Pepsi Academy’s 2015 U.K. scholarship selection begins

Pepsi Football Academy students from across 14 centres in Nigeria will from today to Saturday gather in Abeokuta, Ogun State, to compete for spaces in the annual Pepsi Academy United Kingdom (U.K) Scholarship Scheme. Pepsi Academy UK Scholarship is a life changing initiative, which provides opportunity for outstanding young lads of the academy to study and play professional soccer at Brooke House College in United Kingdom for two years. Director of Pepsi Football Academy, Kashimawo Laloko, described the programme as one of the best things that has ever happened to grassroots football in Nigeria, adding that the Pepsi UK Scholarship has been a source of motivation for the youngsters who are keen to take their football careers to Europe. Head of Marketing, Seven-Up Bottling Company Plc, Norden Thurston, said Pepsi through the Pepsi Academy is committed to identifying and nurturing young talents right from the grassroots to pave way for the next Mikel Obi, Osaze Odemwingie, Elderson Echejile amongst other successful soccer stars, who started their careers at the Academy. “The Pepsi UK Scholarship scheme offers our Pepsi Academy youngsters a once in a life opportunity to study and also play in one of UK’s best high schools. It is a partnership that has endured for 10 years now,” Mr. Thurston said. Since it began in 2005, more than 15 players have benefited from the programme with Oluwatosin Michael, being the first beneficiary with St Bedes School, UK and Larry Egunjobi already playing professional football in Portugal.

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Women World Cup: Adepoju urges Falcons to raise game against Australia

Warri (Delta) – A former Super Eagles player, Mutiu Adepoju has commended the Super Falcons’ 3-3 drawn game against the Swedish National Women team in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Canada. Nigeria's forward Asisat Oshoala kicks the ball to score a goal as Sweden's defender Nilla Fischer tries to stop during Group D match of the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup between Nigeria and Sweden at the Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. AFP Nigeria’s forward Asisat Oshoala kicks the ball to score a goal as Sweden’s defender Nilla Fischer tries to stop during Group D match of the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup between Nigeria and Sweden at the Winnipeg Stadium on June 8, 2015, in Winnipeg, Manitoba. AFP Adepoju on Tuesday that in as much as he had desired an outright victory for the National team, the eventual outcome was good enough. He, however, urged the players to raise their game against the Australians if they must qualify for the next stage of the competition. The former coach of the Shooting Stars (3SC) of Ibadan said the first game in every tournament was very important, “it goes a long way to determine whether a team will advance. “However, it is not a bad result but the second game against Australia has to be won, if they expect to qualify to move to the next stage. “An own goal can happen to anybody; that does not mean they are not good enough. They were a little jittery and did not gain confidence in good time. “I think the coaches will make corrections, where they think the team has problems in subsequent matches,’’ he said. The team came twice from behind to salvage the a point in the highly explosive encounter. The Liverpool striker and BBC player of the year, Asisat Oshoala, Ngozi Okobi and Francisca Ordega all registered their names on the score sheet for the National team. Falcon’s Desire Oparanozie had earlier conceded an own goal to give the Swedish side the two goals lead just before the interval.

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FIFA fines West Ham £71,000 for fielding Sakho in English FA Cup tie

WEST Ham have been fined £71,000 for fielding Diafra Sakho in the FA Cup win over Bristol City despite telling Senegal the striker was unfit. The club have also been reprimanded but they will be allowed to continue to play in this year’s competition. Sakho, 25, had been due to join up with his national side at the Africa Cup of Nations but the Hammers informed the Senegalese FA that injury would prevent him from travelling to the tournament. On January 25, Sakho came off the substitutes’ bench to score the only goal of the tie at Ashton Gate – prompting protest from the Senegalese authorities. A FIFA statement read: “FIFA can today confirm the decisions of its Disciplinary Committee in the case involving the English club West Ham United and the player Diafra Sakho. “Diafra Sakho was called up by the Senegalese Football Association on December 18, 2014 to play for Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 taking place in Equatorial Guinea between January 17 and February 8, 2015, as well as to attend the training camp of the said representative team from January 5-16, 2015 in Morocco. “The Senegalese FA was informed by West Ham United that Sakho was prevented from playing and travelling by plane due to injury and thus he did not join the Senegal team. “On January 25, 2015, the player took part in an official match for his club West Ham United. Senegal were eliminated from the Africa Cup of Nations 2015 on January 27, 2015. “In view of the above and in accordance with art. 6 par. 1 of Annexe 1 of the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players (hereinafter the Regulations), disciplinary proceedings were opened against the player and the club for a potential violation of Annexe 1 of the Regulations. “The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has found the club and the player to have violated art. 5 of Annexe 1 of the Regulations in relation to the match played by Sakho on 25 January 2015. The club has been fined CHF 100,000 in accordance with art. 10 c) and art. 15 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and issued with a reprimand, while the player has been sanctioned with a reprimand in accordance with art. 10 b) and art. 14 of the FDC. “The terms of the decisions were notified to the relevant parties today.” Both Sakho and West Ham have been cleared to play in the next round as scheduled, where Sam Allardyce’s side face West Brom. - See more at: http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/sport/abroad/196715-fifa-fines-west-ham-71-000-for-fielding-sakho-in-english-fa-cup-tie#sthash.4MxXsxE9.dpuf

