Maigari Returns To Office

Inyama: We are one big family

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari returned to the NFF Secretariat on Monday and pledged to work together with the entire Nigeria football family ahead of the coming elections into the NFF Executive Committee.

“There is no victor and no vanquished. We must all come together in the interest of the Nigeria game. We are all adults and we must have differences, but I am happy that those differences are now in the past and we are now of the same accord,” Maigari said as he settled into his chair.

Maigari was on Thursday last week restored to office by world football –governing body, FIFA, after weeks of uncertainty at the Glass House, during which his Executive Committee said they had impeached him on sundry allegations.

On Friday, Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission, Dr. Tammy Danagogo, asked Maigari to go back to office, and the 58 –year old former school teacher arrived at the NFF Secretariat sometime before noon on Monday.

NFF Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Maigari

He met Chief Mike Umeh, Hon. Shehu Adamu and Mr. Ayodeji Tinubu, some of his Board members, in the office, and after hours of deliberation, Chairman of the NFF Media and Publicity Committee, High Chief Emeka Inyama, disclosed that the Board had come together once more and that the interest of Nigeria football had prevailed.

“We are one big family, as we have always been. There were disagreements and misunderstanding for a number of weeks, but FIFA has cleared the air and the Government has weighed in on the side of FIFA.

“In the interest of the Nigeria game, we have all resolved to bury our differences and rather work towards evolving a roadmap for the coming elections. There will be a meeting of the Executive Committee on Tuesday, 19th August,” Inyama said.

Also most likely to be on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting is the issue of Super Eagles’ Head Coach, as the days tick speedily towards the commencement of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying race.

FIFA World Cup Round of 16: The pressure is on France!

African champions Nigeria are the apparent underdogs in Monday’s FIFA World Cup Round of 16 Nigeria battle with France in Brasilia.

The Les Bleus, expectedly, finished top of their Group E with seven points, following wins over Honduras and Switzerland and a draw with Ecuador, and boast an embarrassment of talent in all departments.

Nigeria, who flew into Brazil’s administrative capital on Friday, bidding a final bye to their Team Base Camp (Vitoria Hotel Concept) in Campinas as they begin the run of ‘venue hopping’, finished second of Group F with four points after drawing with Iran, pipping Bosnia-Herzegovina and a narrow defeat by Argentina.

There is only one recorded clash between Nigeria and France at senior level, and that was a mere international friendly in Paris on June 2, 2009, which the Super Eagles won by a lone goal, scored by Joseph Akpala.

On Monday, it is a new day and a different temperament when the Eagles take the pitch against the 1998 world champions at the magnificent Estadio Nacional Mane Garrincha.

The 72,000 –capacity venue is the second largest at the 2014 FIFA World Cup, coming behind the fabled Estadio Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, which can seat 79,000 spectators.

France left the last FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa in disgrace, after unexpected group stage elimination surrounded by crass player-indiscipline and subsequent sanctions on some of their star performers.

Coach Didier Deschamps did much to revamp the soul and spirit of the squad and a number of young guns aim to blot that unflattering record by going all the way in South America.

Yet, even as they lost their first match of the tournament to Argentina at the imposing Estadio Beira-Rio in Porto Alegre on Wednesday, the Super Eagles looked to be growing in confidence and feel of the tournament, and will certainly make life difficult for the Les Bleus on Monday.

“I said before the tournament that our mentality must be strong. Our approach to every match has always been the same: to win. Whether we are playing against Spain at the FIFA Confederations Cup or playing against Liberia in a friendly match, I always tell the boys that victory is non –negotiable.

“For us, we will go into Monday’s match aiming to win. But as I also said before the competition, we take it one match at a time. We don’t even want to think of who might be lurking in the quarter finals if we win; we are not bothered. All we know is that we must win on Monday,” Coach Stephen Keshi reiterated as his team flew into Federal District on Friday.

