11
Fri, Sep

On his return to as Chief Coach of the Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi has called up 25 players for the crucial 2015 African Cup of Nations qualifiers against the Red Devils of Congo and Bafana Bafana of South Africa.

Obviously going with popular demand, Keshi included in the list of invited players, Villareal striker, Ikechukwu Uche for the first time in about two years, and there is also a first senior team opportunity for Nasarawa United midfielder Tony Edjomari.

Home–based defender Solomon Kwambe was also recalled, and Aaron Samuel (who got one of the goals against Sudan), Hope Akpan, Sunday Emmanuel and Emem Eduok have further chances after being called for the matches against the Falcons of Sudan.

All the players are expected to report at the Bolton White Apartments, Wuse, Abuja on Sunday, 9th November.

The full list:

Goalkeepers: Vincent Enyeama (Lille OSC, France); Austin Ejide (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel); Chigozie Agbim (Gombe United, Nigeria)

Defenders: Elderson Echiejile (Monaco FC, France); Juwon Oshaniwa (Ashdod FC, Israel); Efe Ambrose (Celtic FC, Scotland); Solomon Kwambe (Sunshine Stars, Nigeria); Godfrey Oboabona (Rizespor FC, Turkey); Kenneth Omeruo (Middlesbrough FC, England); Azubuike Egwuekwe (Warri Wolves, Nigeria)

Midfielders: John Mikel Obi (Chelsea FC, England); Ogenyi Onazi (SS Lazio, Italy); Hope Akpan (Reading FC, England); Raheem Lawal (Eskisehirspor FC, Turkey); Omatsone Aluko (Hull City, England); Tony Edjomari (Nasarawa United, Nigeria)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (CSKA Moscow, Russia); Emmanuel Emenike (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey); Gbolahan Salami (Warri Wolves, Nigeria); Osaguona Ighodaro (Enugu Rangers, Nigeria); Ikechukwu Uche (Villareal FC, Spain); Aaron Samuel (Guangzhou R&F, China); Sunday Emmanuel (SV Scholz Grodig, Austria); Babatunde Michael (Volyn Lutsk, Ukraine): Emem Eduok (Dolphins FC, Nigeria)

 

 

 

 

 

Chief Coach of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, Stephen Keshi who was asked to step for aside Amodu Shuaibu has been re-appointed.

Keshi’s expired contract as coach of the African champions had not been renewed and any hope of renewing it had been dashed earlier this month, when new NFF President, Amaju Pinnik ordered that Shuaibu should take over for the next two AFCON qualifiers.

But on Friday, head of the federation’s technical committee, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, said his body had “decided to accept” a proposal re-instating Keshi as Super Eagles coach for Nigeria’s next Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Congo and South Africa in November.

Though not indicated by Anyansi-Agwu, the reinstatement is most likely as a result of Shuaibu’s entreaty to the NFF in a letter dated 27th October. In the letter, he had told NFF that the time given him to take over the team was too short to assemble a new team or put the one on ground in a shape to his taste. He had thus entreated NFF to reinstate Keshi.  

The battle between the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) and Stephen Keshi, the Super Eagles head coach got to a head Thursday morning as NFF sent him packing from his job and appointed Coach Amodu Shuaibu to take over the team for a while before an expatriate would be appointed as head coach.

Also affected by the sack are Keshi's assistants, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorounmu.

A statement by signed, Sulaiman Yahaya-Kwande, an Executive Committee member of the federation stated that the committee, "unanimously, praised the excellent contributions of the technical crew of the senior national team, Super Eagles, led by Mr. Stephen Keshi, to the glorious accomplishments of the team in the past three years, and hailed Keshi, Daniel Amokachi and Ike Shorounmu as true national heroes.

"However, in the interest of Nigeria football and the desire to ensure qualification for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations finals, the committee decided to relieve them of their duties with immediate effect.

"The committee also, unanimously, approved the appointment of a consortium of coaches to lead the Super Eagles for only the two concluding matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series (against Congo in Brazzaville and against South Africa in Uyo), after which an expatriate Coach will be appointed.

"The consortium, led by Amodu Shaibu, also has Salisu Yusuf, Gbenga Ogunbote and Aloysius Agu. The team also has a new Coordinator in former international, Garba Lawal, while Toyin Ibitoye is the new Media Officer and Godfirst Chike is the new equipment manager. Team Secretary, Enebi Achor, is retained."