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West Brom rejects bid for Ideye

Super Eagles and West Bromwich Albion striker has had his bid from Qatari club, Al Gharafa rejected. According to the Daily Mail. Qatari club Al Ghara­fa had initially asked to take the former Sochaux of France forward on loan but West Brom will only con­sider an outright sale and wanted to recoup most of their summer spending on the striker. The 26-year-old Nige­rian joined the Baggies last summer for a club record of £10million from Ukrai­nian giants, Dynamo Kiev but has failed to impress. He scored only two goals in 16 appearances so far this sea­son. The former Ocean Boys striker has suffered injuries and complete loss of form since his switch to the Haw­thorns and it is no surprise that he is being earmarked to leave barely a season after his arrival. Another Premier League side, Sunderland was re­ported to be interested but it seemed Gus Poyet had de­cided on other options and it still remained very un­likely Ideye will remain at the Hawthorns beyond next summer. It is now believed that Al Gharafa was considering a revised bid but had three other options as well as Id­eye and wanted to secure a striker before their sea­son kicks off next weekend against Lekhwiya. Ideye was signed by for­mer manager, Alan Irvine, though the 56-year old later admitted he had signed the Nigerian without previously watching him play.

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I quit Eagles because Chukwu didn’t like me –Agali

In this exclusive interview with ex-Super Eagles’ striker, Victor Agali, the goal poacher spoke on his career, particularly, why he quit the national team prema­turely, his involvement in a fake Nigeria passport scandal and the current national team under the guidance of Coach Stephen Keshi among others. Excerpts! May we know how you started your career? I started my career from a Nigeria division two club, Nitel F.C in Lagos. It was there that somebody came around in search of a player, whose name I won’t mention. When he saw my performance, he called my coach and said; ‘I love this guy and I prefer him to the player I came in search of. That was how the whole thing started and offers began to come from Belgium, France, Germany and hosts of other European countries but I opted for France before I ended up in Germany. How did you break into the Nigeria National team? Well, it was an unexpected experience for me. Playing for Nigeria’s national team was really tough. I couldn’t imagine myself competing for a shirt with the likes of Finidi George, Garba Lawal, Nwankwo Kanu, Julius Aghahowa, Victor Ikpeba, Pius Ikedia and a host of others. I actually started my national team career at the U-23 level, where I played at the Olympic Games in Sydney in the year 2000. It was there that I showcased my talent under Coach Bonfere Jo. After that competition, I started receiving invitation letter to the national team and that was how I broke into the senior national team. Can you recall your most painful defeat at national team? All defeats are painful, but it pains more when you crash-out in the knockout stage of a competition. The most painful and frustrating defeat I could re­member was at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, where we were beaten by Chile with a wide margin of 4-0 before we eventually scored a consolatory goal and the game ended 4-1 in favour of the Chil­eans. We actually thought that we were good enough because of our performances in the group stage, but the Chileans were better. Tell us about your greatest goal as a striker My greatest goal was the one I scored for Nigeria against Liberia and that was in our quest for the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup. I scored earlier in the game and we needed a second goal which to reduce the pressure mounted on us by the Liberians. All of a sud­den, a counter attack came from the midfield down to the flanks, and Finidi George passed the ball to me in the middle of the box, then I just tipped ball into the net. That goal sealed our ticket to the World Cup. Who was the toughest defender you played against in your career? I can never forget Lucio. He is a Brazilian. He played in the German League, for Bayern Leverkusen to be precise. We played against each other several times. He moved to Bayarn Mu­nich and I also moved to Schalke 04. He is a very strong guy with hard tackles. We’re friends and I loved playing against him. Despite the fact that you were the highest goal scorer in the Super Eagles’ qualifiers to the Korea/Japan 2002 World Cup, you were left out of the squad to the event by Coach Adegboye Onigbinde. What went wrong? I wasn’t dropped from the team. An issue occurred. Could you believe that at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, all expenses were fully paid by me but there was no refund, I pleaded but no one heard my cry. After playing German Cup final in the year 2002, the national team called me, without flight ticket and invitation letter to my club. I