Reward for the winner in Monday’s clash that starts at 5pm Nigeria time (1pm Rio de Janeiro) is a visit to the elegant Estadio Maracana (venue for the Final on 12th July, and which also hosted the final when Brazil lost 1-2 to Uruguay in 1950). The winner will play the victor of the tie between three –time champions Germany and African flag –bearers Algeria, who have reached the Round of 16 for the first time ever.

Six of Nigeria’s leading names play in the English Premiership alongside nine of France’s best, making this a potentially –explosive session in all ramifications.

Nigeria captain Joseph Yobo, who will reach the historic 100th –cap mark if featured against the French, features for Norwich City, with Osaze Odemwingie (Stoke City), John Mikel Obi and Kenneth Omeruo (Chelsea), Victor Moses (Liverpool) and Shola Ameobi (Newcastle) also involved.

They are quite familiar with Patrice Evra (Manchester United), Hugo Lloris (Tottenham Hotspur), Mathieu Debuchy, Loic Remy, Moussa Sissoko (Newcastle), Laurent Koscielny, Bacary Sagna, Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) and Mamadou Sakho (Liverpool).

Debuchy, Remy and Sissoko are Ameobi’s team –mates at Newcastle while Moses and Liverpool mate Mamadou Sakho will embrace before hostilities commence.

Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, rated one of the best at the tournament so far, comes up against Lille OSC of France team –mate Rio Mavuba.

Delegates commend NFF seamless arrangements

Members of the NFF delegation to the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals have continued to heap plaudits on the NFF leadership for seamless arrangements in all areas at the championship.

The Nigeria delegation were ferried to all three group stage matches of the Super Eagles and have only good words for the Aminu Maigari administration for the huge efforts invested in making everything smooth for all persons.

The NFF delegation at the tournament has included members of the NFF Executive Committee, Management, some members of Staff, members of the NFF Congress (Chairmen of State FAs and some Secretaries), some officials of the National Sports Commission, a number of Senators and Members of the House Committee on Sports (including the chairman, Hon. Godfrey Gaiya), members of the various Leagues, a number of media representatives and other stakeholders.

There have also been former NFF boss, General Dominic Oneya (rtd), former NFF General Secretary, Mr. Fanny Amun, former WAFU President Jonathan Ogufere, former Nigeria coaches James Peters, Christian Chukwu and Shaibu Amodu, former Nigeria captains Olusegun Odegbami, Garba Lawal, Victor Ikpeba and Nwankwo Kanu, directors of some federal agencies and departments and members of NFF Sub-Committees.

“The NFF led by Alhaji Aminu Maigari has done creditably well with all these arrangements. They made everything quite easy for all members of the delegation,” remarked former Nigeria captain and Coach, Christian Chukwu.

While the team flies to match venues two days before every match on FIFA arrangements, the NFF has arranged movements for all delegation members through chartered flights to and from Curitiba, Cuiaba and Porto Alegre, with the delegation returning to base in Sao Paulo same day.

Dominic Iorfa, who was in the immediate past Board of NFF, commented: “A lot of work and diligence must have gone into moving such number of people around a big country like Brazil with so much ease and efficiency. I commend Alhaji Maigari and his team.”

Odegbami, perhaps the best winger that Nigeria has ever produced, said: “We have to give kudos to the Maigari administration. They have handled the movement of persons with a great sense of duty and perfection.”

The Super Eagles have reached the FIFA World Cup Round of 16 for the first time in 16 years, and play 1998 champions France at that stage in Brasilia on Monday afternoon.

It’s Not Between Messi And I, Says Enyeama

It’s Not Between Messi And I, Says Enyeama…,Argentine Star, Maigari Get Birthday Wishes

Super Eagles Training

Super Eagles Assistant Skipper, Vincent Enyeama, has declared that Wednesday’s World Cup match is not a straight fight between himself and Argentine star, Lionel Messi, even as he says he has a lot of respect for the talented star.

