Oliseh: I’ll expose NFF

Former  Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, is prepared to meet the Nigeria Football Federation in court over what they termed breach of contract.

The Football house is reportedly threatening to sue Oliseh for quitting his post as coach without prior notice, but the 42 year old gaffer is optimistic the court will vindicate him on the false allegations levelled against him.

“They said I was paid for three months (December 2015, January 2016 and February 2016) and half-year rent for July-December 2015. But we will see who is telling lies,” Oliseh said.

“Since they are prepared to expose themselves, I will help them further. My lawyers are studying the reports, and when we meet, we shall know who breached our contractual agreements.”

Oliseh further claims his eight months on the job was a lesson for him, that only a wholistic change is needed in Nigerian football void of favouritism and nepotism.

“My time there was a big lesson and unless a wholistic change is made in the administrative level, it will be difficult.”

Oliseh: I’ll expose NFF

Shock, Disbelief Trail Oliseh’s Resignation

NIGERIAN football followers woke up yesterday to the news that Super Eagles Chief Coach, Sunday Oliseh, has quit his job.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

The Eagles’ Manager, who recently had a run in with his employers, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following his ‘unsavoury’ comments in his twitter account, quit his job through the same medium in the early hours of yesterday.

The former Super Eagles’ captain, who took over from Stephen Keshi eight months ago, hinged his decision to quit the job on “contract violations, lack of support, unpaid wages, benefits to my players, assistant coaches and myself.”

He wrote: “I feel fortunate, blessed and eternally grateful for having had the honour to play, captain and coach this great nation of ours, Nigeria.”

Before the sudden turn of events, Oliseh had declined to meet with the NFF Technical Committee on Thursday in Abuja as scheduled, saying he wanted to use the time to travel to England to meet some of the players that would likely feature for Nigeria against Egypt in the 2017 AFCON’s qualifiers in March.

According to sources at the NFF, Oliseh was paid his salary arrears and other entitlements of N20 million a few hours before he resigned.

Speaking on the development, a member of the NFF technical committee, Paul Bassey, said Oliseh decided to run away because he knew he would not be able to beat Egypt in the forthcoming African Nations Cup qualifiers next month.

“This is my personal view. As a young man, Oliseh must have seen the handwriting on the wall. There is no way he would have won the two games against Egypt because the build up is very poor.

“It is like he saw failure and so decided to take a walk instead of waiting for Nigerians to call for his head. As I said, it is my personal view.”

Also reacting to the situation, former Super Eagles’ Manager, Adegboye Onigbinde, described the development as very unfortunate.

“Sunday Oliseh’s resignation is very unfortunate. I hope the NFF will do something about it as quickly as possible,” he said.

Onigbinde called on the NFF to engage a consortium of coaches in the interim to prepare the team for next month’s matches against Egypt.

He said: “I was really shocked with the news of Oliseh’s resignation but not totally shocked because of the unfortunate trends between the employee and employer in recent weeks may be we were merely waiting for the accident to happen.

“The contents of his resignation letter are between him and the NFF though the nation’s fate and core interest are at stake.

“It is unfortunate we waited helplessly to see it happened as the hand writing has been clearly on the wall.

“Before Oliseh was employed I expressed my deep reservation though I was called names because of his antecedent.

“We should not waste further time ruing the rights and wrongs of his resignation but move fast to cover the vacuum because of the fast approaching AFCON double header against Egypt in Nigeria and Cairo.

“What I’m suggesting is to build a consortium of coaches around a tested and experienced coach who will command the respect of the players as well as the assisting coaches. I am totally against the recruitment of a foreign coach for the job, which I know some people will want to do.”

Also shocked by Oliseh’s decision to quit his job, Super Eagles’ former midfielder, Sani Kaita, said the development at this time when the country should be preparing for the AFCON qualifiers against Egypt on March 25 and 29 does not augur well for Nigeria.

“We have just a few weeks to the games against Egypt and having a new coach will make it difficult for the team,” he said.

However, Kaita advised the NFF to draft in Shuaibu Amodu to take charge of the Super Eagles, saying the federation’s current technical director has the “experience” to salvage the situation.

“Honestly they should bring in Shuaibu Amodu to lead the team because he has the experience and I am sure he will link up well with the players,” he said.

There were insinuations in some quarters yesterday that Oliseh may have throw in the towel to save his life.

After contracting a virus in one of his official assignments, Oliseh was said to have alleged that some people within ‘the system’ were using occult means to manipulate his life.

At a point, the outspoken coach was said to have confronted his staff and warned them that there were many witches and wizards who were trying to undermine the success of the Eagles.

“He warned those fond of putting their hands in their pockets before shaking him to desist or keep their handshakes as he feared they touch objects concealed in their pockets before offering to shake him”, a source said.

