Office of Sports,Bashir Braimah who represented the Ministry exhorted the players and officials to be good ambassadors of Lagos State and the country Nigeria.

He admonished them to turn their passion which is football into income earning venture by studying match day economics while converting same to business.

Braimah emphasised that the State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, a sportsman would continue to support sports and sporting activities in the State especially with the policy of grassroots sports development.

Honourable Owolabi Elijah Adele, Special Adviser – Special Duties to Chairman of Apapa Local Government who represented the Chairman,thanked the State Government and MTN for the opportunity given to the grassroots soccer players to participate in the competition which afford them the opportunity of a playing tour of the world renowned Aspire Football Academy.
Earlier the Team has claimed the Five Mllion naira prize money it worn for coming 1st in the competition.
The 2nd and 3rd placed teams, Koilo Street 1 and Koilo Street 2, both of Lagos Island East Local Council Development Area will also embark on their promised overseas playing tour along with the officials soon.

Dolphins Fear No Foe

After qualifying for the Round of 16 of the Federation Cup, Dolphins chief coach, Zachary Baraje says they will go all the way in the competition.

On Wednesday in Benin, Dolphins beat Ila ORangun LGA 2-1 to advance with goals from Emem Eduook and Victor Ezuruike and Baraje said after the game that things are moving as planned.

“First we must thank God for victory and then we must say we are through with the difficult part of the competition and we are now ready for the final phase both in the league and Cup.

“You know we have a team of players and officials who know their mission and how important it is to hit target and we are moving in the same direction,” Baraje said.

“We have told the boys not to get ahead of themselves but continue to see every game that they play as a Cup final and not looking beyond the very next game so they do not lose concentration.

At the time Baraje joined Dolphins at the start of the season he said he was joining a team that had all to win the League and Cup double and will only be complementing what others have nearly perfected.

“I said that at the start of the season but I knew the strength of the team I was joining. We can all see it coming to pass and I am happy by little effort has helped the team.”

Dolphins move to Sharks Stadium

Dolphins F.C Football Club of Portharcourt will henceforth play her League matches at the Sharks F.C Stadium as their home ground, the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium is undergoing reconstruction.

The Liberation Stadium was shut down to the public last week as massive renovation work continues in preparation for the 17th National Sports Festival to be hosted by Rivers State.

To this end, Dolphins’ next home match against Crown FC on Saturday will be at the Sharks FC Stadium and this trend will continue until after the National Sports Festival.

The team's Manager, Stanley Eguma says they will continue to do their best and win their matches though they will be playing outside their traditional home ground.

“No team wants to play away from its home and we all know the Liberation Stadium is our homeground but what do we do? We need to rebuild our own stadium as our state hosts the Sports Festival.

“However, we thank God that we were not forced to move out of Port Harcourt entirely and we urge our fans to continue to stand behind us and follow us to the Sharks Stadium on Saturday and for as long as we play away from our traditional home,” Eguma said.

Super Falcons arrive Heidelberg, set for World Cup

The National Women’s team, Super Falcons has arrived Germany ahead of the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup holding in that country, 26th June – 17th July, 2011.

The delegation of 21 players and eight officials that had been in a training camp in Saalfelden, Austria for the past four weeks was received by a team of FIFA and LOC officials, as well as the Assistant General Secretary of Competitions of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mohammed Sanusi.

During their four-week training camp, the Falcons defeated an Austrian first division team, Wacker Innsbruck 7-0, edged the Czech National Women’s team 1- nil and was held to a 1-1 draw by the Austrian National Women’s team.

They also drew 2-2 with the Slovakia National Women’s team and won 3-2 and 6-1 in two matches against an U-17 boys’ team.

Nigeria’s Falcons have been at all five previous FIFA Women’s World Cup tournaments, in China in 1991, Sweden in 1995, USA in 1999 and 2003 and China in 2007.

Nigeria take on France in her first match of this year’s tournament at the Sinsheim Stadium on Sunday, the opening day of the competition.

The Falcons next play hosts and favourites Germany in Frankfurt on June 30 before rounding up their Group A duties against Canada in Dresden on July 5.

Akwa United Wins Appeal Against 3SC

The Appeals Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation has upheld the appeal of National League club, Akwa United FC of Uyo against the decision of the Disciplinary Committee which last week awarded their Federation Cup Round of 59 match to Premier League side, 3SC of Ibadan.

On Thursday last week, the Disciplinary Committee had awarded the match, played in Minna on June 14, to 3SC on the strength of Akwa United’s failure to present players’ licenses before the game.

However, the Appeals Committee headed by Barrister Ibrahim Eddy Mark upheld Akwa’s appeal and resolved that the result of the match, won by Akwa United 4-2 on penalties, should stand.

This means Akwa United FC will move to the Round of 32 of the 2011 Federation Cup competition at the expense of 3SC.

In another decision, the NFF Appeals Committee decided that a National League match between Adamawa United FC and Dalkat FC of Kano, played in Jalingo on Lay 10, 2011 should be replayed.

The Committee established a case of force majeure to reverse the earlier decision of the Disciplinary Committee.

The replay will now take place within 21 days of the decision, and Adamawa United F.C will pay the cost of N200,000 to Dalkat FC as cost for the replay.

The Management of Adamawa FC also received a warning to tidy up its organization and prosecution of matches.

Team Lagos Leave For Port Harcourt 27 June

Team Lagos will leave for the Garden Games 2011 National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Monday, 27 June.

Preparation of the athletes for the national chhampionship has been in top gear, first with a successful completion of open camping and the ongoing closed camping at four different centres across the state; Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Mobolaji Bank Anthony Sports Centre, Rowe Park, Yaba, Myoung Barrack, Somolu and NYSC Camp in Iyana Ipaja.

Lagos State Sports Council headed By Agboola Dabiri, has ensured that the athletes are well motivated to prepare well for the Garden Games.

Chairman of the council said that Team Lagos will take part in 23 sports out of 25 sports of the Sports Festival with the exception of football and hockey, which the state missed out in the zonal qualifications.

