Embassy of Korea keeps Nwakali, Udofia waiting

The delegation of U-17 National Team, Golden Eaglets, departed for the Four-Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament on Sunday without team captain Kelechi Nwakali and coordinator Prince Udofia.

Thenff.com learnt that the Embassy of Korea Republic in Nigeria had returned the passports of the player and official as ‘unreadable’ – a rather strange explanation given that the two persons had been traveling with the same passports for years now.

“We don’t know what they mean by ‘unreadable’ because the player, Nwakali and the team coordinator, Udofia, have been using these same passports without any issues.

“In any event, we are working hard to see what we can do and make the Embassy issue visas to these two persons on Monday, so that they can travel on Tuesday to join the delegation,” said an NFF protocol official.

The development meant 17 players traveled by Qatar Airways on Sunday, to arrive at Korea Republic’s capital, Seoul on Monday evening for the tournament that the NFF believes will stoke competition spirit in the young lads ahead of their defence of the FIFA U-17 World Cup title in Chile in seven weeks’ time.

Golden Eaglets of Nigeria

Nigeria play hosts Korea, Croatia and Brazil at the Four-Nation tournament, which the Golden Eaglets also took part in ahead of their triumph at the FIFA U-17 World Cup hosted by the Koreans in 2007.

Meanwhile, Super Eagles’ forward, Odion Ighalo, on Sunday bid the Golden Eaglets farewell as they depart the country for the 4-Nation Suwon Invitational Tournament in South Korea.

The striker who plies his trade with Watford FC was an instant hit with the fledgling youngsters at the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Abuja en route to Korea via Lagos as he exchanged pleasantries with players and officials of the team.

“I want to wish you best of luck on this trip as well as the World Cup in Chile,” Ighalo said flashing his trademark smile.”You guys have to work hard.”

Meanwhile, Chairman of Nationwide League One, Alhaji Ahmad Kawu on Sunday led the Golden Eaglets to the Tournament in South Korea as its leader of delegation.

Emmanuel Amuneke

Kawu was also with the coach Emmanuel Amuneke-led side when they went on two-match tour of Cairo in 2014 as well as the 2015 CAN U-17 Championship in Niger. He led the team out of Nigeria via Murtala Muhammed Airport aboard Qatar Airways to Doha where they would take a connecting flight to Korea.

Before departing Nigeria, Amuneke reiterated that the tournament was going to be a good test run for itsfledgling side.

“We are going to Korea not just for the fun of it,” he told the players during the last training session In Abuja on Saturday. “We are going to meet other teams that have also qualified for the World Cup and that means we have to work hard.”

FIFA Appoints Pinnick Organizing Committee Member

FIFA

Nigeria football recorded a huge applause on Thursday after world football–governing body, FIFA, announced the appointment of the President of Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick as a Member of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Organizing Committee.

In a letter dated 14th August 2015 and signed by FIFA Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, the world body wrote: “We are very pleased to inform you that you have been appointed as a member of the Organizing Committee for the FIFA U-20 World Cup. Please accept our sincere congratulations on this nomination.

“We wish you success and enjoyment in this role at FIFA and look forward to welcoming you soon in Zurich.”

The late astute administrator, Patrick Okpomo, was Member of the FIFA U-17 World Cup Organizing Committee.

Incidentally, as Executive Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission, Pinnick named the world –class Football House he superintended in Asaba, capital of the State, after the revered Patrick Okpomo.

Reacting on Thursday, the NFF boss said the appointment has not come to him in his individual capacity, but in his position as head of Nigeria football.

“I have always maintained that our country is too big to be a silent member of the international football community. This appointment is to the applause of Nigeria football, not myself as a person.

Amaju Pinnick. President NFF

“This will certainly encourage our efforts home and abroad to project Nigeria football positively. I insist: Nigeria has the quantity and quality of population to excel in several areas of endeavor globally.”

The 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals will be staged in Korea Republic.

Pinnick, who is also Member of the CAF Organizing Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, was elected NFF President 11 months ago. He served for eight years as Chairman of the Delta State Football Association, and remains Chairman of the Delta State Sports Commission.

At the Africa Cup of Nations finals in Equatorial Guinea earlier in the year, Pinnick was match commissioner for as many as six matches – a rare privilege for a newcomer to African football’s top table.

Sports Minister Lauds Korea Over Support For Taekwondo

For their immense support in the last few years, the Minster of Sports/Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Tammy Danagogo has commended the government and people of Korea Republic over the development of taekwondo in Nigeria.

In a letter signed by the minister and addressed to the Ambassador, Republic of Korea, it stated that the performance of Team Nigeria in major competitions has been outstanding, adding that this became possible with the continued support of the Korean Government.

NTF President-George Ashiru addresses participants At an NTF program

“We hereby write to convey the profound gratitude of NSC and indeed taekwondo lovers in Nigeria for your unequaled support to the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) under the leadership of Mr. George Ashiru. Your support, no doubt contributed immensely to the sterling performance of Team Nigeria at the last Commonwealth Championship in Edinburg, Scotland, where they posted their best performance ever in any international competition; and has in no small measure promoted youths and sports development in the country,” he said.

