Nigeria Premier League

Nigeria/Benin bid in forefront as CAF picks AFCON 2025 and 2027 host nations

Published

12 months ago

September 27, 2023

The joint bid by Nigeria and neighbours Republic of Benin has loomed to the forefront in the race for hosting of the 36th edition of Africa Cup of Nations in 2027, with the Executive Committee of the Confederation of African Football to vote on the bids for both 2025 and 2027 in Cairo on Wednesday. The meeting will take place a Cairo Marriott Hotel in Zamalek area of downtown Cairo.

With Morocco virtually guaranteed the honour for the 2025 finals, the joint bid by Nigeria and Republic of Benin is in contest with Senegal, Egypt, Botswana and a tripartite arrangement of Uganda/Kenya/Tanzania for the 2027 event.

Algeria was a strong candidate for the 2027 event until the North African country withdrew from the race on Tuesday morning.

Guinea was originally selected to host the 2025 finals, on the same day that Cameroon and Cote d’Ivoire were given the mandates for the 2021 and 2023 editions respectively. But the Guineans fell behind badly in the preparations with infrastructure and other facilities unattended to. A new military government in place has not helped the country’s case, and CAF simply withdrew the hosting right from that country.

Nigeria has put forward the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja; Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt; Godswill Akpabio Stadium, Uyo; Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos; Ahmadu Bello Stadium, Kaduna; Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba; Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City and; Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. In the Republic of Benin, the Stade Mathieu Kerekou in Cotonou and the Stade Charles de Gaulle in Porto Novo are listed.

Nigeria hosted and won the 12th edition of the AFCON in 1980 and then co-hosted the 22nd finals with Ghana in 2000.

On Tuesday night, Nigeria’s contingent of Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh; Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ismaila Abubakar; President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau; General Secretary of NFF, Mohammed Sanusi and; Project Coordinator, Mainasara Illo arrived in Cairo. They have been joined by Nigeria’s FIFA Council Member and Member of the CAF Executive Committee, Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

In the corridors of CAF’s headquarters in 6th October City, outside Cairo, the Nigeria/Benin Republic bid is being strongly mentioned, with references to two of Africa’s FIFA Council Members and CAF Executive Committee Members, Amaju Melvin Pinnick (former President of NFF) and Mathurin De Chacus, who is the sitting President of Federation Beninoise de Football.

On Wednesday, before the vote is taken by the CAF Executive Committee, after it would have discussed the report of the Independent Assessment Committee, the bidding nations will have 10 minutes to make a presentation, with the Nigeria/Benin case to be canvassed by veteran broadcaster and experienced bid campaigner, Mainasara Illo. The presentation

Illo, who was deputy chief organizer of the 8th All-Africa Games that Nigeria hosted in 2003, and chief organizer of the FIFA U17 World Cup also hosted by Nigeria in 2009, led a bid coordinating team that has taken two different CAF inspection teams round Nigeria’s stadia infrastructure and other facilities, and will make a case that is a hybrid of strong oratory appeal and multi-media presentation.

The bid’s theme is pegged on how it will spur greater collaboration between both nations in the areas of security and commerce, foster seamless transportation between both nations and by extension the West African region, and be an elixir for the development and improvement of critical infrastructure in the two countries.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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Nigeria Premier League

Godswil Akpabio United Football Club Births In Akwa Ibom

Published

4 days ago

September 16, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Godswil Akpabio United Football Club Births In Akwa Ibom

A new Football Club known as “Godswill Akpabio United Football Club“has birthed in Akwa Ibom State.

The Club is registered with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and is affiliated with the Akwa Ibom State Football Association to participate in the 2024/2025 Nigerian National League.(NNL).

Players and officials of the club will soon be recruited ahead of the season

Leading officials of the team on a courtesy call on the State FA at the Uyo Township Stadium on Monday, the General Manager of the newly formed team, Mr Kufre Inima (Kokoty) said the Godswil Akpabio United Football Club is formed to galvanize unity and love among Akwa Ibom youths as well as expose hidden talents to the National and International lamplight.

While promising to work in synergy with the State FA, Inima said, “our target is to qualify to the NPFL next season”.

Responding, the Chairman of the State FA, Mr Sameul Umoh commended the management of the club for deeming it necessary to identify with the Football body in the state.

Mr Umoh encouraged the team officials to register quality players that will execute the league and promised to support all the teams that are affiliated with the State FA to succeed.

In attendance were members of the Board of the state FA.

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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Nigeria Premier League

Rangers Unveil Nwosu As Youth Team Coach

Published

2 weeks ago

September 3, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Rangers Unveil Nwosu As Youth Team Coach

In its effort to make Rangers International F.C a true professional side and meet up with one of its cardinal strategic plans of community social impact, the management of the ‘Flying Antelopes’ have engaged and unveiled coach Felix Nwosu as the head coach of Rangers Youth Team.

The widely travelled young gaffer put pen to paper, Tuesday, September 3, 2024 at the club’s corporate head office with the mandate to comb the nook and crannies of the state to build a strong team of young talents that can graduate into the main team already with playing culture and philosophy of the club.

Coach Nwosu, who has a CAF C coaching licence, had earlier in his career, handled such clubs as; F.C Talanta of Kenya, Heegan S.C of Somali, Ambassador Youth Club of Enugu, DreamStars Ladies F.C of Lagos, Right2Win S.C of Umuahia, BYT Academicals F.C of Lagos, GreenFoot Ladies of Enugu and Delta Force F.C of Asaba.

Speaking after his contract signing, coach Felix Nwosu, said, “I am happy to be here. Everyone knows that Rangers is a very big club in Africa and beyond and I am so delighted to be part of what is happening and there is already progress in Rangers. I am just here to solidify the great things that has been happening and make sure that I get more things into the team and make sure that the name of the team is sustained.”

Author

Ambrose Ijeh

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Nigeria Premier League

Ebi Egbe Lauds Elegbeleye, Aluo On Improved Fortunes Of Nigerian Football

Published

3 months ago

June 11, 2024

Ambrose Ijeh

Renowned sports facility construction expert, Ebi Egbe, has expressed his satisfaction with the improved standards of the Nigerian football league, particularly, the NPFL and the NNL, ably led by Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and George Aluo respectively.

According to Egbe, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Monimitchelle Sports Facilities Company, Elegbeleye, has turned the NPFL to an attractive brand and with huge crowds coming back to watch the matches.

“I’m very impressed with what Hon. Elegbeleye is doing with the NPFL. Standards of matches have improved tremendously and importantly, the crowds are coming back to the stadium to watch their favourite teams.”

Egbe was equally effusive in praises for the Chairman of the NNL, George Aluo, who he commended for bringing vitality and improved organisation to the NNL.

“And without a doubt, George Aluo, has improved the organisation and standard of the league. The ongoing NNL Super 8 is a testament to the fact that the league can only get better,” Egbe said.

He went ahead to admonish well placed individuals and corporate organisations to give more supports to the Nigerian local football bodies.