"At least 791 athletes are in closed camp. We are going to reduce them to the require numbers we are taking to Port Harcourt on 27 June," he said.
"I want to commend the effort of Governor Raji Fashola who ensured that we get all we need for the preparation of the athletes for the Games and I believe that we'll not disappoint him," he said.

Director of Sports in the Council, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, disclosed that all the allowances of the athletes for the open camping have been fully paid, while effort is being made to offset the ones for the closed camping.

"The athletes are in high spirit for the competiton and they are doing well in the camp," he said.

Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to Governor Raji Fashola, who is playing an advisory role in the preparation of the athletes, said the camping is well coordinated to ensure a good performance of the athletes at the Sports Festival.

Meanwhile, athletes who represented Lagos State at the KADA 2009 National Sports Festival in Kaduna will received monetary rewards from Governor Fashola on Thursday. The event holds at the Rowe Park by 10a.m.

Gold medallist will receive N100,000, silver medal winner, N75,000, Bronze medallist will get N50,000, while athletes who did not will any medal will get N20,000 for their participation.

Igalo, Macualay Arrive Dream Team Camp

Nigeria's Olympic team football layers, Odion Igalo and Chrisantus Macualay have stormed the Dream team V camp as they are in high spirit ahead of the first leg All Africa Games qualifying encounter against the Black Meteors of Ghana on Saturday.

Odion, helped his club Granada to gain promotion to the Spanish La Liga last week.

Speaking ahead of this weekend’s game, Odion who is on loan from Udinese said he decided to join the team's camp having promised Coach Austin Eguavoen that he would be available for the match against Ghana, adding that the players are in good frame of mind to overcome the Ghanaian side.

While ruing his missed chances in the First leg game against Tanzania,the former flying Eagles goal poacher, prayed for a good outing on Saturday.

Similarly, former Golden Eaglets hitman, Chrisantus Macaulay, arrived
the Dream team V camp on Wednesday.

Chrisantus who was last week handed a late invitation for the Ghana game said it had been a long time that he had played for the national team as he assured that he would give his best to outwit the Ghanain side.

Meanwhile, the team's Doctors have been working round the clock to ensure that players of the team who suffered several degrees of injury during the Nigeria Tanzania London Olympic game qualifier are fit.

Oseni,Haruna, Nwankwo Out Of Olympic Team

Some Crops of Nigeria's Under 23 football players will not be available when the team file out against Ghana n the first leg All Africa Games qualifying match on Saturday.

The team's media officer,Arafat Aliu, confirmed that Oseni Ganiyu and Obiora Nwankwo have not been able to train since the victory against Tanzania due to blisters incurred from the heat of the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium astro turf.

Similarly, Sone Aluko is ruled out of the Nigeria Ghana game following a bruise to his Knee as the Player has since returned to the United Kingdom.

Former Golden Eaglets Captain,Haruna Lukman remains a doubt for the game against Ghana as he is expected to under go medicals today in his new club in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Nurudeen Orelesi who suffered exhaustion during the game against Tanzania is expected back in camp on Thursday after returning to Albania to finalise his contract with his new club.

Obiora who is also nursing a minor ankle injury started jogging today.

Otepka Eneji is out with a bout of Malaria but he is expected to be fit for training tomorrow.

Nnamdi Oduamadi and Musa Ahmed are expected back in camp on Thursday.

The players were give permission to visit their families in Lagos and Kano.

Galadima Announces 1 Game Support

Former Chairman of the Nigeria Football Association, Ibrahim Galadima has announced his support for the 1 GAME: Football without Violence campaign, believing that football will benefit immensely from the initiative.

The 60 year old football administrator told 1 GAME’s Chuma Nnoli that the game requires discipline from all quarters to achieve sustainable development.

“I have been following with keen interest, some notable Nigerians that have joined the campaign and obviously, it is worth commending. Those who are behind this need to be appreciated for what they are doing.”

“I want to strongly suggest that the nation should stand up against every act that brings us so much embarrassment and problem in our football.” He said

“I’m fully in support of whatever is done by people of this kind of vision. We must do everything we can to curb violence in football.” Galadima added.

Born on June 14, 1951 in Fagge, Kano, Galadima was Chairman of the Kano State Football Association between 1977 and 1979. He was Executive Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council between 1981 and 1983. The following year, he was appointed a Member of the Caretaker Committee of the National Sports Commission.

He was elected 1st Vice President of the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) in 1985, a position he held until 1987 before he was again made Chairman of the Kano State Sports Council.

Galadima was appointed Commissioner for Social Welfare, Youth and Sports in 1989 and later made the Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport. He was appointed Member of the Presidential Monitoring Committee on stadia development for the Nigeria 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship (FIFA moved the tournament at the last hour as a result of health issues), and has also served as Member of CAF’s Youth Competitions Committee.

In 1999, Galadima was Chairman of the Kano Sub-seat of the Nigeria 1999 FIFA World Youth Championship. He was elected Chairman of the then Nigeria Football Association in 2002.

Galadima joins a reputable list of local and international icons from the sporting world whose involvement in the 1 GAME campaign has helped promote its call for an end to violence and fanaticism in football.

Oshinaike Set To Organise Table Tennis Clinic.

Current number six African female Table Tennis player, OLufunke Oshinaike, has declared her intension to organise series of table tennis clinics for the Nigeian teenage ping pongers.

Oshinaike, who plays professional in Germany, said the programme which was the future of Nigerian table tennis would enabled the NTTF to discover and nurture talents who according to her would be exposed to the basic techniques of the sport.

She said the Germnay Table Tennis Federation had been bulding future in theior youths who pick interest in the sport as the gesture has made gGermany one of the best strongest European table tennis playing nations.

She said the likes of Bose Kaffo, Segun Toriola and other great Nigerian ping pongers were discovered through similar programme as the gesture had fortified the players to achieve a lot in the sport.