The NSC helmsman added: “We therefore, most heartily commend your kind gesture in assisting our team and hope that this will go a long way to further strengthen cordial relationship between your good selves and the Commission.”

In the last few years, the Korea Government has been sponsoring the annual Korea’s Ambassador Cup involving teams within and outside Nigeria.

FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking For February 2015

* Africa Cup of Nations semi-finalist, Equatorial Guinea makes the biggest move by points(up 370 points),they also make the biggest move by rank this month(up 69 ranks).

* There were no moves into the top ten this month and no moves out of the top ten as well.

* New Asian champions Australia (63rd, up 37 ranks), beaten finalists Korea Republic (54th, up 15 ranks), United Arab Emirates (66th, up 14 ranks), Iraq (94th, up 20), China PR (82nd, up 14 ranks) and Iran (41st, up 10 ranks) have all climbed at least ten places.

* Costa Rica (13th, up 3 ranks) reached their highest-ever position

1. Germany 1729 points

2. Argentina 1534 points

3. Colombia 1456 points

4. Belguim 1430 points

5. Netherlands 1385 points

6. Brazil 1333 points

7. Portugal 1189 points

8. France 1168 points

9. Uruguay 1146 points

10. Spain 1144 points

11. Switzerland 1117 points

12. Italy 1112 points

13. Costa Rica 1074 points

14. Chile 1037 points

15. England 1028 points

16. Romania 1022 points

17. Czech Republic 990 points

18. Algeria 981 points

19. Croatia. 945 points

20. Cote d’Ivoire 932 points

FIFA

Africa top ten teams in the World Ranking ;

1. Algeria (18)

2. Cote d’Ivoire (20)

3. Ghana (25)

4. Tunisia (26)

5. Cape Verde (35)

6. Senegal (36)

7. Nigeria (42)

8. Guinea (43)

9. Cameroon (45)

10. DR Congo (46)

NFF Delegation Set For Canada 2015 Draw

The delegation of Nigeria Football Federation to Saturday’s 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals, Canada 2015, will depart from Abuja on Thursday morning.

Coach Edwin Okon, who led the Senior Women National Team, Super Falcons, to clinch a seventh African title in Namibia in October, will be joined by Team Administrator, Ruth David and Team Media Officer, Gracious Akujobi.

The Draw Ceremony for the 7th FIFA Women’s World Cup finals will be held in Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, on Saturday, with 24 finalist teams to be divided into six groups of four teams each.

Already qualified for the finals are host Canada, United States of America, Mexico, Costa Rica, Colombia, Brazil, Norway, Sweden, England, Japan, Australia, Netherlands, Germany, France, Spain, Switzerland, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Cameroon, China, Korea Republic, Thailand and New Zealand.

The last spot will be taken by the winner of the intercontinental play –off between Ecuador and Trinidad and Tobago. Both teams battled to a a scoreless first leg in Quito, with the return leg taking place at the Hasely Crawford Stadium in Port of Spain on Tuesday, December 2.

The finals will be staged 6th June – 5th July, 2015 in six Canadian cities, viz: Edmonton (State of Alberta), Moncton (State of New Brunswick), Montreal (State of Quebec), Vancouver (State of British Columbia), Ottawa (State of Ontario) and Winnipeg (State of Manitoba).

Nigeria has featured in all six previous editions of the FIFA Women’s World Cup in 1991 (China), 1995 (Sweden), 1999 and 2003 (USA), 2007 (China) and 2011 (Germany), with a quarter final berth in 1999 the Super Falcons’ best effort so far.

Falconets depart for U-20 Women’s World Cup

The U-20 Women National Team, also known as Falconets, flew out of the country on Monday for a 24 –day final camping programme in Canada ahead of this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals taking place in the same country.

A delegation of 24 players and 11 officials, led by NFF Chief Technical Officer, Siji Lagunju, flew aboard a Lufthansa Airline airplane from Abuja to Frankfurt, from where it would connect another flight to Moncton, Canada.

Head Coach Peter Dedevbo said on Monday that his girls are focused on a mission of doing the country and the continent proud in North America.

“We have a squad of able, courageous and confident players and I believe we have the capacity to go all the way in Canada,” Dedevbo said.

It would be recalled that Nigeria has featured in all previous FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup finals since the event was launched in the same country (Canada) 12 years ago, reaching the final in Germany four years ago before losing to hosts Germany.

The Falconets made it to the semi finals of the 2012 finals in Japan.

In Canada, Dedevbo who led the U-17 girls to the FIFA U-17 World Cup finals in Trinidad and Tobago in 2010 and Azerbaijan in 2012, will pump up the Falconets’ spirit for the Group C campaign against Mexico and Korea Republic in Moncton (August 6 and 9 respectively) and; against England in Toronto on August 13.