Also, the coach alleged that many of the people surrounding him do not believe in the success of the team as he claimed that they don’t rejoice when the Eagles score goals. “He is always scared in camp and suspicious of even members of his back room staff,” the source said.

Shock, Disbelief Trail Oliseh’s Resignation

Sunday Oliseh’s resignation good riddance to bad rubbish — NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation has responded to the sudden resignation of Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh, describing the development as ‘good riddance to bad rubbish’.

Sunday Oliseh, new super eagles coach

The spokesperson for the Federation, Ademola Olajire, said with Oliseh’s departure, the country would have to immediately empanel a new set of technical leadership for the national team.

“Oliseh is gone and we have to move forward,” Olajire said in an interview in Abuja with the Nigeria Television Authority. “As far as we are concerned, it is good riddance to bad rubbish. He is not the kind of person we though he was.

“He went on YouTube to abuse Nigerians. The Minister pleaded with the federation to allow him to remain in place for our next two matches. As you can see, he did not even wait for those matches.”

Olajire said the NFF only heard of the resignation in the media as the coach was yet to send in any letter to that effect.

The NFF spokesperson said he was in touch with the President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick, and other top officials of the Federation, who are currently in Zurich for FIFA special congress.

“I cannot tell you what exactly they will do, but I can tell you that we will empanel a new set of technical hands for the team. And whatever Oliseh has mishandled in his few months in charge, they will have to right.”

Olajire faulted Oliseh’s claim that the NFF violated the terms of his contract, challenging the coach to publish details of those aspects of his contract that were breached.

Coach Oliseh resigned on Friday, just over seven months after he was appointed.

Oliseh, who announced his resignation on Twitter, said he took the decision due to the inability of the NFF to honour the terms of his contract.

“Due to contract violations, lack of support, unpaid wages, benefits to my players, assistant coaches and myself, I resign as Super Eagles Chief Coach,” he tweeted.

In a preceding tweet before announcing his resignation, Oliseh thanked Nigerians for the opportunity to serve as coach of the national team

“I feel fortunate, blessed and eternally grateful for having the honour to play, captain and coach this great nation of ours, Nigeria.”

Oliseh, whose appointment was made with much fanfare by the NFF, soon started having problems with the executives of the federation over remuneration, match tactics and results.

His complaint about being owed was not well received by the NFF, which rather threatened to sanction him.

He also had challenges managing the players. An altercation between the coach and the team’s former captain and the country’s most capped goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama, led to the goalie’s premature resignation from the team last October.

Apparently, the last straw for Oliseh was the woeful outing of the Super Eagles at the CHAN competition in Rwanda, where the team was eliminated in the first round.

Following widespread criticisms that greeted the team’s elimination, a Youtube video soon surfaced in which Oliseh lambasted his critics, referring to them as “insane”.

On Thursday, the NFF directed Oliseh to henceforth report to former coach and the federation’s technical director, Amodu Shuaibu.

Sunday Oliseh’s resignation good riddance to bad rubbish — NFF

The battle and final fall of Coach Keshi

By Ehi Ekhator, Naija Center News

A former Nigerian football coach got more than what he bargained for after he was fired on July 4, 2015 by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) over what it termed as “lack of commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.”

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi
Credit: Punch

Stephen Keshi was once rated as a messiah when he took over the National team, Super Eagles in November 2, 2011. He signed three years contract with the Nigeria Football Federation after taking over from the former coach, Samson Siasia

His songs of praises finally came to a halt when the NFF announced his termination two months after he signed another two years contract in 2015.

Keshi secured his high place in Nigeria football history after he led the team that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa by defeating Burkina Faso by 1-0; for the first time in 19 years.

Gradually, Keshi ‘s pride started taking over, he locked horns with the NFF who gave him the contract, and his relationship with his top players like Osaze Odemwingie went sour. The NFF described the Big Boss as he is fondly called, as a very stubborn and uncontrollable individual.

24 hours after he returned from AFCON in 2013, praises flowing in from different parts of the countries to congratulate his effort and for making history.  Keshi announced his resignation on a South African Radio blaming the NFF disrespect for his action, and it took the intervention of the former Senate President David Mark to persuade him to change his mind. He also announced he had numerous contracts in queue for him

The ex-Super Eagle coach continued to enjoy the treatment of a coach as an official of the NFF who didn’t want his name mentioned said he was enjoying the closeness of the Presidency and some top government officials which led to the reason the NFF could not push him aside.

A sport Analyst and a journalist with African Independent Television, Jide Ogunleye described the incident between Keshi and NFF as unfortunate. He said “He (coach Keshi) knew the new board of NFF didn’t like him as he was enjoying the influence of the former President   Goodluck Jonathan”.