She believed thta Offiong Edem, Cecilia Otu, Ganyat Ogundele, Atinuke Olaide and Halimat Hussain were getting older there is need to create an avenue for younger players to take after their exit from the sport.

On the All African Games in Mozambique, Oshinaike, vows that she would win a medal at the Games despite tougher opposition from Congo Brazaville, Cameroon and Egypt.

Ejo Wants Okocha, IKpeba and Amuneke In Beach Soccer Team

The Chief Coach of Nigeria's Beach Soccer, Audu Ejo, has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF,to call on Austi Okocha, Victor Ikpeba and Emmanuel Amuneke to join the team ahea of the FIFA Beach occer World Cup in Ravenna, Italy.

Ejo, whose team lost to Senegal in the final of African Nations Cup which came to a close n Sunday in Casablanca, Morocco, said the game required football players who had their mark in football during their active playing days as he believed that their inclussion would help Nigeria to surpass its past records inthe FIFA World Beach Soccer Cup.

The Kogi State born soccer tactician attributed the team's defeat to Senegal to woeful performance of his golakeppers who according to him were off form in the final, adding that plans are in top gear to shop for good goalkeepers who would always be on top of the game.

He urged the NFF to encourage the team to grant the team early preparations ahaed of the World Cup in Italy as he said that the four nation tournament organised by Senegal in July would furtherenhance the team's preparations.

He said Madagascar team ws the toast of the Championship in Morocco because they had an extensive training programmes in France before competing in the event, stressing that the Nigerian side mneeds to play friendlies with top Beach Soccer teams.

He thanked Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola for providing play ground for his team in Badagry as he said that the team would need a one week camping in Nigeria and one month traiing tour of France for proper and cordinated training programmes.

NTTF To Hire Chinese Caoch.

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation,NTTF, has concluded plans to hire a Chinese table tennis coach as its Chief coach for a period of three years.

Its Technical Committee Chairman, Engineer Dotun Segun,said the need to hire a Chinese table tennis became imperative as the Federation's former chief coach, Babatunde Obisanya,left a big vaccum after his retirement as a civil servant.

He added that the Chinese coach would engage the Federation's coaches in series of training programmes and seminars to uplift their technical abilities in the sports and also improve their status.

Segun, who doubles as the former Deputy President of the International Table Tennis of the International Table Tennis Federation, ITTF, said the Federation would upgrade the current coach of the national team to the Chief Coach status after the expiration of the Chinese coach term as he believed that the programme would fortify Federation's coach to win laurel at major international tournamnets.


The Chairman of ITTF Presidential Advisory Committeee, said lack of thorough develomental programmes by the NTTF has affected Nigerian ping pongers to top ITTF and ATTF rankings unlike the Egypt, Cameroon and Congo Brazzaville that have better facilites and quality intensive training programmes.

On the need for ITTF to support Nigeria's quest to uplift the standard of table tennis following the impact of Nigerian ping pongers in ITTF Touraments, Segun, said ITTF is always in the mood of helpin gits affiliated members but the NTTF has to wake to its responsibilities by creating amicable relationship with the nternational body in order to acquire enormous facilities and also to pave the way fot its wards to enjoy ITTF scholarship scheme.

Green Attributes Eagles Woes To NANF.

The Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, has said that the qualification of Super Eagles for the 2012 African Nations Cup could be jeopardised if the crisis rocking the Federation persist.

Its Technical Committee Chairman, Chris Green, who made this statement in an interview with our sports correspondent, said the intension of the National Association of Nigerian footballers,NANF, to form a parallel government against the apex football body in Nigeria was part of the Association's strategy to distract the Federation from achieving its set objectives to qualify for the continental soccer fiesta.

Green, said FIFA had already issued a warning letter to the Federation over the NANF's intension action, stressing that the NFF would remain focus and determined to uplift the standrad of football to FIFA expectations.

He said the Super Eagles to Guines national team in an away match in the African Nations Cup qualifier due to the court case filed by NANF against the NFF,adding that the Federation was handicapped to perform its legitimate functions since the court had laced a temporary sanction on them.

The Committee's condemned the dual role of the Director General of the National Sports Commission,Patrick Ekeji, played towards resolving the crisis, saying that the commission which he described NANF action as illegal came back to support the Association with an earlier plan to visit FIFA..T

NTTF Commends Home Based Table Tennis Players.

The Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, NTTF,has regarded the just concluded national trial to select the nation's best table tennis players as a tough challenge for the players as they went through a thorough rigorous matches of three hundred ten matches for four day trial at the Knock up hall of the National Stadium, Surulere.

Its Secretary General, Segun Oguntade, said the exercise which attracted ten male and five female table tennis players paved the way for the home based players to give the professional ping pongers good fight as the avenue, the knock up hall, was frenzy when the home based players in the mould of Ojo Onaolapo, Shola Oyetayo,,Jide Ogidiolu, Boboye Oyeniyan all made it to the second phase of trial ahead of the All African Games in Maputo, Mozambique.

Former Champion of Asoju Oba Tbale Tennis Championship, Gbenga Anthony, who now play in Portugal,Wasiu Fatai from Spain,Micheal Oyebode and Sao Aiyemojuba could not scale through despite playing in Europe.

Oguntade, explained that the Technical team of NTTF would still prun down the list of selected players to five in each category as the Federation is waiting on the National Sports Commission for a directive to embark on tour of South Korea where the team would have opportunity to train in a good environment where the facilities are world standard and it would enhance the team's preparations.

He said the Federation had added value to the knock up hall of the National Stadium, ulike in the past when the players complain of poor visibility during crucial games.

Home Based Ping Pongers Scuttle Professional Chances.

Nigerian home based table tennis players have scuttled the hope of the nation's professional ping pongers to dominate the final list of table tennis players to the second phase camping ahead of the All African Games, in Maputo, Mozambique.

The trial organised by the Nigeria Table tennis Federation attracted twenty male and sixteen female ping pongers where three hundred and ten matches were played in a four day trial at the Knock up hall of the National Stadium, Surulere.