felt bad and I wasn’t the only one complaining of that issue back then. Same thing also happened to Finidi George who played all the qualifying games and was doing well for his club, despite that he was dropped due to lack of proper invitation letter. I think it is high time we eradicated such practice for the development of the game. Is it true that mafia existed in the Super Eagles in your time? Yes, I think mafia existed in the team. Let me tell you this, there are players who had stayed longer in the team, and they felt they were the big boys. It also happens in clubs which I think is bad, and it is still happening till date in our present Eagles. We can’t go higher with such at­titude. It would be a thing of joy if we work in unity. Years back at the 2004 AF­CON, you were sent packing with two other players in the Super Eagles camp what actu­ally went wrong? Yes, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Celestine Babayaro and I were sent away from the team after breaking a camp curfew and that was after losing to Morocco in our first match of the competi­tion. We were called back but I decided not to go back because I was not treated well by Coach Christian Chukwu. Why were you treated badly by a man who listed you in his team? I didn’t know what I did wrong. I had always respected him but he didn’t just like me. Does that mean the team won’t go on? Besides, the team regained form and went on to reach the semi-final stage of that competition before they were knocked-out. You were once involved in a fake passport scandal, what really went wrong? That was the worst day in my life. It happened in Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, I was told that my Nigeria passport was a fake. It was crazy when the immigration officer told me you are under arrest. It hap­pened like a movie, but I don’t like to recall the experience be­cause it was my worst moment. It was a terrible day for me, but the issue has been resolved and my family and I have forgotten about it. What’s your take on the Super Eagles’ absence at this year’s AFCON? To me, the game of football has improved so much that the tag of ‘minor teams’ has been eradicated. We are currently the African champions no doubt, but if things like these don’t happen, it won’t add unique­ness to football. A team that lacks physical preparation can’t defeat any African team. We lost that game due to lack of preparation. We never played any friendly before the game against Congo and our admin­istrative procedure was bad. I think all these cost us the AF­CON ticket and it should serve as a lesson. Is Stephen Keshi the right coach for the Super Eagles of Nigeria? Keshi is a good coach, no doubt about that. But if one wants to make it in life, one must listen to advice. Lack of advice killed Keshi. Nigeria football has gone beyond build­ing team year by year. We have players that can turn things around in a tinkle of an eye, but he refused to call them into the team. For instance, if Ike Uche had been called earlier during the AFCON qualification series, we might have made it to the competition. Things can still be better if Keshi turns a new leave. Highly-rated coaches have come and coached this country and their records cannot be compared to Keshi’s in term of success. So to me, I don’t see the Eagles’ failure as Keshi’s fault. Presently, what are you into and what should your fans be expecting from you? I have something going on which I am not ready to disclose. It’s a slow process and I want to dedicate my time to it until it is fully mature for the whole world to know about it.

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Akpom: Sanchez Nicknamed Me After Henry

Arsenal starlet Chuba Akpom has clearly impressed Alexis Sanchez in training since the Chilean touched down in North London, revealing that he’s been given a special nickname by the £35 million man in honour of Thierry Henry.

Akpom who has expressed his interest to play for Nigeria rather than England for whom he has played for as a youth international is a promising young striker still waiting for his chance to shine at the Emirates, making only his second appearance for the first team as a substitute in the League Cup clash with Southampton earlier this season.

Sanchez has seen the youngster at close quarters over the last five months and clearly thinks the 19-year-old has a very bright future, with his affectionate moniker made public knowledge by Akpom himself on Instagram earlier on New Year’s day.

Akpom trained with the first-team squad at London Colney on Wednesday ahead of today’s (Thursday) clash with Southampton and seems to have struck up something of an unlikely friendship with Sanchez, judging from his social media activity.

The England youth international posted a picture of the pair with the caption: “Training this morning with Lexis! he calls me ” Titi ” ( Thierry), funny guy lol.”

Arsenal would almost certainly be receptive to a loan offer for their academy standout when the transfer window opens from New Year’s day.