“The Football Federation had refused signing him again but President the President influenced the decision to fire him and made sure he was retained.

On August 23 2013, Keshi had a fallout with Belgian Tom Saintfelt.  He accused coach Keshi of being a racist over a statement he made on United Kingdom-based African TV show, Vox Africa’s Sports360 in which he said “He (Saintfiet) is not an African person, he is a white dude, and he should go back to Belgium”.

The fallout came after the team defeated Tahiti  6-1 at the Fifa Confederation Cup at the Estadio Mineirao in Belo Horizonte, and was defeated by Uruguay 1-2 inside the arena Fonte Nova in Salvador in Brazil.

November 16, Keshi took the Super Eagles to the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil for a fifth appearance after defeating Ethiopia 2-0 in Calabar and Junauary 9, the Big Boss got the reward of  his several winnings by clicking the Africa Coach of the year.

The more Keshi showed his coaching strength, the more he crossed lines and accumulated enemies. Adding to his previous fallout with the NFF, the Big Boss rejected the suggestion of a foreign assistant coach and requested for his assistants, Sylvanus Okpala.

Just like the coach, indiscipline crawled into the team. The Senate President was shocked in Brazil when the players demanded for 25 percent of the money the federation was expecting from the FIFA for the first round matches.

The players threatened not to play the match against Iran which eventually ended in 0-0 unless the requested percentage reached them.

Though Keshi apologized to Mark, who is one of his backbone and a pillar behind the reason the NFF were soft with him.  The apology was not taken seriously by the Federal Government delegation and the NFF who described the move by the team, headed by Keshi as a national disgrace, according to an official who didn’t want to be named.

The same money fight was reported from the USA camp as they had put NFF on notice over money before they boarded the flight to Brazil.  A year before that, the Super Eagles team had embarked on a strike in Namibia over match bonus during FIFA Confederations Cup

Both Nigerians and NFF as a body believed that the poor performance by the players was as a result of the money fight, hence blamed Keshi for his inability to control his team.

After Nigeria loss to France in the World cup second round in June 2014, Keshi announced his resignation as the Nigeria head coach for the second time but hang around as requested by the NFF, since there was no new appointed coach to take over from him

In October 2014, according to Supersport report, the embattled coach was fired along with his assistance. 14 days later, he was reinstated after the NFF decision was again overruled by the President, Goodluck Jonathan.

After the Presidential election in March, it was obvious that Keshi would lose his position. Many believed that he should have left when he had the chance but he didn’t think the former President will lose to the former Nigeria dictator, Muhammadu Buhari.

After Jonathan handover to the new President, Keshi was finally fired on July 4, 2015 after he signed a new contract in May, for lack of commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract.

Justifying the NFF’s action, the Sport analyst, Jide said “He breached his contract; no employer would take what he did applying for another job while you are still on existing one. It was published by the Ivorian Daily Paper, a full list of coaches that applied for the post of the Ivorian National Coach. If Keshi denied applying then who forwarded his credentials and CV for application?”

Effort to make the Secretary General of NFF, Mr. Sunusi talk on the issue proved abortive as he said he will not talk on the Federation former employee.

The battle and final fall of Coach Keshi

Keshi demands N1b compensation from NFF

Sacked Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has demanded a compensation of a billion Naira (more than $400 million) from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) for defaming him.

Last week, it was reported that Keshi had dragged the NFF to court for “wrongful dismissal and defamation”.

A top source told said “Keshi’s lawyers have demanded for a billion Naira from the NFF as compensation for defaming their client.”

The letter from the Kaduna-based law firm was received by the NFF on Friday.

Keshi was sacked by the NFF on July 5 after the NFF disciplinary committee investigated various allegations against him.

This was four months after the 53-year-old coach signed a new two-year contract after his initial three-year deal with the NFF ran out at last year’s World Cup in Brazil.

 

Keshi demands N1b compensation from NFF

NFF fires Nigeria Coach, Stephen Keshi

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has been fired by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday.

Though the details of the sack was not given to journalist, but findings revealed that the action of the NFF may be as a result of Keshi’s application for a coaching job with the Ivory Coast national team.

 

Keshi had in recent times denied continuously the speculation that he had applied for a coaching job with IC, but the NFF had equally vowed to fire him should the speculation be proven to be true.

 Both the NFF spokesman, Ademola Olajire and Keshi’s manager, Emmanuel Ado confirmed the development which took most Nigerians by surprise.