The home based players who lacked regular competitions and exposure to international events,grabbed four slots as Ojo Onaolapo, Jide Ogidiolu,Shola Oyetayo,and Oyeniyan Boboye made the list of ten players expected in camp for the second phase trial where five players would finally make the list to the Games.

Gbenga Anthony, Champion of Asoju Oba Men's Singles in 2009 before travelling to Portugal, Wasiu Tope, form Spain, Micheal Oyebode from Italy and Sao Ayemojuba could not distinguish themelves.

Segun Toriola, who plays for Baryard Argentan Table Tennis Club in France, Aruna Quadri, Seun Ajetunmobi, Nasiru Kazeem, Monday Merotohun, Ojo Onaolapo, Jide Ogidiolu, Bode Abiodunm Sola Oyetayo and Kazeem Makanjuola made the list.

It was a different stroke in the female cadre as all the five invited professional scaled through to the second phase.

Offiong Edem, top the list followed by cecilia Otu,, Friday Janet, Halimat Hassain, Funke Oshinaike, Ganiyat Olatunde, Nike Aroyehunm Ganiyat Ogundele,Fatimo Kazeem and Atinuke Olaide.

Supersand Eagles Crash In Casablanca

The National Beach Soccer team lost 4-7 to their Senegalese counterparts in Sunday night’s final of the African Beach Soccer Championship in Casablanca, Morocco.

Having beaten Madagascar twice and South Africa once in earlier matches, the Supersand Eagles looked good enough to win the trophy for the third time, but a number of own goals did not help matters and the Senegalese side lifted the Cup after the final whistle.

The Eagles will join the Senegalese squad to represent Africa at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup billed for Ravenna, Italy, from 1st – 11th September this year.

NFF President Aminu Maigari lauded the players for their efforts and urged them to prepare very hard and focus on the big one – the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup taking place in Italy.

“The team has done well and we must commend the boys. Yes, we wanted the trophy, but football is sometimes like that and we have to encourage the players for higher stakes coming. I believe that with the right motivation, the boys can make good impact at the World Cup”, stated Maigari.



The Nigerian delegation to the tournament was billed to return to the country aboard a Royal Air Maroc flight early Monday morning.

Nigeria Defeat Tanzania.

Nigeria's Dream Team, on Sunday lashed the Vijana Stars of Tanzania 3-0 to qaulify for the eight-team tournament at which Africa’s representatives for the 2012 Olympic Games Men’s Football Tournament will be decided.

The tournament will take place in December in one of the eight qualified nations.

Sunday’s triumph arrived after heavy downpour aborted the game on Saturday, and home-boy Ekigho Ehiosun got the Dream Team in front and the crowd surging to high spirit with a powerful header that opened the curtains after only three minutes.

Hopes of a rain of goals early in the game evaporated as the visitors strove to get back into the game with good possessional play. But 12 minutes after the re-start, Ganiyu Oseni scored Nigeria’s second off brilliant work by Ehiosun on the right.

Ahmed Musa sealed matters two minutes into added time with a finish that benefitted from substitute Nnamdi Oduamadi’s skilful play.

The Dream Team will now face Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, South Africa and Mali/Gabon (second leg started late Sunday in Bamako after 0-0 in Libreville) in the final tournament in December, where the top three teams qualify automatically for the London Olympics and the fourth plays off against an Asian qualifier.

This Saturday, the Dream Team will once again light up the ancient city of Benin when they take on the Black Meteors of Ghana in a 10th All-Africa Games qualifying, first leg match.

NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, who represented the NFF President at the encounter, which was also attended by Nigeria Football Ambassador Nwankwo Kanu, said: “These boys have done us proud, and we will do everything to ensure that the team is well prepared for the eight-team tournament in December”.

Fashola's 27 Million Naira Largesse For KADA Games Athletes

Govenor Babatunde Raji Fashola of Lagos will on Thursday, give monetary rewards to the state's athletes that won various medals at the KADA 2009 National Sports Festival in Kaduna.

The governor has approved the sum of over 27 million Naira to be given out to the athletes that won gold, silver and gold medals at the games.

Chairman of the state's sports council, Agboola Dabiri, was so gracious to the governor and the state government for the largesse, which he believes will motivate the awardees to do better in the future.

While revealing the details of the rewards, Adewunmi Ogunsanya, the Director of Sports in the Sports Council, said gold medal winner will receive N100,000, silver medal winner will get N75,000, while bronze medal winner will pocket N50,000.

"The governor has also directed that the remaining 420 athletes that participated for Team Lagos at the Games, but did not win any medal be rewarded with N20,000 each. This is a kind gesture from Govenor Fashola to encourage the athletes. I want to say that the governor instructed that the athletes should be paid online so that the money will not end up in wrong hands."

The Sports Council has opened accounts for the athletes through three designated banks for the payment of the money. We're planning to give all the athletes ATM cards for them to withdraw their money," said Ogunsanya.

A top officials of the Ministry of Sports in Alausa, Ikeja confirmed the 23 June event, saying that Governor Fashola intends to show that rewards will always be given to any athlete that make Lagos proud in national and international events.

Prince Wale Oladunjoye, Senior Special Assistant on Grassroots Sports Development to the Governor, who is playing advisory role for the preparation of Team Lagos for Garden Games 2011 National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt, said that Fashola's reception for the KADA Games medal winners is one of the major events planned before Team Lagos will jet out to Port Harcourt for the Garden Games National Sports Festival.

All the awardees have been directed to come for their forms and recent passport photos at a designated point at the Rowe Park before Thursday for the processing of their rewards.

Ramon Azeez, A Product Of Boska/LDFA Cup, Says Hendri.

One hundred and twenty eight football clubs have registered to feature in the fifth edition of the Boska/LDFA Soccer competition billed to kick off this Saturday at the FIFA Legacy Pitch, at the Nationa Stadium, Surulere.

