Contrary to reports of signing a one year contract to manage the Super Eagles, newly appointed coach Finidi George will be staying longer on the job.
The Nigeria Football Federation NFF unveiled George last Monday in Abuja with the former Enyimba head coach reportedly penning a one-year contract subject to an extension.
However, the president of NFF Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau has now debunked the reports of George signing a year’s deal to coach the team, claiming the gaffer will remain in charge of the Eagles at least till the end of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The NFF boss also revealed the soccer house’s target for the coach.
“I don’t know where the one-year contract information emanated from, all I know is that, as far as our contract with Finidi is concerned, he is going to be in charge of the team till the end of 2026.
“So I don’t think 2026 is going to be a one-year contract,” Gusau said on Soccer Africa, a football Show on Supersport TV.
“The key thing is, in every contract, there must be some indices and some targets that you must put in place for somebody in other for him to get optimal performance.
“And the first target is to qualify the team for next year’s Nations Cup and to get to at least the semi finals of the Nations Cup, as well as qualify the team to the World Cup and to get us the target of playing in the quarter finals of the World Cup.
“So these are the main targets we put in place for him in the contract, and by the grace of God, we are working hard to see how we can achieve that,” he stated.
Tag: Nigeria Football Federation
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Head Coach of Flamingoes Bankole Olowokere has called for massive home support this Saturday at the MKO Abiola National stadium Abuja as his girls aim to stroll past their Burkinabe opponents into the final qualifying round of FIFA U17 World Cup.
Coach Olowokere made the call in Abuja after the Nigerian team arrived from Mali where they played out a 1-1 draw against Burkina Faso in the 1st leg of the African qualifying.
He said support of Nigerians based in Bamako helped put the Flamingos in the right spirit during the first leg.
“We appreciate the support of Nigerians for the Flamingos over the years, but we are calling specially for their support this weekend when we take on the Burkina Faso girls in the return leg of our qualifying fixture. The Flamingos will be ready to do the nation proud by winning to reach the last round of the qualification series,” Bankole appealed.
“I have the players to do the job. All we are asking for is support from the stands. Our objective is to not only win the ticket, but to go to the World Cup and surpass our last outing of third-place finish in India in 2022.”
Chidi Harmony scored for Nigeria in the 55th minute of the 1st leg but poor communication in the defence led to Burkina Faso equalizing with six minutes left through Rainata Oubda.
Victory over the Burkinabes will set the Flamingos up for the final qualifying fixture against the winner of the Senegal/Liberia fixture.
The Senegalese lead 3-1 going into the second leg in Monrovia this weekend.
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A delegation of the Nigeria Football Federation NFF has paid a condolence visit to former Nigeria international forward and President of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria Tijani Babangida who was involved in a ghastly auto crash along the Kaduna – Zaria Road last Thursday.
The unfortunate incident, on the spot, claimed the life of Tijani’s younger brother, Ibrahim – a member of the 1993 FIFA U17 World Cup winning Golden Eaglets.
Tijani’s infant son, Fadil reportedly passed away Friday night during surgery, while his wife, Maryam is said to have successfully undergone facial surgery.
The visiting NFF delegation included the President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF Executive Committee member Timothy Heman Magaji and the General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi.
Others were NFF Technical Director, Coach Augustine Eguavoen; Member of the NPFL Board, Mr. Jude Anyadufu; former Nigeria international and Chairman, Bauchi State Football Association, Mr. Pascal Patrick; and ex international goalkeeper Emmanuel Babayaro.
The delegation met Tijani Babangida at a hospital in Abuja after he was transferred to from ABUTH.
They commiserated with the former World Cup star on the deaths of his brother and son, praying for quick recovery for him and his wife who is still under intensive care at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria. -
Members of the Super Eagles are expected to start arriving camp on 1st June preparatory to pivotal 2026 World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic per Soccernet.
Nigeria sit third but will need to defeat South Africa and Benin in June if they are to go top of Group C of the World Cup qualifying.