“Messi is a great player, a legend in his own right and by world standard but I don’t want people to say because he could not score against me last time in South Africa, he is going to come out and do it differently because he is more matured. It’s a World Cup game between Nigeria and Argentina and Messi and myself are just two of the players out of 22 on the pitch”.

Enyeama, who spoke at the official media briefing for the encounter said he expects a very entertaining game as both sides know themselves well, adding that the fans will have reward for their money.

On his part Coach Stephen Keshi extended his birthday wish to the Argentine star, who was 27 years old on Tuesday and also wished the President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, a happy birthday on Wednesday, the day Nigeria will take on Argentina. “We hope we can give our President a happy birthday gift by doing well against Argentina and hitting the next round in style”, he said.

Nigerian Envoy Leads Eagles Supporters Cast

Ambassador Emozozo addressing Super Eagles players in Porto Alegre

Nigeria Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of Brazil, Ambassador Adamu Azimeyeh Emozozo, has said he will personally lead the supporters team that will cheer the Super Eagles in Wednesday cracker against Argentina at the ongoing World Cup.

Speaking when he visited the team’s training on Monday afternoon in Porto Alegre, Adamu, who was in the company of top officials of the embassy and former NFF Deputy Scribe, Charles Ojugbana, said he was thrilled by the performance so far of the national team in the World Cup.

“I have the words of President Goodluck Jonathan to say keep the flag flying and hopefully at the end of the day we can all sit down and celebrate. I am also eagerly waiting for you to qualify for the next round of the tournament and if by chance land in Brasilia, I will make you feel like you are in Nigeria”, he declared.

The players through Skipper Joseph Yobo, thanked the envoy and once again promised not to let the nation down in the ongoing World Cup tournament.

Nigeria Vs Argentina: Maigari wants special birthday gift

NFF Logo

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari has charged the Super Eagles to go all out against Argentina on Wednesday and ensure a place in the 2014 FIFA World Cup’s Round of 16.

Speaking in Sao Paulo on Monday, Nigeria’s football supremo says he would be the most delighted with a favourable outcome as the match-day falls on his birthday.

“My birthday is on the day we are playing Argentina, and I would feel very special if we defeat the Argentines. But more than that, a place in the Round of 16 at this World Cup finals would bring joy to the entire NFF delegation and the good people of Nigeria back home.

“We have so many reasons to go all out on Wednesday. The Argentines have always beaten us at the FIFA World Cup, though narrowly each time. We also need to show our true strength as the champions of Africa,” Maigari said.

Victory over Bosnia-Herzegovina took the African champions to second place in the pool with four points, but they must still avoid defeat against the two –time world champions in Porto Alegre to be certain of a place in the knock –out stages.

Nigeria lost 1-2 to Argentina in Boston, USA on June 25, 1994, and were then pipped 1-0 courtesy of a Gabriel Batistuta goal in Ibaraki, Japan on June 2, 2002. When both sides met in South Africa four years ago, an early goal by Gabriel Heinze condemned the Eagles to a 1-0 defeat.

However, Nigerians retain sweet memories of the 4-1 defeat the Eagles handed to Argentina in a friendly in Abuja on June 1, 2011, and a step down the ladder, the U-23 team edged Argentina 3-2 to claim Africa’s first Olympic football gold, in Atlanta 18 years ago.

“It will not be easy, but then, we did not come here thinking any match would be easy. One philosopher once said that when the going gets tough, the tough gets going.

“Our commitment is to continue to pump up the spirit of the players so that they will get better as we move ahead in the tournament. With the win over Bosnia-Herzegovina, we have now reclaimed our winning mentality and it would be difficult to stop the Eagles flying all the way,” stated Maigari.

Amadu commends ‘One Match At A Time’ approach

General Secretary of Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Musa Amadu, has applauded the resolve of the Super Eagles to approach it one game at a time at the 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, saying the approach has been working and will work well to take Nigeria far in the tournament.