The Sales and Marketing Manager of Boska Nigeria, Hendri Rusman, said the competition which was part of the company's Civic Social Responsibility is geared at empowering the youth for greater challenges ahead, stressing that the company would provide a health service for all the participating teams where they would opportunity of checking their blood pressure status.

Hendri, said the competition had positive impact on the youth as some of the outstanding players have been able to attract international football clubs in Europe and beyond as he mentioned the current captain of Flying Eagles, Ramon Azeez, Samuel Akinnubi andSanni Muhammed as some of the players who were discovered from the Boska/LDFA Soccer Competition.

He said the company in conjuction with the Lagos Divisional Football Association had added value to the player with the introduction of seminar where reputable football administrators enlighten the players on nitty gritty of playing Professional football in Europe as well as recommending them to the Nigerian Premier League Clubs.

He said the tournament which had been introduced to Kano State and Anambra State would soon become a national football tournamnets based on how best the product is able to compete in the market.

He described Boska as a widely used analgesic in every home that has a mission to counter or relief haedcache, pains and feverish conditions from the Nigerian populace,stressing that it consists of paracetamol and caffeine contents manufactured byPT DEXA MEDICA and marketed by Orange Drugs Limited.


The Chairman of the Lagos Divisional Football Association, Dotun Coker, said a day seminar would be organised to enlightened the players on anti- doping and laws governing football as a medical practitioner, Buki Ojuwoye would educate the players on anti - doping while a reputable Premier League Referee,Gabriel Adigwe, would handle on laws of the game.

The Competition's Technical Director, Yomi Peters, urged the players to adhere strictly to the rules and regulations in order not incur the wrath of the Association.

Winner is expected to take home 300,000 Naira, second takes 200,000 Naira, 3rd smles home with 100,000 Naira as there will be prizes for the best Media, TV, Radio, Print and Phto Journalist.

Lagos State Receives Festival Torch

The Lagos State Governement has received the National Sports Festival torch in readiness for the Games which gets underway next Tuesday in PortHarcourt, Rivers State.

The State Government led by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports, Adelana Adepoju Conde, received the torch yesterday from the Zonal coordinal of South West, Steve Olarinoye, in an event which took place at the Lagos Toll Gate.

Thereafter, the team embarked on a town storming as the Head of Service, Segun Ogunlewe finally received the torch at he Teslim Balogun Stadium.

While speaking, the Head of Service, said the state was ready to recalim its position at the National Sports Festival, stressing that the State's Sports Council under Agboola Dabiri are now in closed camp for the Games.

The Chairman of the State's Sports Council, Agboola Dabiri, is optimistic that the state would surpass the records achieved at the edition of the Games tagged Kada Games.

The South West Coordinator, Steve Olarinoye, said the zone which comprises Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo and Ekiti States would perform better because they South West National Sports Commission had helped their athletes to be in good shape through regular tournaments.

The torch is expected to arrive Akure, Ondo State on Thursday afterwhich it would move to Benin State

NFF Supports Eagles.

The Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, has declared that it will support the camp choice of Super Eagles head coach, Samson Siasia for the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar in September.

NFF technical committee chairman Chris Green explained that Siasia would be backed on his pre-game plan to ensure that the team beat their Madagascar counterparts in Antananarivo.

Green made it clear that the NFF will not stand in the way of Siasia's plans for the game against Madagascar.

He said the federation would be happy to see the team win their remaining matches because Nigeria cannot afford to miss out on next year's Nations Cup.

Nigeria's Super Eagles are three points behind Guinea, with 10 points, in Group B in the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series.

LSBA Organises Basketball Clinic.

The Lagos State Basketball Association in conjuctionwith the Samaritan's Feet International has concluded arrangement to run a three day Basketball Camp/Medical Outreach tagged "Shoe of Hope".

The programme which is expeced to attract over 200 youth in the state is scheduled to dunk off on Saturday through next Tuesday at the outside court of the Lagos State Sports Council, Rowe Park, Yaba.

According to the Secretary of the Lagos State Basketball Associatiom, Uthman Ola Okunnu, the programme is geared towards self discovering and giving back to the society on humanitarian grounds as free medical check - up would be carried out as training shoes would be provided to the youth.

The camp Cordinator, Bereofori George, said the organisers would provide a safe, fun and wholesome environment tht encourages the development of positive attitude, values and character of the youth.

Toriola, Oshinaike Arrive Ahead of All African Games Trial.

A total of eighteen professional table tennis players in the male and female categories will today converge at the Knock up hall of the National Stadium, Surulere for the opn trial of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation ahead of the All African Games billed for Mozambique later this year.

Our Sports Correspondent, Yinka Adebayo, reports that all the professional ping pongers are already in the country to contend with the home based table tennis players in the trial which would start today through this Saturday.

The list according to the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation, consist of Africa's number one male ping ponger, Segun Toriola, Monday Merotohun, Bode Abiodun , Kazeem Nosiru, Bode Kayode, Gbenga Anthony,Tajudeen Salawu,Akeem Hassan,Seun Ajetunmobi nd Aruna Quadri in the male category.

Former Nigerian and African ace table tennis players, Funke Oshinaike, top the list of the female ping pongers followed by Offiong Edem, Ganiyat Ogundele, Ganiyat Olatunde, Atinuke Olaide, while Cecilia Otu was given a concession.

The General Secretary of the NTTF, Segun Oguntade, said the trial would be competitive as the home based ping pongers would want to prve that they are ripe to feature in the All African Games while the foreign based players would want to display superb skills to make the final list to Mozambique.

Oguntade, said the foreign based players would subdue the local based players due to exposure to regular and competitive table tennis tournaments in Europe while their counterparts in Nigeria struggle to feature in competitive tournaments, adding that lack of regular tournamnet would affect them to overcome the Europe based players.

He believed that Nigerian table tennis players would still have an edge over other African table tennis players at the All African Games despite the dominarian power of the Egytian Table Tennis Federation in African Championships, adding that the Egytian Table Tennis Federation have a solid develomental table tennis programmeswhich placed them in vantage position in Africa.