Akpom spent time with Bradford City and Coventry City last season without success, but has returned to Arsenal and scored goals for fun at under-21 level, nine in as many matches this term.

Akpom was named for the Arsenal side that faced Southampton on Thursday.

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Wenger Rejects £62m Cavani Rumours

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has rubbished claims he’s lodged a £62m bid for PSG striker Edinson Cavani.
Wenger said: “I don’t give any importance to rumours.
“There was a rumour two days ago in France that I offered £62 million for Cavani from Paris Saint-Germain. Everyday there is a different rumour so I don’t give importance to that.”
The news comes hours after reports suggested Arsenal are set to beat Chelsea and United to Sporting star William Carvalho.
The Portuguese side are prepared to cash in on the combative midfielder and Arsenal are ready to make their move.

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Arsenal Make £4m Reid Move

Arsenal are planning a cut-price £4million January move for West Ham defender Winston Reid.
Arsenal have identified the centre half because they believe West Ham can be persuaded to sell next month rather than lose Reid for nothing in the summer.
Arsenal have watched Reid in every game he has played since November and are ready to make their move.
West Ham are trying to get the 26-year-old to sign a new deal but Reid wants more than £60,000 per week, in addition to a £1million signing-on fee.
The Gunners are also keen on Ipswich left back Tyrone Mings, but his £10m asking price is proving prohibitive, while Celtic’s Virgil van Dijk has also been on the radar since last summer.

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Wenger: How Henry Displaced Kanu, Bergkamp In Arsenal’s Attack

Arsene Wenger says Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer Thierry Henry claimed he did not “know how to score goals” when he was converted into a centre-forward.

Henry, who announced his retirement earlier this week, had arrived in North London from Juventus in 1999 after six disappointing months in Turin where he was largely ineffective playing on the wing.

With Davor Suker, Dennis Bergkamp and Nwankwo Kanu all ahead of him in the pecking order up front, Henry – who would go on to score a record 226 goals for Arsenal – initially had to settle for a bit-part role.

“At the start, when I brought him in from Juventus, my idea was to pair him with Nicolas Anelka,” Wenger told L’Equipe.

“But that summer, Anelka left to go to Real Madrid and the project had to be abandoned.

Once at Arsenal, Thierry didn’t get into the team straight away because there were a lot of players ahead of him in the attacking sector.

“Everything became easier when, one day, I decided to play him through the middle. He said to me, ‘Coach, I don’t know how to score goals.’

“You could say that he’s made fools of everyone,” Wenger said.

Henry has signed up for Sky Sports TV as analyst, though a return to Arsenal as a coach/manager has been suggested.

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Man City To Loan Out Nwakali

nglish Premier League champions Manchester City will loan out Nigeria starlet Chidiebere Nwakali in January to a club in Spain.

Nwakali has recovered from a knee injury which has troubled him for some time now.

“Nwakali will go on loan in January most likely to Spain,” a source close to the Owerri-born player hinted AfricanFootball.com

“He has fully recovered from the knee injury that he suffered much earlier in the year and which made him to struggle in England.

“He will now sign a professional contract with City this month as he will soon be 18. But unlike compatriot Kelechi Iheanacho, City will not apply for a work permit for him in the United Kingdom. Instead, he will go on loan to Spain.”

Nwakali is a versatile midfielder who can play as a defensive or offensive player and he has been capped by Nigeria at U-17, winning the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup with Iheanacho, and as well as playing for the U-20 side, Flying Eagles.

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Yobo Linked With South Africa Move

Former Super Eagles skipper Joseph Yobo is believed to be considering a sensational move to one of the top clubs in South Africa in January.

Yobo, 34, is a free agent after he was released by Turkish champions Fenerbache and a top source has now informed AfricanFootball.com the highly experienced central defender is favourably disposed to rounding up a career that has spanned over 17 years and taken him to England, France, Belgium and Turkey.

The defender, who won a record 100th cap for Nigeria at the World Cup in Brazil earlier this year, is so serious about a move to South Africa that he is already discussing buying a house in that country.

“Yobo fell in love with South Africa after leading Nigeria to both the 2010 World Cup and 2013 AFCON there. He even now wants to buy a house there and has already begun discussions in this regard,” the source informed.

“He has not played again since the World Cup in Brazil in the summer, but he still believes he still has something to offer in the game.

“His likely destination will be one of the top three clubs in South Africa.”

Yobo, who is one of only seven players to play every minute of every game in the EPL for Everton in the 2006/07 season, is presently in Nigeria.