 

NFF fires Nigeria Coach, Stephen Keshi

Investigation reveals how Gov. Uduaghan and Pinnick make millions from hosting NFF

For those still wondering how Amaju Pinnick emerged the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), their imaginations can cease as thrilling documents seen by Secrets Reporters has uncovered how millions was spent fictitiously to host NFF.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan

In a letter written to Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan via the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) by Pinnick Amaju Melvin on 10^th September titled ‘Special Request for the hosting of the 1^st Extra Ordinary General Assemblies of the Nigeria Football Federation’, it requested the State Government to host the Assembly as demanded by FIFA between  18^th to 25^th of September 2014..

Arm twisting the Governor into hosting them, paragraph two of the document reminded him of his pledge to do so when he hosted the 69^th NFF Annual General Assembly in Warri in November 2013.

“In the light of the foregoing, His Excellency is invited to graciously note the above and to (Ai) Approve the hosting of the 1^st Extra Ordinary General Assembly of the Nigeria Football Federation in Warri in September 2014 (ii) The grant of the sum of N47,000,000,00 (Forty Seven Million Naira0 only for the said hosting; and (B) Direct the Ministry of Finance to release the sum of N47,000,000.00 (Forty Seven Million) only to the Delta State Sports Commission for the purpose state above, please”, part of the document stated which was signed by Amaju with memo no: DSSC,3/T2/13..

The staggering N47 million was broken down into:

5. Accommodation/feeding for 15 suites @ N130,000 each suite for 3 days (15 multiply N130,000 in 3 days) amounted to N5.850,000.


6. Accommodation/Feeding for 135 persons for 3 days in each room was penned at N50,000 which was a total of N20,250,000.

• Secretariat, Documentation, accreditation and recording of conference proceeding was N2,000,000

1. Hiring of conference hall including the decoration for the period gulped N3,500,000


2. Hiring of 5 buses and 2 salon car for the period again swept N1,700,000


3. Entertainment/Ceremonial – Opening and Closing, including engagement of comedians and musicians cost N4,500,000

• Publicity – posters, jingles and live coverage was penned at N4,000,000


• Security – Mobilization of Security personnel in and around the venue including hotels was billed for N4,000,000

1. Contingency – N1,200,000 went down the drain

Which was the total of N47 million. Amaju advised the governor to incur the expenditure from the Governor Contingency Vote.

On 15 September 2014, without passing through the SSG, the Governor approved N40 Million

Looting takes place…

Despite the money being approved, investigations carried out revealed that the most expensive hotel rooms in Warri cost $300 which is not even up to N50,000. This meant that for each of the 15 persons in the suite, the sum of N100,000 went to private pockets while the rest lodged in rooms not above N20,000; thus bring about another multimillion fraud. The conference hall which was hired ironically belonged to Amaju, which is not near the cost inputted. Government vehicles were used for the event; hence the hiring was a hoax to siphon funds; just like many of the costs were inflated.

The Big Fraud…

If Nigerians think that was all, then the big picture is just arriving, as the letter written to the governor was duplicated and money assigned for the same project that took place the same time.

In a similar letter written to the Governor but headline ‘Special Request for the hosting of the 2^nd Extra-Ordinary General Assembly of the Nigerian Football Federation’, which was dated 14^th September 2014 with memo no : DSSC.3/T2/16, Amaju made another outrageous demand.

According to the document, the same amount with breakdown as the 1^st was needed to host the 2^nd which takes place the same month. The budget however got questioned by the governor who inscribed question marks on three of the requests, namely; Entertainment, Publicity and Security which cost a total of N12.5 Million.

Despite the three items removed by the Governor, he still approved N40 Million like he did to the rest. Interestingly, if the N12.5 million he questioned were removed, the N47 Million demanded is already covered. It means the Governor ought to approve N35 Million for the hosting, but he added the bonus of N5 million from the State treasury.

On the same 15^th September 2014, Governor Uduaghan signed away N80 Million to Amaju. According to sources, this was the money used in bribing the delegates to vote for Amaju during the NFF election. Amaju Pinnick is the immediate younger brother to Uduaghan’s wife, Sheila Roli.

Governor Uduaghan who has successfully looted the state as revealed by many groups is currently plotting to install Sir Anthony Obuh who he believes can cover up his mess, a move rejected by Deltans, while he desperately finds way to go to the Senate, which has become a retired assembly for ex looters.

Over the week, his Itsekiri kinsmen have disowned him and threatened to lay curses on him for not doing anything in his homeland. Warri North where he hails from is still in traditional shape while his immediate village have been without light for over six months.

Fejiro Oliver is the Editor In Chief of Secrets Reporters News and Managing Editor of Daily Voice NG.

Investigation reveals how Gov. Uduaghan and Pinnick make millions from hosting NFF

Please, walk away!, NFF tells Keshi

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has been urged not to try to stay in the job after failing to qualify the team for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.