On June 5, Nigeria will play South Africa, and three days later, they will fly to Benin for the second match.
The Nigeria Football Federation has reportedly received a provisional team list from the team’s new gaffer Finidi George, and the final list is expected to be made public shortly.
The South Africa match will be played at Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo, hence the Super Eagles will camp in Akwa Ibom State -
Kano Pillars’ management has appointed Jangora Ahmed and Ahmed Yaro Yaro Garba as coaches for the remainder of the team’s fixtures in the Nigeria Premier Football League this season.
Both managers will take charge of the team following suspension of head coach, Abdullahi Maikaba as announced by the club on Tuesday.
The veteran tactician had earlier complained about his working condition at Pillars which didn’t go down well with the club’s management.
The new caretaker coaches who assisted Maikaba during this season’s campaign played for the Sai Masu Gida in the past.
Kano Pillars have recorded 44 points from 32 games in this campaign. -
Nigeria’s Super Eagles received a major boost ahead of their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying double-header against South Africa and Benin Republic following the return to training of Captain William Troost-Ekong.
Super Eagles’ captain William Troost Ekong’s return to training from injury has provided a major boost for the team ahead their doubleheader World Cup qualifying with South Africa and Benin Republic next month.
The AFCON 2023 MVP has been sidelined since undergoing surgery for an injury he sustained in the continental showpiece in Cote d’Ivoire.
The centre-back who scored three goals in Cote d’Ivoire was expected to miss the remainder of the 2023/24 season but has made a quick recovery from the injury.
He is now available for Greek side PAOK Salonica’s last three league games of the season.
Ekong’s return comes timely for the Super Eagles, who are yet to record a win in the world cup qualifiers where they occupy third spot behind Rwanda and South Africa. -
The Flamingos of Nigeria will have the advantage of playing their away match against their Burkinabe counterparts in a 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifying fixture on a neutral ground.
The world football governing body had insisted that the Burkinabes cannot play in Ouagadougou as their home venue is not up to standard.
The decision has seen the Burkinabes opt for the Malian capital, Bamako, where they will host the Flamingos on Saturday 11 May 2024 starting from 4pm Mali time.
The return leg will come up at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja on Saturday 18 May starting from 4.30pm Nigeria time.
The Confederation of African Football has appointed Suavis Iratunga from Burundi as referee for the match that will take place at the March 26 Stadium, with her compatriots Fides Bangurambona, Alida Iradukunda and Joselyne Nsabimana as assistant 1, assistant 2 and fourth official respectively.
Oumou Souleyman Kanefrom Mauritania will be commissioner while Aya Irene Ahoua from Cote d’Ivoire will be the referee assessor.
For the return leg in Abuja, Aline Umutoni from Rwanda will be the referee, with her compatriots Alice Umutesi and Sandrine Usenga as assistant 1 and assistant 2 respectively.
Ethiopian Raya Sisay will be the fourth official, with Naa Odofoley Nortey as commissioner and Senegalese Fatou Gaye as referee assessor.
The Flamingos’ delegation to Bamako will depart from Abuja on Wednesday, 8th May.Credit: NFF Media
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Six-time winners Enugu Rangers have been booted out of this year’s President Federation Cup at the very first hurdle after losing 5-6 on penalties to Kano Pillars following a 1-1 draw in regulation time at the Bwari Township Stadium, Abuja on Thursday.
Mustapha Umar scored for ‘Sai Masu Gida’ early on but Chiedozie Okorie equalized for the ‘Flying Antelopes’ in the 38th minute of the encounter.
In the penalty shootout, both teams could still not be separated after the first five kicks each, leading to the session going to sudden death before the boys from Kano prevailed.
Cup holders Bendel Insurance are among the teams that have progressed to the Round of 32, after a slim 1-0 win over Stormers from Abeokuta, while Katsina United, Lobi Stars, Wikki Tourists, Warri Wolves, FC One Rocket, Kwara United and Inter Lagos took no prisoners with high-score wins over their opponents.
