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NFF intensifies search for truth regarding Abubakar Lawal’s death

Abubakar Lawal

 

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has continued the search for clarity concerning the tragic death of former Nigeria U20 player, Abubakar Lawal, in Uganda on Monday.

 

NFF General Secretary, Dr Mohammed Sanusi, reiterated on Friday that the country’s football-ruling body has kept its feet on the throttle regarding the matter, and will not relent until the truth is unveiled on the cause of the player’s death.

 

Lawal died on Monday morning, with initial reports saying he died in a motorbike accident, and later in a car crash. Hours later, the Ugandan Police stated that he actually died after falling from the third floor of a hotel at the Voicemail Shopping Mall in Bwebajja. He was said to have been at the mall to visit a friend, Tanzanian lady Naima Omary, who moved into the hotel a month earlier.

 

Omary has since been taken into custody by the Ugandan Police.

 

“We are not relenting in the search for truth. The Federal Government of Nigeria has expressed the determination to dig out the truth, and ourselves have reached out to our counterparts in the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) to help us find out the truth.

 

“The circumstances surrounding the player’s passing remain steeped in mystery, but we are committed to doing the little we can to shed light on it and help the Federal Government in its quest for truth.”

 

Hours after the unfortunate incident on Monday, Sanusi put a call through to his opposite number in FUFA, Edgar Watson Suubi, to call for urgent assistance in getting to the root of the matter.

 

Suubi responded that “it is a sad situation. I also have received divergent reports on the incident, but I have delegated somebody to go and find out what happened, and then we’ll be able to send you a copy of the report from either the Police, the Medical or any authority that’s in the position to give us a satisfactory answer.”

 

The NFF followed up Sanusi’s phone conversation with a formal letter, in which it disclosed that “there has been so much outcry in our country with regards to the mystery of his death, and I have decided to reach to you, as a colleague, to help shed light on how the player actually met his end.

 

“It is a very sad situation for us in Nigeria football and for his family, and it is important to get these facts to enable some closure on his tragic passing. We will also like to know what arrangements are being made to get his remains back to his family in Nigeria.”

 

Lawal was a member of the Nigeria squad at the FIFA U20 World Cup finals in New Zealand 10 years ago, and was a key player for Ugandan elite division club Vipers FC before his demise.

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JOF Kids Cup: Strong Dove, B. Unit Boys, Versity Boys, First Class Boys Lock Horns In Saturday’s Semi Finals 

JOF U-13 Cup: Teams Battle For Final Tickets

 

The battles from the final tickets among the last set of four teams of the ongoing 6th U-13 JOF Kids Cup now shifted to Ojo Oniyun playground, Ebute Metta, Lagos on Saturday.

This is coming after the Round of 8 matches were decided at the Lekki playground and Ojo Oniyun playground on Wednesday.

Strong Dove of Orile beat Miracle FC of Ijesha 1-0 to book a place in the semi finals, while B. Unit Boys from Mainland stopped Oloto Babes in tension-soaked tie that ended 3-2 at Lekki playground.

Versity Boys of Lagos Island ran away victory with 4-3 goals during the penalty shootouts after they had played a 1-1 game in the regulation time against ThankGod Boys of Oko Baba, while First Class Boys from Lagos Island beat Solution Boys 4-2.

According to the semi final fixtures released to the media by organisers, Lagos State Football Association, Strong Dove will settle scores against B. Unit Boys in the first semi-final tie, which kicks off by 12 noon, while Versity Boys will go to war against First Class Boys in the second semi final game on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Ojo Oniyun playground, Ebute Metta will be agog on Saturday with more spectators expected to watch the matches than any other day since the tournament began a few weeks ago.

The Lagos State Football Association, the joint organisers of the competition, has invited members of the JOF Under-13 Soccer Tournament Committee to watch the kids displaying their God-given talent on the field of play.

The U-13 JOF Kids Cup is sponsored by JOF Nigeria Limited, a wholly indigenous Nigerian company, which prides itself in the development of talent of the Nigerian youth.

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Rivers State SWAN To Mentor 80 Varsity Students As Executive Celebrates One-Year Anniversary

Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) Rivers State chapter says it has lined up series of activities to celebrate one year anniversary of the current executives of the association.
According to Viura Lezigha, Assstant Secretary, Rivers State SWAN/Secretary, Anniversary Committee, “We have lined up three remarkable programs slated from April 4-6, 2025.
“On this regard, the Mentorship program is scheduled for Friday 4th April at the Faculty of Communications and Media Studies Auditorium, Rivers State University (RSU), at 11 am.
“SWAN Rivers State Chapter will mentor over 80 final year students of the Faculty of Communications and Media Studies of the institution about Sports Writing.
“The resource persons for the Mentorship program are Amb. Mrs. Didi Phina Ojogwu, Mr. Carl Orakwe and Mr. Emeka Dennar.
Guests expected to be present at the event are
1. Prof. R. N. Amadi – Dean, Faculty of Communications and Media Studies
2. Dr. Justice Njoku C. – Ag Head of Department, Public Relations and Advertising
3. Dr. N. N. Nwankpa – Ag Head of Department, Journalism and Media Studies
4. Dr. I. Harry – Ag Head of Department, Development Communications Studies
5. Dr O. P. Brisebe – Ag Head of Department, Cinematography and Broadcast Studies

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U-13 JOF Kids Cup: Strong Dove, Miracle FC, Solution Boys, Others Eye Semi Final Slots

 

 

The coast is cleared for teams to fight for the semi-final slots of the ongoing 6th U-13 JOF Kids Cup as the Round of 16 matches were concluded last weekend setting the stage for the quarter-final (Round of 8) encounters.

Playing at the Lekki playground, Strong Dove of Orile beat Yinka Babes from Badagry 2-1

After playing a 2-2 draw game during the regulation time, B. Unit Boys of Mainland defeated Apapa Boys 4-3 with penalties.

At Ojo Oniyun playground in Ebute Metta, Miracle FC of Ijesha ran away with a lone goal victory over Abay Babes from Ajah

Idimu Bombers lost 1-2 to Solution Boys from Apapa.

I’m other results at Lekki playground on Sunday ThankGod Boys from Oko Baba beat Ultimate Villa of Ikorodu 4-2.

Versity Boys of Lagos Island defeated G. Tomorrow also from Lagos Island 1-0.

At Ojo Oniyun playground, First Class Boys from Lagos Island beat Ikosi Boys from Ketu 2-0, while Oloto Babes stopped HB Utility of Ilupeju in a grudge encounter that ended 1-0.

The quarter-final matches will be decided this weekend as the organisers, Lagos Grassroots Football Association and the sponsor, JOF Nigeria Limited are working round the clock to ensure that the final ceremony is held in April.

Mr. Adeyinka Adetunji, Director of Strategic Support Services, JOF Nigeria Limited, was enthusiastic about the level of sportsmanship exhibited by the kids in the matches played so far. He assured that the final ceremony this year will be more glamorous than the past five editions.

Quarter Final Qualified Teams:

Strong Dove
First Class Boys
Versity Boys
Oloto Babes
ThankGod Boys
Solution Boys
Miracle FC
B.Unit Boy

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