Keshi
Credit: vanguard

Keshi is currently without a contract with the Nigeria Football Federation.

And a top NFF official told BBC Sport: “Walking away honourably would be the smartest thing for Stephen Keshi.

“It’s pointless to hang around when you’ve failed, have been completely rejected by the NFF and are unwanted by disappointed football fans.”

Keshi endured a turbulent time during the qualification campaign, in which he was sacked by the NFF and only reinstalled after intervention from the presidency.

And the intensity of speculation about his future increased following Nigeria’s 2-2 draw with South Africa in Uyo last week that meant they will not play at next year’s continental finals in Equatorial Guinea.

Nigeria had gone into the that match knowing a win would earn their place at the tournament, their failure to do so has left NFF president Amaju Pinnick refusing to name who he believes is “the ideal man to lead the team from the present dark to sunshine”.

Keshi himself has refused to comment on whether it is the end of his time as coach with the team he steered to Nations Cup glory in 2013 and led to the last-16 of this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

But the NFF official added: “He does not have any contractual obligations with the federation; remember the board also offered to sponsor him and his assistants to managerial courses with good intention.

“He will probably get a job elsewhere before January but the country will not get the opportunity to play at the next Nations Cup.”

 

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Please, walk away!, NFF tells Keshi

I can do without Eagles job, says Keshi

Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi has shrugged off the issue surrounding his contract extension with the country’s football federation, NFF saying his “destiny” is not tied to the Super Eagles job.

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi
Credit: Punch

The African champions face their Congolese counterparts, the Red Devils, at the Stade Municipal in Pointe-Noire in a 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match this Saturday which Nigeria must win by a two-goal margin to put life back into their hopes of defending their title.

The 52-year-old coach is yet to be offered a new contract since his first deal with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elapsed after the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil.

But Keshi has now stated that contract talks is not an issue at the moment. He added that his future is not dependent on the Nigeria head coach job.

The former Mali and Togo manager believes there is life after managing the Super Eagles should he not be handed a contract at the end of the 2015 Afcon qualification.

“I don’t think it is proper to say my fate is tied to this (Nigeria) job. My concern right now is the game against Congo, and not whether I will still be in charge of this team after the match against Congo or South Africa.

“I think you all need to stop this because my destiny is not tied to Nigeria. I came from somewhere (to take up the Nigeria job). It is wrong to say my destiny is tied here because this country is bigger than any individual. If I am not the Super Eagles head coach today, my life will still go on. Also there are other places where I can go if I stopped being the coach of this country.

“But right now, I have a job to do and that is to ensure that the team qualifies the country for the Nations Cup. God forbid if we don’t qualify what will happen? It will not only affect Stephen Keshi, it will also affect you and every other Nigerian who love this sport. So I think this is not about Stephen Keshi but about Nigeria. All I want from my countrymen is to pray for the team and not me because I am just one man,” Keshi told journalists in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Keshi has been in charge of the African champions since November 2001 and has overseen more than 50 matches as the Nigeria head coach, including their 2013 Afcon triumph and appearance at the 2014 World Cup.

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I can do without Eagles job, says Keshi

NFF has not offered Keshi fresh contract

By Jacob Ajom

Re-appointed Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi has not yet been given a new contract by the Nigeria Football Federation. Indeed, discussion on new contract has not been reopened, informed sources have said.

Keshi
Credit: vanguard

Keshi has been in the shadows since his infamous reinstatement as Super Eagles head coach as we gathered he was still trying to straighten certain aspects of his continuous stay with the team before the resumption of the 2015 Afcon qualifiers camp today

The ‘Big Boss’, as he is fondly called was conspicuously absent from the touchline during the international friendly between Ghana U-23 team, the Black Meteors and the home-based Super Eagles at the commissioning of the new Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo on Friday. He however made a surprise appearance during the medal presentation ceremony to receive his medal.

“There’s no contract offer at the moment, it could be revisited at the end of the Nations Cup qualifiers,” an NFF official said in Abuja, at the weekend.

“The decision to allow him finish the qualifications came from above [the presidency], he is working based on a previous arrangement agreed after the World Cup,” the source continued

The 52-year-old is paying the price for poor results in qualification for next year’s Africa Cup of Nations but he was given a chance to make amends following the intervention of the presidency.

Nigeria face Congo and South Africa in the coming days, needing two wins to stand a chance of making it to the 2015 tournament.

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NFF has not offered Keshi fresh contract

Fresh NFF crisis looms

*As appeals committee meets

By Ben Efe

Gladiators of the Nigeria Football Federation crisis are warming up for a fresh round of controversy as the appeals committee is expected to meet between November 11 and 12 to examine all the petitions emanating from the September 30 elections held in Warri, Delta State.