Former winners Shooting Stars and Enyimba barely scraped through by the skin of their teeth, needing penalty shootouts to overcome Solution FC of Anambra and Warinje FC of Bauchi respectively.
The Round of 32 is loaded with interesting fixtures, not the least a confrontation between Lobi Stars of Makurdi and Shooting Stars of Ibadan.
Champions Bendel Insurance will be up against Wikki Tourists, while Gombe United will tackle El-Kanemi Warriors and Doma United take on Kano Pillars in flaming Savannah wars.
Two teams that made progress without kicking the ball, Plateau United and Sunshine Stars will be at each other’s jugular, and ambitious FC One Rocket will take their chances against two-time African champions Enyimba FC.
MEN’S ROUND OF 64 RESULTS
Bendel Insurance (Edo) 1-0 Stormers SC (Ogun)
Wikki Tourists (Bauchi) 5-0 Jr. Danburan (Katsina)
Osun United (Osun) 1-1 EFCC FC (FCT) – EFCC win 4-2 on penalties
Edel FC (Anambra) 4-0 Discovery Talent FC (Kebbi)
Zamfara United (Zamfara) 0-1 ABS FC (Kwara)
Kebbi United (Kebbi) 2-1 Ine Stars (Edo)
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) 1-0 Cynosure FC (Ebonyi)
Mighty Jets (Plateau) 0-1 Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara)
Gombe United (Gombe) 3-1 Karim United (Taraba)
El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno) 2-0 Adanimogo FC (Ondo)
Lobi Stars (Benue) 6-1 Delta Marine (Delta)
Shooting Stars (Oyo) 1-1 Solution FC (Anambra) – Shooting Stars win 3-2 on penalties
Ikorodu City (Lagos) 3-0 Green Berets (Kaduna)
Coal City (Enugu) 3-0 Ekiti United Feeders (Ekiti)
Beyond Limits (Ogun) 1-1 Hammola Int’l (Osun) – Hammola Int’l win 4-3 on penalties
Inter Lagos (Lagos) 6-0 May Frank (Cross River)
Warri Wolves (Delta) 5-1 Lautai FC (Jigawa)
Kwara United (Kwara) 4-1 Rovers FC (Cross River)
Abia Warriors (Abia) 4-2 Ilaji FC (Oyo)
Sporting Supreme (FCT) 3-0 PCM FC (Ebonyi)
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) 1-0 FC Bako (Kogi)
Sokoto United (Sokoto) 2-2 Ofirima FC (Rivers) – Sokoto United win 4-1 on penalties
FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) 5-0 Fr. Eburuaja (Imo)
Enyimba FC (Abia) 1-1 Warinje FC (Bauchi) – Enyimba FC win 7-6 on penalties
Plateau United (Plateau) 3-0 Ekiti United (Ekiti) – W/O
Sunshine Stars (Ondo) 3-0 Jedo Academy (Sokoto) – W/O
Rivers United (Rivers) Vs Ikukuoma FC (Imo)
Niger Tornadoes (Niger) 3-1 Niger Tornadoes Feeders (Niger)
Katsina United (Katsina) 7-1 Dutse Strikers (Jigawa)
Bayelsa United (Bayelsa) Vs FC Basira (Nasarawa)
Doma United (Gombe) 3-0 Gamji Eaglets (Taraba)
Kano Pillars (Kano) 1-1 Rangers Int’l (Enugu) – Kano Pillars win 6-5 on penalties
MEN’S ROUND OF 32 FIXTURES
Bendel Insurance (Edo) Vs Wikki Tourists (Bauchi)
EFCC FC (FCT) Vs Edel FC (Anambra)
ABS FC (Kwara) Vs Kebbi United (Kebbi)
Akwa United (Akwa Ibom) Vs Zamfara United Feeders (Zamfara)
Gombe United (Gombe) Vs El-Kanemi Warriors (Borno)
Lobi Stars (Benue) Vs Shooting Stars (Oyo)
Ikorodu City (Lagos) Vs Coal City (Enugu)
Hammola Int’l (Osun) Vs Inter Lagos (Lagos)
Warri Wolves (Delta) Vs Kwara United (Kwara)
Abia Warriors (Abia) Vs Sporting Supreme (FCT)
Nasarawa United (Nasarawa) Vs Sokoto United (Sokoto)
FC One Rocket (Akwa Ibom) Vs Enyimba FC (Abia)
Plateau United (Plateau) Vs Sunshine Stars (Ondo)
Rivers United (Rivers)/Ikukuoma FC (Imo) Vs Niger Tornadoes (Niger)
Katsina United (Katsina) Vs Bayelsa United (Bayelsa)/FC Basira (Nasarawa)
Doma United (Gombe) Vs Kano Pillars (Kano)
Credit: NFF Media
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The Board of Nigeria Football Federation on Monday approved the recommendation of its Technical and Development Committee to appoint former ace winger Finidi George as Head Coach of the Senior Men National Football Team, Super Eagles.