Getting ahead of themselves has worked against Nigeria previously, when players naively thought they already reached the quarter finals and became quite casual, allowing Italy to equalize and eventually trump a Round of 16 game in USA 20 years ago.

The attitude was also at play in France four years later, with players haggling over money for a potentially –explosive quarter final clash with Brazil before the Round of 16 meeting with Denmark in Paris.

“The approach of taking it one match at a time is excellent. That has worked well for us in the first two matches. It will also work for us against Argentina and take us very far in the competition,” Amadu said on Monday.

Working hard and playing for one another, the African champions brought to an end their nine match winless streak at the FIFA World Cup by pipping Bosnia-Herzegovina in Cuiaba on Saturday.

Apart from the bringing the dubious record to an end, Nigeria is also the only African team to earn four points from its first two matches in Brazil.

Also, as at Monday morning, only Nigeria and Mexico had not conceded a goal in the 32 –nation finals that started on June 12.

Before their victory on Saturday, Nigeria had not won a match at the FIFA World Cup since beating Bulgaria 1-0 at the Parc des Prince in Paris on June 19, 1998.

“I have confidence that we will go ahead and create several other records in this competition, going by the fact that the Super Eagles have picked up in form. When the Eagles are in form, no one can stop them,” Amadu maintained.

Before the match with the Bosnians, NFF President, Alhaji Aminu Maigari had expressed optimism that the African champions would pick up the three points, as the unyielding Nigeria spirit comes to the fore when much is expected.

It would be recalled that the Super Eagles also started slowly at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, drawing with Burkina Faso and Zambia, before going ahead to defeat Ethiopia, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and Burkina Faso to claim the title.

NFF Chairman Aminu Maigari

President Jonathan to storm Brazil for World Cup

Nigeria’s leader, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR will be in Brazil this summer to support the Super Eagles in their quest to lift the prestigious FIFA World Cup trophy, as ‘Nigeria’s Official Number One Supporter.’

Speaking at a colourful ceremony inside the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday morning, where he was decorated as Grand Patron of Nigeria Football Supporters Club, President Jonathan also hailed the efforts of the National Sports Commission, Nigeria Football Federation and Nigeria Football Supporters Club in the numerous successes that Nigeria National Teams have achieved in the recent past.

Dedicating the honour to all Members of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians of goodwill at home and in diaspora, the President also pledged that his administration will continue to give maximum support and assistance to all Nigerian sportsmen and women to bring glory to the country.

It will be recalled that since President Jonathan came into office, Nigeria Football Federation has brought immense honour and glory to Nigeria through the National Teams, with a total of 10 trophies in the cabinet. These trophies include the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup, 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, 2011 African Youth Championship, 2010 African Women Championship, trophies from prestigeous international friendlies against Argentina, Catalonia and South Africa, and three editions of COPA Lagos International Beach Soccer competition. The Super Eagles have also qualified for this year’s FIFA World Cup finals, with the Falconets and Flamingoes through to take part in this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup respectively.

“The Year 2014 is a very important one for our nation, as we have the FIFA World Cup and the Commonwealth Games ahead of us. The Federal Government will not relent in giving support to all our athletes in all sports to excel. I am indeed honoured to be officially recognised as Nigeria’s Number One Supporter. I have always been a keen supporter of all our National Teams.”

President Goodluck Jonathan with the CHAN Eagles

Speaking at the ceremony, President -General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Oladipo hailed the President’s keen
interest and personal motivation of all the National Teams, which has resulted in tremendous successes over the years..

President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari joined Vice President Namadi Sambo, Minister of Sports, Alhaji Bolaji
Abdullahi, Director General of NSC, Hon. Gbenga Elegbeleye and Dr Oladipo in decorating President Jonathan with the ceremonial dress, medallions, muffler, Staff of Office and trophy.