Several protests challenging the eligibility of Mr. Amaju Pinnick will be entertained and his main antagonist, Chris Giwa is waiting in the wings to raise some dust just in case, these petitions turn the tables against Pinnick. They include that “the election was not supposed to be held in the back yard of the one of the contestants,” and “Mr. Pinnick is holding three different portfolios at the time of his election. These protests were filed by several aggrieved parties including Barrister Ike Igbokwe, Abba Suleiman and others.

It was gathered that Mr. Giwa is head strong and optimistic that at the appropriate time he will reclaim his “mandate”.

“Mr. Giwa has not given up at all. He is waiting for the out come of the protests from the election in Warri before embarking on the next line of action,” said an associate of the Giwa FC proprietor who was elected president of the NFF in an August 26 poll, that was not authenticated by the world soccer governing body as it did not follow procedure.

Giwa obtained a court verdict which sacked the board led by Mr. Pinnick in October. But he withdrew case to save Nigeria from being banned by FIFA.

It was learnt that it was the Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo who prevailed on the President, Goodluck Jonathan to wade into the matter to save Nigeria from another embracement.

Giwa withdrew the case at the prompting of the President. But he and Pinnick were advised to reach a settlement, however, it seem both men are reluctant to give in, since they both lay claim to the top seat of the NFF.

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Fresh NFF crisis looms

NFF crisis: Giwa resumes, recalls Keshi

Palpable tension has gripped the Bayelsa waterways after pirates at separate incidents killed four policemen and abducted six other persons in Nembe waters, Nembe Local Government Area on Friday.

Keshi
Credit: vanguard

It was gathered that the gunmen also seized a gunboat belonging to the Nigeria Police in an incident that occurred at about 1.30pm on the fateful day.

The gunboat was said to be escorting a barge owned by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company (NAOC) when it came under attack.

It was gathered that the hoodlums, who operated on a speedboat, laid ambush for the gunboat and opened fire on the policemen.

They were said to have overpowered the police, killed and pushed them into the water and took control of the gunboat.

It was learnt that the incident which occurred along Santa Barbara and Nembe waterways caused panic among travelers.

The development was said to have delayed the movement of persons travelling to Okpoama in Brass Local Government Area, for the funeral of the uncle of a former governor of the state, Tmipre Sylva.

Most of the guests for the burial were said to have waited at Ogbia jetty till after the gunmen finished their operation.

A security source who pleaded anonymity said the hoodlums were not interested in the Agip barge and its occupants.

He, however, said three policemen and the gunboat operator were killed after the gunmen hijacked the boat.

He identified the boat driver as a civilian, adding that the bodies of the policemen had since been recovered.

He revealed, “Policemen escorting Agip barge were attacked on Friday. The gunboat and the policemen were all taken away. The policemen were three including the driver of the boat making them four. The barge and its occupants escaped, because the gunboat was the target of the pirates. This incident happened along Santa Barbara and Nembe route at about 1.30pm. The pirates were after the gunboat and the arms.”

In a separate incident, six persons working for a company identified as Icon Xearex, an oil servicing firm, have been abducted at Oluasiri in Nembe.

It was gathered that the pirates attacked a boat owned by the company in the early hours of Friday and took the workers away.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in state, Mr. Alex Akhigbe, said he was in Abuja for a program and could not comment on the incident.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Valentine Ntomchukwu, when reached for comment, claimed to be in a meeting.

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NFF crisis: Giwa resumes, recalls Keshi

Why we prefer foreign coach to replace Keshi - NFF

BY JUDE OPARA, Abuja

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick has explained why his Board  prefers a foreign coach to replace the last indigenous coach, Stephen Keshi who was relieved of his assignment last week by the federation.

Pinnick while speaking on a radio programme in Abuja said the steady downward slide of football in the country has necessitated the decision which he insisted was to rescue the beautiful game from total collapse.

The president who also spared a thought for the domestic league and its poor state explained that the coach when engaged would work with some experienced Nigerian coaches with the intention to to expose them to some new techniques of the dynamic game.

According to Pinnick, the foreign coach that would be employed must be a sound person who must in addition to his primary responsibility of coaching the national team would equally monitor the Nigerian league and select gifted players.

The NFF boss who said he shared in the sentiments of those who were calling for the hiring of a local coach however stressed that this might be the last foreign coach to work in Nigeria because ‘’by the time he is through with his assignment a lot of Nigerian coaches would have learnt a lot from him and ready to succeed him.

“We are not going for low quality coach this time around. We are shopping for a sound coach who will present before us a comprehensive programme of how he intends to turn around the Super Eagles as well as the Nigerian league. Our choice of a foreign coach would be one who will be ready to look into the league, travel to Warri to watch Warri Wolves, to Lafia to watch Nasarawa United etc.

