South African Football Association (SAFA) president Danny Jordaan was arrested and charged Wednesday with using the group’s resources for his own purposes in a fraud and theft case amounting to 1.3 million rand ($72,000), police said.

Jordaan, who led South Africa’s successful bid to host the 2010 FIFA World Cup, denied the charges in a Johannesburg court.

“The allegations are that between 2014 and 2018, the president of SAFA used the organisation’s resources for his personal gain,” a police statement said.

He was accused of hiring a private security company for his own protection and a public relations company without authorisation from the SAFA board, the statement added.

Jordaan, 73, is reported to have hired the public relations firm after his reputation took a knock when a South African singer and former lawmaker alleged in 2017 that he had sexually assaulted her 25 years previously. He denied the allegations.

He was arrested “following an intensive investigation by the Serious Commercial Crime Investigation based in Johannesburg into allegations of R1.3 million fraud and theft,” police said.

Jordaan has been SAFA president since 2013 and was elected for a third time in 2022.

He was arrested with SAFA chief financial officer Gronie Hluyo and businessman Trevor Neethling, head of the communications company cited in the charges, who also denied the accusations.

The court released the three on bail.

Only Spain-based forward Sadiq Umar was being expected as Nigeria’s juggernaut rolled sturdily into the much-familiar environment of Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny on Tuesday, with 22 players set for the team’s first training session ahead of a potentially explosive Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against neighbours Benin Republic on Thursday.

“We have 22 players, with only one person to join the team in the early hours of Wednesday. It has been a particularly great atmosphere here in Abidjan, and we are all very positive going into the first training session ahead of the match,” Coach Augustine Eguavoen told thenff.com on Tuesday.

Eleven players, viz Captain and AFCON Man of the Competition William Ekong, reigning Africa Player of the Year Victor Osimhen, his likely successor Ademola Lookman, defenders Bright Osayi-Samuel, Olaoluwa Aina, Victor Collins and Calvin Bassey, midfielders Alex Iwobi and Alhassan Yusuf Abdullahi, and Germany-based forward Victor Boniface all arrived at once on Tuesday morning, before being joined by South Africa-based goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali.

Earlier, goalkeeper Maduka Okoye, midfielder Wilfred Ndidi and forward Kelechi Iheanacho had arrived, to join the eight that were in camp on Monday: goalkeeper Amas Obasogie, defenders Gabriel Osho and Bruno Onyemaechi, midfielders Fisayo Dele-Bashiru, Frank Onyeka and Raphael Onyedika, and forwards Moses Simon and Samuel Chukwueze.

With 10 points from four matches, seven goals for and none against, and top of their Group D, the Eagles will walk with an extra bounce into the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny, the facility where they upended the aspirations of Guinea Bissau, Cameroon and Angola at the 34th Africa Cup of Nations finals in Cote d’Ivoire earlier in the year.

It was also the venue where in the summer, they were slated by two goals to one by the Cheetahs (who have been forced by lack of a CAF-approved facility in their country to adopt Abidjan as home) in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying game in which they scored first.

“The stadium is a familiar one for us and we have good memories from the AFCON. We will rather focus on the positive results we have taken away from here and work hard for another good day in the office on Thursday.

“It is not going to be easy because the Beninoise are also chasing a ticket to the final tournament. However, our objective is clear: three points on the night,” Captain Ekong said on Tuesday.

Senegalese official Issa Sy, who was in charge when the Super Eagles pipped Angola 1-0 at the same venue, in a quarter-final match of the Africa Cup of Nations finals, has been selected by CAF as referee for Thursday’s encounter, which will commence at 7pm CIV time (8pm Nigeria time).

He will be supported by compatriots Djibril Camara (assistant 1), Nouha Bangoura (assistant 2) and El Hadji Amadou Sy (fourth official). Ivorian Rene Williams Sere will be the commissioner while Angolan Inacio Manuel Candido will be the referee assessor.

The Super Eagles need only one point from Thursday’s clash to be sure of a ticket to the 35th AFCON, scheduled for Morocco 21st December 2025 – 18th January 2026.

Troy Deeney has ripped into Manchester United star Alejandro Garnacho and told him: ‘I don’t think football is for you.’

Ex-Premier League striker Deeney took aim at Garnacho after he offered a muted celebration following his late goal in Sunday’s 3-0 win over Leicester City.

The Red Devils continued their encouraging run of form in the post-Erik ten Hag era with an emphatic victory over Leicester at Old Trafford.

Garnacho put the icing on the cake with a stunning late goal but surprisingly refused to celebrate, with club captain Bruno Fernandes later offering an insight into his team-mate’s mindset.

‘It was a good day at work, I have to say,’ Fernandes said after the game. ‘We have a lot of players with big qualities, but people can get too excited after one game and too down after another.

‘Garnacho scored a banger but didn’t celebrate like he should because he thinks he has lost faith from some fans.

‘I told him people will always moan but lots of people like you and enjoy what you do.

‘I told him to celebrate, it was something special. He is a special player, we have difference makers.

‘They are the ones who win us games. We want them to score every game but that isn’t going to happen.’

Garnacho’s decision not to celebrate came a few days after he was confronted by a Manchester United fan and content creator outside Old Trafford ahead of the Europa League clash against PAOK.

The supporter told Garnacho to ‘pass better’ and ‘work on his first touch’ as he signed autographs for other fans.

A video of the incident went viral on social media, with Garnacho coldly replying: ‘Why are you not playing, man?’ before walking off.

Giving his take on Garnacho’s muted celebration, Watford legend Deeney told talkSPORT: ‘I said it last night on Match of the Day, and I’ll repeat it. It goes twofold.

‘One, it says what players are like nowadays, where their skin is so thin that one gentleman can say what he wants to say and everyone sulks.

‘And secondly, if he’s getting affected by that, I would say to him, just as an older pro: “I don’t think this football game is for you, big man”.

‘Because you play for the biggest club in world football. If you play poorly, you’re going to get people to get on your case.

‘If you play really well, you’re still going to get people to get on your case. You play for Man United.

‘It’s called jealousy and that’s part of the game. So, disappointed that he didn’t celebrate. It’s an unbelievable goal.

‘But this will be the making or breaking of him, because if he can’t handle that from one gentleman with an iPhone in his face, then I don’t think this is the game for him, unfortunately.’

Fellow talkSPORT pundit and ex-Crystal Palace owner Simon Jordan added: ‘What you saw on the weekend was the absolute embodiment of the culture of Man United, and the problem they’ve got in that dressing room where that kid doesn’t celebrate that goal.

‘The reason why he doesn’t celebrate is because he’s had some hurty words said about him, or people have been critical of his performances. That is all you need to know.