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Amunike warns Siasia on Gabon’s antics

Amunike

Golden Eaglets’ gaffer Emmanuel Amuneke has warned the Dream Team VI Chief Coach, Samson Siasia, to beware of the antics of Gabon and also prepare well for their All African Games qualification match slated for February, 2015.

The former Super Eagles forward said that his warning to the Siasia-led team was based on his experience when he led the Golden Eaglets to Gabon in an African qualifying match where the team faced all kinds of humiliation including being denied entry to Gabon as a result of Nigeria being tagged an ‘Ebola’ country.

The Golden Eaglets lost the first leg 2-1 before coming back to the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar, to maul Gabon 5-0 in the return leg and thereby qualify for the finals of the 2015 U-17 African Championship slated for Niger.

“My advice to Samson (Siasia) and his team is to prepare very well for Gabon as well as other qualifying matches that the team would be playing in the qualification for the All Africa Games and the 2016 Olympics holding in Brazil.

“As regards the Gabon match, the team should be ready for antics that they may face against the team most especially in Libreville or any other place in Gabon. If the team plays well on the pitch and gets the result needed, any other thing as regards antics may be immaterial.

“I sincerely believe in the ability of Siasia as an experienced coach to lead his team to success in their qualification matches,” Chief Coach, Amuneke disclosed.

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Chukwu: Keshi Must Leave Eagles Job Alone

Former Super Eagles coach Christian Chukwu has told Stephen Keshi not to bother trying to retain the Nigerian national team coaching role.

Keshi, who won the African Cup of Nations as both a player and a coach, was axed during Nigeria’s 2015 AFCON qualifying campaign. He was subsequently recalled, but was unable to steer his country to a place in Equatorial Guinea next month.

Keshi is currently in limbo in terms of making the position a permanent one, but former coach Chukwu has advised him to seek new pastures rather than wait for the Nigerian Football Federation to come to a decision.

“Well, my candid advice to Keshi, you know with all this problems in the NFF, it will take a long time for the association to sit and start deciding anything about the technical crew, I think if he has a better offer anywhere he is free to go and his contract will be respected more outside the country because I am talking out of experience,” Chukwu was reported as saying by Megasport.

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Leicester Vs Man City: Champions Out To Maintain Momentum

A buoyant Manchester City will aim to continue their resurgence today when they face Leicester City, the Premier League’s bottom club.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men trailed leaders Chelsea by eight points after being held to a 2-2 draw at QPR on November 8.

However, the Premier League champions have since reeled off six wins on the spin in all competitions, breathing new life into their season.

They are now only three points adrift of Chelsea and will head to Leicester in high spirits after securing a place in the last 16 of the Champions League with an impressive 2-0 victory at Roma on Wednesday.

In contrast to their opponents this weekend, Leicester come into the game in dismal form, having gone 10 matches without a win.

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Aluko Hails Mikel On First UCL Goal

Hull City midfielder Sone Aluko has hailed his compatriot John Mikel Obi for scoring his first UEFA Champions League goal in Chelsea’s 3-1 win against Sporting Lisbon.

The Nigerian international Mikel tapped in his first goal in Europe in the 55th minute after Slimani inadvertently flicked on a Fàbregas free-kick to his path.

“Massively underrated in my opinion amongst Nigerians, there’s a reason he’s been at Chelsea for so long! It’s not easy. He sabi!” Aluko tweeted minutes after Mikel scored.

It was his fifth career goal for the Blues in eight and half years at Chelsea.

Also reacting to Mikel’s goal was former England international, Gary Lineker who sacastically tweeted that the group was easy for the underrated Nigerian to score.

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Ajagun Signs Panathinaikos One Year Contract Extension

By James Agberebi:

Former Flying Eagles skipper Abdul-jeleel Ajagun has has signed a one year contract extension with Greek giant Panathinaikos.

According to the club’s official web site, the contract will run until the summer of 2018.

Reacting to the extension, the former Golden Eaglets player thanked officials of the club for the belief bestowed in him.

“I feel nice because it is always beautiful the club you belong to appreciate your job and to believe in you. We are going to make big things together soon.”

Ajagun played for 55 minutes before he was substituted in Panathinaikos 1-1 away draw against Asteras Tripolis on Sunday.

He has appeared nine times for the former Greek champions this current season, finding the back of the net three times.

Meanwhile, Panathinaikos are third on the league table on 23 points, five adrift of leaders PAOK.