“Any experienced foreign coach will certainly value his name more than the money he is to earn. He will invite and pick the best of players and that is what we are going to give Nigerians with the coming of a new foreign coach in our mind”.

Pinnick also spoke on the existence of a rival board led by Chris Giwa and efforts he has made to restore peace in the nation’s football. He said that he has spoken to Giwa, Chief Rumson Baribote and other aggrieved stakeholders pleading with them to sheath their sword in the interest of Nigerian football.

“I won an election that was recognized by both FIFA and CAF.  I beg Nigerians to beg Giwa for me. I have made overtures to Giwa, Baribote etc. Let them know that this position is meant for only one person and I am the one today. I have begged them to team up with the board for the interest of Nigerian football.” Pinnick concluded.

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Why we prefer foreign coach to replace Keshi - NFF

NFF shops for Keshi’s replacement

There are very strong indications that Stephen Keshi will not continue as the Super Eagles coach, on interim or permanent basis, after the match against Sudan in Abuja on Wednesday. The PUNCH learnt that three factors have contributed largely to his continued stay as the Nigeria coach despite the humiliating 1-0 loss to Sudan on Saturday.

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi
Credit: Punch

The decision by the president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, to hold far reaching discussions with his members; the need to also brief higher authorities and the search for a quality replacement have combined to keep Keshi on the driving seat going into the reverse match against Sudan billed for Wednesday. Our correspondent learnt on Monday that Keshi could be asked to step aside after the Wednesday match.

A member of the NFF board who spoke with The PUNCH on Monday said that a meeting of the Federation had been fixed for 8pm on Tuesday and that the meeting billed for Abuja will take the decision on the way forward with the national team.

He said, “You know that the decision to ask Keshi to go or continue is a major one that can’t be taken by just a few persons. The board is meeting on Tuesday and I know that all the questions will be answered by that meeting.”

Another person with deep knowledge of the happenings at the Federation told our reporter that the search for a good manager is also slowing down decision.

“The search is on for a replacement. What has been the challenge is the closeness of the matches to each other but I guess that will be taken care of very soon with a bold manager to take the challenge.”

A former Sunshine Stars goalkeeper coach, Segun Oguns told SuperSport Keshi should be dropped instantly.

Oguns said another coach other than Keshi could comfortably qualify Nigeria for the biennial event in Morocco by going ahead to win Sudan on Wednesday as well as the other two games against South Africa and Congo.

“I think it’ll be a dashed hope for Maroc 2015 AFCON if Stephen Keshi would still take charge of the game against Sudan on Wednesday as well as the other two games involving South Africa and Congo.

“I strongly believe with a new coach on the saddle we can win Sudan but not with Keshi still in charge.

“With Keshi still taking charge then we must prepare our minds for another uneventful game against Sudan as his penchant for going around picking new players has failed to lift the team.

“Eagles under Keshi made the likes of Congo and Sudan become superstars, countries that ordinarily couldn’t withstand the onslaught of our domestic teams.”

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NFF shops for Keshi’s replacement

FIFA gives Nigeria September 8 final warning

The Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA) has given Chris Giwa and its factional NFF board until Monday, September 8 to vacate the Glass House, failure to do so will earn Nigeria an outright suspension.

Stating this in a signed letter by its Secretary-General, Jerome Valcke, the FIFA Emergency Committee “decided that should there still be persons claiming to be elected and occupying the offices on Monday, 8 September, 2014 at 8am Swiss time, the NFF will automatically be suspended with immediate effect until the said persons vacate the premises of the NFF and the General Secretary is able to come back and carry out his work without interference”.

In the letter, addressed to NFF scribe, Musa Amadu, the FIFA Emergency Committee also postponed today’s scheduled Elective Congress of the NFF and extended the tenure of the Aminu Maigari’s Executive Committee board till fresh elections are held.

“The NFF Executive Committee as it was composed on 25 August, 2014, meaning under the Presidency of Mr. Aminu Maigari, should then convene a first extraordinary general assembly as soon as possible to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in order to proceed with the elections of the new NFF office-bearers”.

The FIFA Emergency Committee, while warning Nigeria on the dire consequences of a suspension, said that “we would like to remind you that a suspension means no team from Nigeria of any sort (including clubs) can have any international sporting contact (art. 14, par. 3 of the FIFA Statutes). During the period of suspension, the NFF may therefore not be represented in any regional, continental or international competitions or in friendly matches.

“The suspension also means that neither the NFF nor any of its members or officials can benefit from any development programmes, courses or training from FIFA or CAF during the time of suspension”, wrote Valcke.

The FIFA ultimatum threatens Nigeria’s African Cup of Nations qualifying match next Wednesday, against South Africa in Cape Town.