According to him, the International Table Tennis Federation confirmed that Nigeria is blessed with credible ping pongers but lack of developmental programmes and participation in regular AfricanTable Tennis Federation and ITTF approved tournamnets is deprieving its wards in the Federation's rankings affected unlike the Egytian Table Tennis Federation whose wards are well placed in the AfricanTable Tennis Federation.

Supersand Eagles Spank Madagascar 5-3

The National Beach Soccer team, otherwise known as Supersand Eagles, defeated their counterparts from the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar 5-3 in their first match of the African Beach Soccer Championship in Casablanca, Morocco.

Veteran Isiaka Olawale scored one of the goals, as Victor Tale and new boy Shehu Maijama’a also got on the scoresheet.

But the player of the day was forward Musa Najere, who hit a brace to give Nigeria victory.

The 2007 and 2009 champions thereby took control of the three-team Group B, which also has South Africa.

South Africa will take on Madagascar on Thursday evening while the former will await the fireworks of the Nigerians on Friday evening in Morocco’s commercial and industrial capital.

Nigeria lists Azeez, 29 others for FIFA U-20 World Cup

The Nigeria Football Federation has dispatched to FIFA, a list of 30 players as Nigeria’s provisional list for the FIFA U-20 World Cup taking place in Colombia from 29th July – 20th August, 2011.

The list includes 17 of the 19 who were part of the triumph at the African Youth Championship in South Africa, led by Captain Ramon Azeez.

Impressive goalkeeper Danjuma Paul is listed alongside Uche Nwofor, Chidi Osuchukwu, Olanrewaju Kayode, Edafe Egbedi, Ganiu Ogungbe, Stanley Okoro, Philemon Daniel, Abdul Jeleel Ajagun, Terry Envoh, Mohammed Aliyu, Gideon Gambo, Terna Suswan, Ahmed Musa, Gbenga Arokoyo and Emmanuel Anyanwu.

Omoh Ojabu, Kenneth Omeruo, Sani Emmanuel and Eddy Onazi who were part of the squad that reached the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by Nigeria in 2009 also make the final list.

Newcomers are Kelly Godwin, Jamiu Alimi, Kazim Yekini, Felix Udoh, Ndubuisi Sunday, Sani Tahir, Bright Ejike, Seyi Adeleke and Chimezie Mbah.

Ahmed Musa Joins Dream Team Camp.

Super Eagles and VVV Venlo winger Ahmed Musa has arrived the camp of the Dream Team Five ahead of their must win Olympic games qualifier against the Vijana Stars of Tanzania.

The Player who was in action in the Super Eagles last two games against Argentina and Ethiopia was in high spirit on arrival to the Dream team camp.


Musa,who was excited to join the Dream team squad, said he has been speaking with the team's Head Coach Austin Eguavoen over his zeal to to join the team, stressing he is in the team for business.

The former Kano Pillars star is expected to begin training with the team on Thursday.

The arrival of Ahmed Musa has taken the number of players in camp to 26.

Coach Austin Eguavoen his expected to drop some players after the team’s last training session on Friday.

NFF Submits Falcons List To FIFA.

Nigeria lists Dede, 20 others for FIFA Women’s World Cup

The Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, has submitted to FIFA, a list of 21 Falcons players who will fly the country’s flag at the 6th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals taking place in Germany this summer.

The Falcons, who have been training in Saalfelden, Austria since May 26, had a training match with an Under 17 boys in Austria.

Goalkeeper Precious Dede, a veteran from the 2003 and 2007 FIFA World Cup final tournaments, tops the list that includes at least seven players who have seen FIFA World Cup action.

The team's Head Coach, Eucharia Uche, picked three goalkeepers, six defenders, six midfielders and six strikers in a squad with mixture of experience and youth.

Dede, defenders Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi and Ulunma Jerome, midfielders Ogonna Chukwudi and Perpetua Nkwocha and forward Stella Mbachu were at the last tournament in China in 2008.

The list include, Tochukwu Oluehi, Alaba Jonathan, Rebecca Kalu, Glory Iroka, Rita Chikwelu, Ebere Orji,Francisca Ordega, Desire Oparanozie, Sarah Michael, Uchechi Sunday, Amenze Aighewi

The team will tomorrow play the National Women’s team of Slovakia at the Eugendorf Stadium.

Since setting up camp in Saalfelden, the Falcons have walloped an Austrian first division team, Wacker Innsbruck 7-0, piped the Czech Republic national women’s team 1-0 and drew 1-1 with the national women’s team of Austria in friendlies.

Goalkeepers:Precious Dede, Tochukwu Oluehi, Alaba Jonathan

Defenders: Helen Ukaonu, Faith Ikidi, Onome Ebi, Osinachi Ohale, Ulunma Jerome, Josephine Chukwunonye

Midfielders: Rebecca Kalu, Glory Iroka, Rita Chikwelu, Ebere Orji, Ogonna Chukwudi, Perpetua Nkwocha

Strikers: Stella Mbachu, Francisca Ordega, Desire Oparanozie, Sarah Michael, Uchechi Sunday, Amenze Aighewi

Eguavoen Invites Chrisantus Macauley.

The Head Coach of Nigeria's Olympic team, Austin Eguavoen, has extended invitation to former Golden Eaglets striker,Chrisantus Macauley for the forthcoming matches of the Dream team V.

The former Super Eagles defender, said the team's technical crew decided to invite Macauley because they have two big games back to back and they want to be proactive, hence the reason for fortifyimg the team with bunch of football jugglers.

The coach said he does want to leave anything to chance , hence the reason why invitations are being sent early to ensure that there is no vacuum as they face Tanzania in Benin in this weekend cracker.

The Dream Team V will take on the Vijana stars of Tanzania this weekend in a London 2012 Olympic qualifier and confront Ghana next weekend in an All Africa Games qualifying match.

The Nigeria Tanzania match kicks off by 4pm.

Oduamadi Out Of Tanzania Clash.

