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Sports Minister Attends NFF Annual General Assembly in Uyo

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Calls for more women representation in football administration

Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh was present at the 2023 Annual General Assembly of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), held on Sunday in Uyo.

In his remarks, Enoh stated that given the passion that football generates amongst Nigerians, it is expedient for the game to be handled with utmost professionalism by administrators, with a sense of patriotism for the good of the game in the country.

He made a case for more representation of women at the top level of football administration in the Nigeria, stating that the growth of the women’s game calls for more representation of women in meetings such as the general assembly.

“I am passionately making a case on the behalf of Nigerian football for increased representation of women in our football administration. The Senior Women’s National Team of Nigeria (Super Falcons) ranked amongst the top 10 countries in the last FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia/New Zealand. This is a testament of how far our women’s football has come.”

“It gives credence to the need for more representation of women in annual general meetings of this nature, for wider inclusion and diversity,” the minister added.

He enjoined the Federation to engage in constructive deliberations that will positively impact the development of football in the country.

Enoh expressed his delight at being present at the meeting, being his first since his appointment as the minister of sports development, as he sued for greater collaboration to foster advancement.

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Gusau says NFF working diligently to ensure Eagles, Falcons, others attain greater heights

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 President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau on Tuesday disclosed that the football-governing body is working assiduously to ensure that all the National Teams perform much better in their competitions in the next one year, than they have done in the past year.

He made this pledge while reviewing the activities of the NFF and the teams in one year of his Board in office, and also articulating expectations for the next one year.

 While highlighting the achievements of the past year, which included a first-ever podium finish at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, quarter-final performance of the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U20 World Cup, qualification of the Super Eagles to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations and best-ever outing by the Super Falcons at the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Gusau asserverated that the Board and Secretariat have worked in tandem to remove toxicity from the system and enable a more conducive environment for the game in the country.

 “One of our priorities on coming into office was to ensure that the football environment was cleansed of so much toxicity that had threatened the health of the game and made some persons feel unwelcome in the system. We have tried our best to give everyone a sense of belonging with a policy of inclusiveness.

“Off the pitch, we are proud of the work of the Interim Management Committee that we constituted to organize the last NPFL League Season, which was commended by all stakeholders, and we also feel fulfilled about the constitution of the Boards of the NNL, NWFL and NLO with vibrant, knowledgeable and competent individuals who are capable of taking the leagues to the next level. Elections into the State FAs have also been largely peaceful and successful.”

 Gusau said his board will work assiduously and diligently with the secretariat and the Federal Ministry of Sports Development to see the Super Eagles off to a great start in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying series and to win the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire early next year.

 “We also want to see the Super Falcons reclaim their African title and return to the Women Olympic Football Tournament. Our expectations include making good progress in our plan for hostel accommodation and some playing pitches for the National Teams, through the FIFA Forward 3.0 program, and also see that the U17 and U20 Women National Teams achieve their best-ever outings at their different World Cups next year.

 
“We are working already with the new NPFL Board to grow the NPFL into the product that all administrators and stakeholders desire, and also with the boards of the other Leagues to improve the state of our domestic football. To achieve all these, we need money, so we are also looking to work even harder to grow our revenue base through aggressive marketing drive.”

 
The NFF boss said his team will also not allow any FIFA window for friendly matches to go unutilized. “As you can see, we have arranged two matches for the Super Eagles in this month’s window, against Saudi Arabia and Mozambique. Mozambique is in southern Africa where three of our opponents in the World Cup qualifiers, namely Lesotho, Zimbabwe and South Africa also are. Playing Mozambique is a good opportunity for the team to have a sneak preview of what to expect against these three teams.”

 
Also at the parley were NFF Executive Committee Members H. E. Ali Silas Agara and Mr. George Aluo; NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi; Chairman of Anambra State FA, Chikelue Iloenyosi; NFF Director of Communications, Ademola Olajire; Director of Competitions, Ruth David and; Head of Member Associations, Ali Abubakar Muhammad.

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Attairu Hails Team Kwara Exploits At Asaba 2023 NYG

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Hon. Umar Mohammed Attairu, the immediate past Special Adviser, Youth and Sports Development to Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has joined good people of the state to congratulate Team Kwara for better performances at the just concluded 7th National Youth Game at Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba in Delta State.

In a congratulatory message, Attairu said ” Honestly, this is a brilliant performance from Team Kwara. After about a week of intense sports activities, rivalries keenly contested by all the participating Athletes across the State, the desire of my principal Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to see Team Kwara either sustain their stand or improve the status on the National log at the 7th NYG Edition in faraway Asaba in Delta State came to pass by winning 13 Gold Medals, 13 Silver Medals and 9 Bronze Medals in various events placing them 5th on the log.”

“No doubt Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has spoken loud and clear by showing the pathway to greatness in words, quality investment in critical Sports infrastructure of international standard, reorganization, reward system for various participating Athletes representing the state in the last four years and a practical example was when two Kwara Athletes of NSF were rewarded with two brand new cars and various cash prizes accordingly early this year.

“I want to sincerely congratulate the Executive Chairman of Kwara State Sports Commission Mallam Bolakale Magaji, entire staff of the Commission, all the participating Athletes from Kwara State, coaches, Association Executives for justifying the confidence of my principal Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq.

“Honestly, the Governor, members of the Executive Council and relevant stakeholders in Sports industry are proud of you and your performance.

“Going forward, i want to urge you to resist all forms of distractions, continue to strive for greatness on and off the field and to further reassure all our participating Athletes that Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq is committed to your progressive development to becoming a core professional and relevant stakeholder of his continual support.”

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Cristiano Ronaldo inspires Al Nassr’s Champions League rally

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Cristiano Ronaldo scored an important breakthrough goal for Al Nassr to spark his team’s 3-1 Asian Champions League rally over Istiklol on Monday at Al Awal Park.

Home favourites Al Nassr dominated the first half, but were impossibly kept off the scoresheet in the opening 45 minutes and found themselves down 1-0 to their Tajik foes after Senin Sebai scored with his team’s first shot just before the break.

The frustrations continued for Al Nassr until Ronaldo finally scored an equaliser for the hosts — netting for the seventh consecutive game — as he pounced on the rebound from his own blocked shot and chipping Istiklol keeper Rustam Yatimov.

Anderson Talisca added two more within five minutes soon after Ronaldo’s opener to complete the comeback and maintain Al Nassr’s perfect record in the early stages of the ACL, having taken six points from their first two matches.

Iran’s Persepolis are in second place behind Al Nassr following a 1-0 win over Al Duhail of Qatar, with Omid Alishah scoring in the 63rd minute to earn the 2018 and 2020 runners-up their first victory of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Nasaf Qarshi of Uzbekistan maintained its perfect start in Group B with a 3-1 win over Qatar’s Al-Sadd, while Al-Faisaly lost 1-0 at Sharjah.

Only the 10 group winners and the six best-performing runners-up will progress to the next stage.

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