Nigeria, the defending champions, are cleared to play their home opener against Republic of Congo on Saturday.

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FIFA gives Nigeria September 8 final warning

NFF Fire: Security Operatives question Key Players

True to their word, Nigeria’s security operatives have begun interrogating key officials of the body that controls Nigeria’s football affairs in order to unravel the mystery behind the fire that engulfed the Abuja headquarters of the Nigerian Football Federation early last Wednesday. The fire inflicted significant damage on the building popularly called the Glass House.

Yesterday, officials of the State Security Service (SSS) questioned Mike Umeh, one of the principal actors in recent controversies involving the members of the NFF. Mr. Umeh’s extensive questioning took place at the Yellow House, the headquarters of the SSS in Abuja.

An SSS official said the agency was interested in having Mr. Umeh clarify certain statements he made regarding the fire. The NFF official had described the fire as “strange” and “a sabotage,” adding that it was designed to cover the corruption at the federation. He had also accused top NFF officials of complicity in the fire, increasingly being treated as a case of arson, according to a source involved in the investigation.

Another SSS official refused to divulge the specific information the agency’s investigators got from Mr. Umeh, who served for a short time as acting president after President Goodluck Jonathan’s removal of the incumbent president, Aminu Maigari. Mr. Maigari was reinstated following threats by FIFA, the global regulator of football, to suspend Nigeria from the international body.

“We’re going to be talking to as many people as possible in order to get to the root of the fire at Glass House,” the SSS source said. He added: “The fact that we invited Chief Umeh to answer questions does not mean that we consider him a suspect. We are engaged in fact-finding at this stage.”

One of our sources revealed that SSS agents planned to invite Mr. Maigari to field questions today. “We are aiming to cover every ground in the investigations that will determine if Wednesday’s fire was indeed arson,” said the source.

Like Mr. Umeh, many Nigerians suspect that some NFF insiders must have set the fire with the motive of destroying documents that might reveal graft and other acts of corruption in the federation.

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NFF Fire: Security Operatives question Key Players

FIFA has no cause to ban Nigeria – Minister

Just as the reality of the world wide ban slammed on Nigeria by FIFA is sinking in, the National Sports Commission has claimed that the suspension order was not a reflection of the event that led to the removal of the Aminu Maigari led board of the Nigeria Football Federation.

The NSC said in press statement yesterday, that government did not in anyway interfere in the process that brought down the NFF board and thus it was wrong for FIFA to assume such.

“The NSC has received the news of the suspension of the NFF by FIFA on the grounds of an alleged court order which the world football body has interpreted as government interference in the affairs of the football house.

“The said court action brought against the NFF followed an internal crisis within the football family and has nothing to do with government.

“While FIFA has stated that unless the court action is withdrawn, the suspension of the NFF will not be lifted, it is pertinent to state that neither the NSC nor government is involved in the court process.”

The NSC added that it believes the ban is “a procedural practice by FIFA each time it feels that there is an alleged interference by government”.

According to the release the NFF has sent documents to show that the general assembly was held according to FIFA statutes and so the vote to remove the board at that meeting should stand.

“ Nigerians should remain calm as efforts are being made to ensure that the suspension is lifted as soon as possible; as appropriate represen-tation has been made to FIFA to present the true situation of the crisis within the football family.

 

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FIFA has no cause to ban Nigeria – Minister

Keshi can go - NFF

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will not stop Coach Stephen Keshi from vacating his post as Super Eagles coach, after the ‘Big Boss’, as Keshi is fondly called expressed his desire to step down following Nigeria’s ouster from the World Cup.

Vice president of the NFF, Mike Umeh spoke about Keshi’s impending departure and confirmed that they will not be standing in Keshi’s way as he has decided to quit.

“We cannot stop Keshi from moving if he wants to. He is a grown man and knows what is good for him. If he so desires a greener pasture, then we can’t stop him, it’s up to him to decide,” Umeh said.

He however denied claims that the NFF have not been supportive of the former Togo coach, saying, “It’ll not be fair to say we haven’t supported Keshi. We have given him tremendous support, more than anyone could imagine. So the thought that he hasn’t been adequately supported isn’t true.”

Umeh also spoke on the possibility of getting a new coach in time for the 2015 Africa cup of Nations qualifiers expected to start soon.

“I’m sure a new coach will come in immediately Keshi’s departure is finalized, so that shouldn’t be a problem,” Umeh noted.

Immediately after the loss to France, another NFF top gun, Deji Tinubu tweeted, ‘and off his goes to S.A’, which obviously confirms Keshi’s exit.

- See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/07/nff-keshi-can-go/#sthash.SwGvovc5.dpuf

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Keshi can go - NFF