AC Milan of Italy Midfielder Nnamdi Oduamadi is now a major doubt for the Nigeria Tanzania second leg second round London Olympic Games qualifier billed for this weekend at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City.

The Player limped out of Monday evening training following an ankle injury.

Although the skillful winger is still being observed by the team’s medical crew, Oduamadi’s chances of playing any role in Saturday’s game remain slim.

Similarly, Harmony Ikande who ironically is Oduamadi’s room mate in camp suffered a minor knock to his ankle but has since returned to action.

Meanwhile, the trio of Ekigho Ehiosun, Maduabuchi Josiah and Eneji Otekpa arrived the Prestige Hotel camp of the Dream Team V late on Monday.

The arrival of the players took the number of players in camp to 25.

Nurudeen Orelesi returned to camp yesterday while Oseni Ganiyu is expected to join up with his team mates yesterday from Vietnam.

Ogunjobi Teams Up With 1 Game.

Former Technical Committee Chairman of the Nigeria Football Federation,NFF, Taiwo Ogunjobi has added his voice in support of the 1 GAME: Football without Violence campaign, describing the anti-violence scope as “a noble venture” in football.

The Osun State Football Association Chairman told 1 GAME’s China Acheru that he was delighted to be part of an initiative that aims at changing the face of football for better.

“I have heard of 1 Game and have read about it in the papers. I want to say I believe it is a noble venture and want to add my voice to it.”

“Having served so long in Nigerian football from being a player of IICC Shoting Stars and Green Eagles as well as administering clubs like Shooting Stars, Gabros, Julius Berger and the national team, I want to say I am used to seeing violent conduct and it is not good for our football.” He said

The football administrator further spoke on the need for football fans to unite and create more awareness on the threats violence poses to football.

“It is my sincere belief that Nigerians must come together and educate each other on the dangers of violence in football. Whether we are watching at a stadium or viewing center let us remember that the best football is football without violence and support 1 GAME.”


The football administrator, said there was need for football fans to unite and create more awareness on the threats violence poses to football.

He had once served as Secretary General of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) between 2002 and 2004.

He is the third former Green Eagles to announce his support for the 1 GAME campaign after Union Bank coach Henry Nwosu and Heartland Technical Consultant Christian Chukwu.

CAF Slaps Libya On 2013 ANC.

The Confederation of African Football,CAF, has decided to move the 2013 African Cup of Nations in Libya due to security reasons, following the recent uprisings against Muammar Gaddafi.

To this end, South Africa have asked officially to host the tournament as Egypt and other countries are interested in the matter.

CAF is expected to make its final decision before announcing the tournament’s qualification draw next September.

CAF recently moved the 2011 African Youth Championship, which was scheduled to be played in Libya, to South Africa for the same reason.

Dolphins Not Comfortable With Warri Officiating

Manager of Dolphins Football Club of PortHarcourt, Stanley Eguma says he is still not comfortable with the level of officiating in last Thursday’s league match in Warri against Warri Wolves.

Dolphins lost the game 4-1 but Eguma insists that the first two goals against him should not have been counted,adding that there was also an infringement before the second goal for Warri Wolves.

He urged the Nigeria Premier League and its referee committee to look into cases like these so our league can indeed improve.

“Before Warri Wolves scored the firsts goal our defender was fouled but the referee ignored it,” Eguma said.

Eguma added that there was also an infringement before the second goal for Warri Wolves.

“The player who scored the goal played thirty seconds of the match without his boots on. His boot went off his foot and he continued on the run for a long time before he scored and I want to ask if the rules have changed on a player scoring without his boots on,” Eguma said.

On the Federation Cup, Eguma, said Dolphins are set to qualify for the Federation Cup round of 32 as they take on NAF Rockets of Minna on Tuesday in Jos.

The team rested over the weekend as their league opponents, Kaduna United had to play in the CAF Confederation Cup.

Dolphins had lost 4-1 to Warri Wolves on Thursday but are still 2 points clear at the top as Sunshine Stars have two games in hand.

Dream Team Doctors To Examine Ahmed Musa.

There are strong indications that former Kano Pillars winger Ahmed Musa may still feature for the Dream Team V in their must win London Olympic Games qualifier against the Vijana stars of Tanzania this weekend at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium.

Ahmed Musa suffered a minor back strain while in action for the Super Eagles.

The player who helped his Dutch club VVV Venlo remain in the Dutch top flight is expected to report to the Dream Team V Prestige Hotel camp tomorrow for medical examination by the team’s physician.

The move is to ascertain whether or not the player would be fit to prosecute the game against Tanzania.“This is a must win game for us.

And we want to put in all availableresources at our disposal to ensure that we get the ticket for the final eight tournament.” I spoke with Ahmed and he said he would be here so let’s wait for him to come. Like you already know Anthony Ujah, Nosa Igiebor and Odion Igalo along side Rabiu Ibrahim are all ruled out so if Ahmed can make the game it would be a plus for us”declared National U-23 coach Austin Eguavoen.

Meanwhile Warri Wovles striker Ekigho Ehiosun has expressed delight over his late invitation to the Dream team V Prestige Hotel Camp.

“I am very happy for this invitation because a lot has been said about me dumping this team which is not true. I thank coach Eguavoen for still having confidence in me. I wish I even had a jet I would have flown straight from Bayelsa to Benin immediately after our game”Ehiosun stated humorously on arrival to the team’s camp.

The team had two training sessions on Monday.

Meanwhile Warri Wovles striker Ekigho Ehiosun has expressed delightover his late invitation to the Dream team V Prestige Hotel Camp.

The number of players in camp has swollen to 22 following the arrival of Kano Pillars goal keeper Theophilus Afelokhia.

Siasia Denies Stopping Joel Obi

Super Eagles chief coach, Samson has said that he did not stop Inter Milan whiz kid, Joel Obi from joining the Flying Eagles team.

Siasia,said there was no iota of truth in the news making the rounds that he prevented Joel Obi from been included in the world cup bound Flying Eagles team list.