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2014 NFF Elections: Analysing Okey Ajunwa’s Verdict

A very good friend of mine (names withheld) sent me a DM (Direct message) via twitter asking why we (Nigeria) love to make a ridicule of ourselves among the comity of nations in the football family.

Of course, my friend, a Non-Nigerian, who works for one of the largest football publications in the World, merely teased me with that comment to get my reaction to the latest drama of the absurd, as it concerns the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Elections Appeals Committee with the attendant ‘Majority Vs Minority’ decisions.

I replied my friend that the drama is just a reflection of the state of our nation, promising him that I would put my opinion together on the matter once I was able to get the details of the two (majority & minority) verdicts.

Thankfully over the weekend, I was able to lay my hands on both verdicts and I must confess it was not easy reading through the bulk of both materials but I made sure I sniffed through the most important parts of both documents.

I will not pretend that I do not personally know some of the persons involved either directly or indirectly in this matter or that I will not rely on some of the privileged information I got from them to arrive at some of the opinion I will express here.

Okey Ajunwa’s Verdict
The major summary of Barrister Okey Ajunwa’s verdict are here listed…
1. Dismissing Dotun Coker from the NFF Elections Appeals Committee because of his membership of a NFF standing committee.

2. Annulling the elections of Felix Anyansi Agwu and Sheriff Rabiu Inuwa,NFF Executive Committee members from the South East and North West,disqualifying them from future elections because of the membership of Emeka Inyama (NNL chairman) and Mohammed Kawu (NNWL chairman) on the same NFF Executive Committee.

3. Persons cleared and who contested August 26 and September 30 elections for position of President and Board member for South East and North West Zones be allowed to participate and contest bye elections.

4. Any person seeking to participate and contest the bye election and who had filed any matter concerning the NFF before any court or tribunal in Nigeria (or any other country) or the Court of Arbitration for Sport shall withdraw such case forthwith in order to be cleared to contest the bye election.

5. Electoral committee should harmonize list of persons cleared and that contested for various positions now declared vacant in August 26 and September 30 elections and such persons shall not be disqualified for reasons that they contested the August 26 election.

6. Seyi Akinnumi’s election as NFF 1st Vice President is annulled as he is from the same zone as the NFF President Amaju Pinnick.

7. Shehu Dikko was wrongly disqualified from the NFF Elections.

Let’s take a good look at the issues
1. Dotun Coker’s Dismissal
The questions to be asked are:

A. Does Okey Ajunwa have the powers to dismiss a member of the NFF Elections Appeals Committee, duly nominated to such a position by the Extraordinary Congress of the Nigeria Football Federation?
ANSWER:Based on the statutes of FIFA, CAF and the NFF as well as the FIFA, NFF electoral code, the answer is NO. Only the congress has such powers.

B. Does membership of a standing committee of the Nigeria Football Federation disqualify any one from being a member of the NFF Election Appeals committee if nominated to such a position by the NFF congress?
ANSWER: Based on the statutes of FIFA,CAF and the NFF as well as the FIFA, NFF Electoral code, the answer is NO.

Article 3 (4) on Basic principles of Electoral Committee as stated in the FIFA Standard Electoral code clearly outlines the ground for any person to be withdrawn from the electoral committees.

Barrister Okey Ajunwa needs to know the limits of his powers. The other members of the committee elected him as their chairman. He was not named chairman of that committee by the congress as he claims. His views cannot be superior to those of the other members.

2. Annulment of Felix Anyansi Agwu & Sheriff Rabiu Inuwa’s mandate and ordering of bye elections.

Without any doubt,this is easily the trickiest part of the 2014 NFF Elections Appeals palaver.
Article 7(b) of the 2014 NFF Electoral Guidelines provides that :
NO STATE SHALL PRODUCE MORE THAN ONE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBER.

However, the major part of the argument for me is which Executive Committee member got elected first in the cases under review. Remember, the NFF Executive Committee was dissolved on the floor of the elective congress of September 30 in Warri just before the elections that produced the Ordinary Members of the Committee and got constituted immediately after the elections. It is important for the NFF congress to differentiate between the elections of the ordinary members of the Executive Committee and those coming into the Committee as representatives of the leagues.

Interestingly, when this issue of two NFF Executive Committee members from the same state first reared its head in 2011, I initiated the process that challenged the emergence of High Chief Emeka Inyama as the chairman of the Nigeria National League (NNL) Board.I argued that since Ordinary member Felix Anyansi Agwu from the same state as Inyama was already on the Executive Committee,it would be a breach of the NFF Electoral guidelines to have him there and so felt his election as the NNL representative on the NFF Executive Committee should not stand but guess what….it was Barrister Iyke Igbokwe (yes, this same Iyke Igbokwe) that stood to Inyama’s defence, stating that his mandate could not be taken away from him after he was duly cleared to contest the NNL Chairmanship position.