There was no mention of Finidi’s length of contractual deal with the NFF to coach the Eagles.
George, who spent 20 months as assistant to José Santos Peseiro before the Portuguese voluntarily left the post following the accomplishment of Africa Cup of Nations runner-up position at Cote d’Ivoire 2023, took charge of the squad in interim capacity during two friendly matches in Morocco last month.
His squad edged Ghana 2-1 in the first match, ending an 18-year winless streak against the Black Stars, but then lost 0-2 to Mali in the second game.
George, a member of the so-styled ‘Golden Generation’ that won the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Tunisia and emerged the second most entertaining team in Nigeria’s debut at the FIFA World Cup finals in USA the same year, won 62 caps for Nigeria, including featuring at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals.
He also won gold, silver and bronze medals from the 1992, 1994, 2000 and 2002 AFCON tournaments.
The 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam (The Netherlands) and Real Betis (Spain) forward, who made a scoring debut for fatherland in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Burkina Faso at the National Stadium, Lagos on 27th July 1991, also featured for Calabar Rovers and Sharks FC on the domestic scene before heading to Europe.
He assisted Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) to score Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal against Bulgaria in Dallas, USA on 19th June 1994.
George had actually scored the goal that took Nigeria to that FIFA World Cup debut, when he put Nigeria ahead against hosts Algeria in a crucial qualifier in Algiers on 8th October 1993.
The match eventually ended 1-1 and earned Nigeria a ticket to the finals in America.
George’s immediate task will be to guide the Super Eagles to victory in two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic in Uyo and Abidjan respectively, in a little over five weeks.
The matches are must-win encounters, with the Super Eagles lagging behind in third place in Group C of the African campaign behind Rwanda and South Africa.Credit: NFF Media
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The race to the top scorer’s prize in the 2023/24 Nigeria Premier Football League season NPFL is down to two players.
With six rounds of game remaining in the championship, Remo Stars striker Sikiru Alimi and his Enyimba counterpart, Chijioke Mbaoma are both locked on 14 goals apiece.
Alimi stepped up his chase for the gong by netting a brace in Remo Stars’ 2-0 victory over Niger Tornadoes last weekend to hit 14 goals.
Mbaoma equaled the mark by scoring from the spot in Enyimba’s 1-0 win over Katsina United in Aba on Sunday.
Both players are expected to continue their chase for the individual accolade in the remainder of the campaign.
The odds favour Alimi as his club Remo Stars have seven games remaining in the season, while Enyimba have six games left.
Meanwhile, matchday 32 of the NPFL will conclude today with Bayelsa United welcoming Rivers United in a regional derby slated for the Samson Siasia stadium in Yenagoa.
A win for the 17th placed Bayelsa will take them out of the relegation zone while Rivers need the maximum three points to bolster their chances of getting back to Continental football.
After today’s game, the NPFL will take a month long break to accommodate Rivers United’s outstanding games.