The controversy has continued to rage over why John Obuh decided to drop the player whom most people thought was going to play a major part in the Flying Eagles quest to winning the FIFA world youth championship ion Columbia.

Though, Flying Eagles Coach, John Obuh who is a very good friend of coach Samson Siasia has not given reasons why he did not include the player from his team that would be going to the world cup.

It has been speculated that the player had turned down the invitation to represent the country at the youth championship, a situation that gave rise to the rumor that coach Samson Siasia told him not to participate at the biannual world

NFF Orders Ahmed Musa To Report To Dream Team Camp.

Nigeria Football Federation has ordered VV Venlo winger, Ahmed Musa who had been ruled out of this weekend Under 23 encounter with the Vijana Stars of Tanzanian at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin to report to camp.

Head of NFF technical department, Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme, said the Federation has ordered Ahmed Musa to report to camp so as to afford the team doctors to fully ascertain the level of the injury.

He stated that even though, they do not want to argue with the player about the injury story, they also want to be sure that the whole case of injury is not a way of the players trying to stay away from the all important match.

The Nigerai Dream Team V was beated by a lone goal in an Olympic qualifying match played last weekend at Dare Salam.

Toure Praises Kanu.

Cote D'Ivoire and Manchester City defender, Kolo Toure, has said that he would not be disturbed by the ban placed on him by the English Premier League.

The former Arsenal defender, said he would do everything possible for his return to active soccer because he loves football and he would work hard to retain his position in Manchester City.

Kolo Toure was among the African football players who honoured Kanu's Testimonial match on Saturday in Lagos.

Toure, told sportsweight.blogspot.com that Nigerian livin glegend,Kanu Nwankwo, has made African football players proud in Europe through his bunch of football skills as he also contributed immensely towards the children's kidney problems.

According to him, he would always remembered Kanu for hat trick he scored against Chelsea F.C in the English Premier League when he was playing for Arsenal.

Nigeria Will Secure ANC Ticket.

Former Super Eagles Technical Adviser,Bonfere Joe, is optimistic that Nigeria's Super Eagles would qualify for the next African Nations Cup despite walking on a tight rope in the qualifying series.

Bonfere, who led the Nigerian Olympic team to ion a Gold medal at the Atlanta 96 Olympic Games,said the team's Head Coach, Samson Siasia,must work hard to win his next two vital away match to Madagascar and home match to Guinea in the qualifying matches so as to feature in the continental soccer fiesta.

The Dutch soccer tactician, commended the Nieria Football Federatioin,NFF, for giving Samson Siasia a chnace to handle the team because he has knowledge of African football, adding that most of the foriegn coaches employed after he left Nigeria does not have adequate knowledge of african football which affected the team.

According to him,the Super Eagles must not underrate any african country because African football has developed beyond the level he left it.

Okechukwu Wants Nigerians To Support Siasia

Former Super Eagles defender, Uche Okechukwu, has urged Nigerian soccer fans not to be too harsh on the Chief Coach of Super Eagles, Samson Siasia, despite being placed second in the group.

Okechukwu, fondly called gentle giant, said the team was in a building process and it would take time before Siasia could build a formidable squad that would deliht Nigerian soccer fans.

Accordin to him, Siasia needs to step up his match plans to scale through the qualifying round of the African Nations Cup

Fashola Charges NFF To Remain Focus.

The Executive Governor of Lagos State,Babatunde Raji Fashola, has expressed his full backing for the Nigeria Football Federation in its proven desire to lift Nigerian football to lofty heights in the international arena.

Speaking during a courtesy call on him by a delegation of the NFF made up of Members of the Executive Committee and Management, at the State House, Marina, Governor Fashola assured the NFF of his best wishes and support.

“Nothing good comes easy, nothing good has ever happened without difficulties, abuse and without insults of all kinds.

“Those of us who find ourselves in positions of leadership must always realize that we would constantly be harrassed and face challenges from everywhere. Our actions would always bring cynicism, but once we have clear path and clear vision, we should never renege.

The Governor told the NFF Executive members that the body being the apex of football management in Nigeria must always realize that there would be constantly harrassement and challenges to face from everywhere, adding that the Federation should never renege as the action of a leader would always bring cynicism.

He urged the NFF Executive to learn to play the politics of the game and to focus on developmental programmes and they should not be distracted from their vision and mission by any present difficulties.


“It is the historic and defining things that we do that would always outlive us. People like Isaac Akioye, Sunday Dankaro and Orok Oyo, and other persons that you know more than myself contributed immensely to Nigeria football and their names would never be forgotten.

“One thing I should urge you people to do is to learn to play the politics of the game and to focus on developmental programmes. Don’t be distracted from your vision and mission by any present difficulties. Nigerians derive a lot of joy from football.

“Being at the top is never a right, you have to work hard to remain there. That is why you must keep working hard to give Nigerians positive results from the game.



“I believe you have the experience, youthfulness and the opportunity to make things happen”, said Fashola.

Earlier, NFF President, Aminu Maigari lauded the much-loved governor for his giant strides, particularly in the development of sporting infrastructure, and the employment of power of football to unite peoples across several dividing lines and borders.

“You are one State Chief Executive who not only believes in the power of football, but has shown in various ways and convincingly too, how the power of football can be employed to energize a population towards positive, meaningful development”.

Also on the delegation were NFF 1st Vice President, Chief Mike Umeh, Executive Committee Members Barrister Chris Green, Dr. Shehu Adamu, Alhaji Muazu Suleyman, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf, Mr. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, Mr. Felix Anyansi-Agwu and Mr. Deji Tinubu, and NFF Acting General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu.

There were also special assistants to NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau and Umar Kontagora, chief media officer Ademola Olajire and senior sports officer Christian Emeruwa.

After the visit, the NFF delegation accompanied the ‘Action Governor’ to the Teslim Balogun Stadium, where Governor Fashola captained the ‘Super Eagles All-Stars’ in the much-publicized Nwankwo Kanu Testimonial Football Match, in which he actually showed scintillating skills. His team won the match 3-1.