(I do not hold anything against Iyke Igbokwe for his change of opinion now.He is entitled to it.We all change our opinion on issues from time to time,sometimes when we get superior information).

If you could remember,the NFF Elections Appeals Committee at that time with Barrister John Ola Mafo as its chairman annulled Inyama’s election but the matter had to be resolved eventually by an Arbitration Panel led by a former Akwa Ibom State Attorney General, Chief Victor Iyanam.Iyanam’s Panel upheld Inyama’s election and advised the NFF to amend their electoral guideline to accommodate the independence of the leagues.I think that Iyanam Arbitration ruling of 2011/2012 should still be very relevant today.

However, it is also important to note the major discrepancies that have emerged from Okey Ajunwa’s verdict in this respect.

While annulling the elections of Felix Anyansi Agwu and Sheriff Rabiu Inuwa, he ordered for bye elections into the positions he declared vacant like that of the NFF President, the Executive Committee members from South East and North West.

Ajunwa then blew off the roof by ordering that persons that were cleared and that contested positions in the August 26 and September 30 elections should be allowed to contest in the new polls.

I gasped for breath as I read that…did I hear August 26?
The same August 26 elections that FIFA declared a sham? An event that even the laws of the land, as represented by the National Assembly, proclaimed a fraud?

I looked through all the prayers of the appellants to see if any of them had included this in their Appeals…none!

I asked the other members as well as the substitute members of the Appeals Committee separately if such was ever discussed at any of their sittings..the response I got was that they NEVER whispered it not to talk of deliberating on it.

I put a few thoughts together and tried to imagine where it could have come from.
This is it…

Reading through Ajunwa’s verdict(numbered 3,4,5 earlier in this write up) one name pops up at me…. Chris Giwa!

Barrister Okey Ajunwa goofed big time in ruling that those who were cleared and contested the August 26 election for the post of NFF President should be free to participate in his bye election if they withdrew their case from CAS.Who else could he be referring to?

Ajunwa should have been more thorough.He should also have known and also declared that Chris Giwa cannot contest that NFF presidency anymore since Plateau State already has Suleiman Yahaya Kwande on the Executive committee.

With Suleiman Kwande,Yusuf Ahmed ‘Fresh’ and Dilichukwu Onyedinma(3 slots)all representing the North Central zone on the Executive Committee,there was no way there would be room for one more.

That guy had dug the grave for his own ‘learned’ report.

6. Seyi Akinwunmi’s Election annulled.
This is another spurious verdict.

If Seyi Akinwumi’s election as the NFF 1st Vice President was annulled because he is from the same zone (South) as the NFF President Amaju Pinnick, how else would any other candidate from the South like Emeka Inyama and (in case the August 26 elections) Obinna Ogba be eligible for the bye election that Okey Ajunwa is advocating without causing some confusion.

So if all Southern candidates are not eligible to contest for the NFF 1st Vice President position what happens?

7. Shehu Dikko’s Disqualification was wrong.
On a personal note, I felt bad that Shehu Dikko could not contest the elections after working so hard and I could not really understand why.

There were some whispers that a State Security report nailed him.Some others said that report was fabricated. Well which ever way,it is very regrettable that he could not exercise his right.

Shehu Dikko is well within his right to seek redress and appeal against his disqualification.The confusion now has to do with whether he withdrew that Appeal or not.

My correspondent at the Appeals Committee hearing told me that during one of the earlier meetings,the chairman Okey Ajunwa confirmed Shehu Dikko’s withdrawal of his Appeal.Some members of the committee corroborated this but suddenly the Appeal resurfaced on the last day.

This is really baffling.

If Shehu Dikko had withdrawn his Appeal, who revived it on the day that the verdict was meant to be given? Well, maybe only Okey Ajunwa and Shehu Dikko can answer that.

My VERDICT: Majority vs Minority
I have read the FIFA statutes,NFF statutes,FIFA Standard Electoral Code,NFF Electoral Code and Guidelines several times and I can safely say this in the larger interest of Nigerian Football.

In every judicial committee( for football),FIFA deliberately allows for odd number of members so that there will always be a majority decision if there is a tie, the committee chairman’s vote is usually the tie breaker.

This principle of majority decision is also contained in the FIFA Standard Electoral Code in relation to the Electoral Committee (Article 8 on Decisions).

I believe that if FIFA Standard Electoral Code agrees to majority decision for the Electoral Committee, the same principle will apply to the Election Appeals Committee.

For Barrister Okey Ajunwa,only a national apology for his very disappointing exercise would do.I am ready to provide him that opportunity for his own sake.

I have put this piece together in the larger interest of Nigerian football.Enough of this embarrassment.

*Toyin Ibitoye is multiple award winning sports broadcaster based in Lagos,Nigeria.

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FLYING EAGLES BEGIN TEST MATCHES THURSDAY

Nigeria U20 team, the Flying Eagles, will begin playing test matches at their Kaduna training base from Thursday.

The team have been training in Kaduna for about a week now. Their first match will be against Jamba Academy of Kaduna and it will kick off by 7am at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna. They will play a second game on Saturday morning against Standard FC of Zaria at the same venue. Another series of training matches are fixed for next week.

Each half of the test match will last an hour and be played by different set of players as the Flying Eagles continue to scout for fresh talent to boost the squad of next year’s African Youth Championship in Senegal.

Training has been rigorous with hundreds of hopefuls trooping into the Ahmadu Bello Stadium on a daily basis.

In the meantime, the Flying Eagles will go on Christmas break from December 20 and resume in Kaduna a week later.

Foreign-based stars like Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho, Chidiebere Nwakali, Chidera Eze and Musa Yahaya are expected to join up with the squad thereafter.

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Mourinho backs Chelsea to recover

Jose Mourinho has backed his Chelsea side to bounce back after their 2-1 defeat to Newcastle United at St James’ Park on Saturday.

The Premier League leaders saw their 23-game unbeaten run in all competitions ended in the north east courtesy of a second-half Papiss Cisse brace.

Manchester City were able to close the gap at the top to three points with their win over Everton later on Saturday, but Mourinho retains full confidence Chelsea can get back on track, with Hull City visiting Stamford Bridge on this weekend.

The Portuguese also reiterated his view that Chelsea were unfortunate to be beaten by Newcastle.

When it was suggested his team had made an impressive start to the season regardless of the defeat, he told the British press: “Yes. Better than anyone else.

“And of course I will back them to bounce back. We are top of the league.

“For people like me who have been in football for so long you have to accept this anomaly. To come here and be better than our opponents and lose, that is football.

“Nobody has done better than us. Everyone would like to be in our position. So we are more than fine. We are better than anybody else.

“I don’t say my team is the best, I say my team is top of the league and at this moment nobody has the same points we have.

“Because of that at the moment we’re the best team in the Premier League.”

The loss also ensured Chelsea equalled rather than bettered the club record run of 24 matches unbeaten with Paris Saint-Germain the only team in Europe’s major leagues to stay unbeaten in all competitions.

“The players are not jumping with happiness but they are accepting the defeat as part of the game,” Mourinho added.

“They tried everything, were unlucky and are not happy with that, but that is football.”

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Enyeama named with Ronaldo, Messi, others on best players’ list

DAYS after missing an award, Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has again been listed for another one for his performance in the outgoing year.

The Lille of France goalkeeper on Monday lost the 2014 BBC African Player of the Year award to Algerian Yacine Brahimi, but his name has again come up  on a list where he has been named among the players who distinguished themselves in 2014.

Enyeama is one of the top 50 players in the world listed by Norwegian football magazine Josimar in its latest edition. The eventual winner will be announced later.

The magazine assimilated the combination of European football experts Tor-Kristian Karlsen, Gabriele Marcotti and Philippe Auclair to name the top 50 players in the world for the year 2014.

Karlsen is a Norwegian football scout, while Marcotti and Auclair are two of Europe’s most prominent football journalists.

Seven goalkeepers made the list with Enyeama being the only African in this category. The six other goalkeepers are German World Cup winner Manuel Neuer, Thibout Courtois, Keylor Navas, Hugo Lloris, David de Gea and Gianluigi Buffon.

Overall, only two Africans are on the list with the other, apart from Enyeama, being Yaya Toure. Toure and Enyeama are also on the five-player shortlist for the 2014 GLO-CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

The list expectedly also contains names like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who have already been shortlisted for the 2014 FIFA Ballon d’Or award with Neuer.

It also contains names like  Arjen Robben, Diego Costa, Neymar, Angel di Maria, Gareth Bale, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Luis Suarez and Frank Lampard.

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