The world football governing body, FIFA has sent a letter to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) confirming that it will be suspended with immediate effect if there are still persons claiming to have been elected to NFF positions on 26th August 2014 and occupying their offices on Monday, 8th September 2014.

The letter, received by NFF on Wednesday refers to some of the events that took place at NFF general assembly held on 26th August 2014.

The general assembly had been duly convened by the NFF Executive Committee to adopt a new framework for the NFF elections. But some members carved out a faction and conducted elections in the absence of the NFF President, Aminu Maigari who was, at the time being held by security forces for interrogation.

Earlier, in a letter sent on 29th August, FIFA had confirmed that it would not recognise the results of the 26th August elections. The football governing body had also said it would table the matter before the appropriate FIFA bodies, should there still be persons claiming to have been elected and occupying the NFF offices at midnight on 1st September 2014.

But when the deadline expired on Monday, some people were still claiming to have been elected and were occupying the NFF premises.

In a bid to prevent any rash decision, FIFA Emergency Committee decided to set a new deadline of 8th September 2014 at 08.00 CET.

“Should the new deadline not be respected, NFF will be automatically suspended until the board claiming to be elected vacates the premises of the NFF and the NFF General Secretary is able to perform his work without interference,” the letter from FIFA read.

FIFA directed that NFF Executive Committee as composed on 25th August 2014, under the presidency of Aminu Maigari, should convene as soon as possible to hold a first extraordinary general assembly to elect the members of the electoral committee and a second extraordinary general assembly in the shortest time possible allowed by law in order to proceed with the elections of new NFF office-bearers.

Shuaibu Amodu, who was recently brought in by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to take over the coaching job of the Super Eagles, has asked NFF to allow Stephen Keshi to continue with his job.

Amodu made the position known in a letter dated 27th October. He entreated the NFF president Amaju Pinnik to allow Keshi to handle the team’s remaining matches in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers, against Congo on 15th November and South Africa on 19th November.

Amodu said one of the reasons for making the call for Keshi’s reinstatement is that the time-frame given to him is too short to tinker with the fabric of the squad or start to build a new one altogether.

Amadu who was named Keshi’s interim successor two weeks ago, said his decision was after wide consultations, carefully made since the appointment was announced.

“I want to specially appeal to you to reconsider the matter and allow Keshi to finish the project that he has started — the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying race,” the letter read in part.

“My opinion also is that the time-frame is too short to start tinkering with the fabric of the team or attempt to build a new team altogether.”

Amodu expressed willingness to help build a better relationship between Keshi, the players and the NFF Technical Committee, saying he would achieve this without stress because he had enjoyed good working relationship with Keshi in the past and the relationship remains cordial.

 “I am assuring that I will offer whatever assistance is required by Keshi and his crew for the remaining two matches, and also be there to offer advice, suggestions and efforts towards building a stronger Super Eagles after the qualifying race,’’ the letter continued.

Nigeria will be at Pointe Noire, Congo Brazzaville on 15th November to play the Congolese, before taking on South Africa in Uyo, Akwaibom State four days after the Congo clash.

The Eagles Need a comprehensive win in both matches to guarantee them qualification into the 2015 AFCON championship.

 

Former executives of the Nigerian Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christoher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko have threatened a court action against the State Security Service (SSS) and the Police over what they described as “incessant invitations and unlawful detention” if they do not desist from the act.

In a letter sent to the concerned parties, the former executives, represented by Festus Keyamo chambers urged the authorities to desist from harassing his client’s in order not to undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter.

The letter read: “We are counsel to Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christopher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko (hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’) and on whose instructions we write to you.

“Our client informed us that upon their arrival from the FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil on 4th July, 2014, they were arrested by your men and operatives and detained at the SSS headquarters. Our clients further briefed us that subsequently, they have been receiving series of invitations from both the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police and that when they honour those invitations despite their busy schedules, they are detained for hours without any information as to the reason for their invitation.

“Owing to the foregoing and acting on our clients’ instructions, we have instituted an action in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking declarative and injunctive reliefs for the enforcement of our clients’ fundamental rights. Find attached the court processes.

“We are by this letter giving you notice of the pendency of this suit and respectfully urging you to desist from carrying out any action that will undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter. Please find attached a copy of the originating processes in this suit.

“We hope you realise that any action on your part in form of continuous invitations, harassments, arrests and detentions will undermine the authority of the court in this regard.

“We understand that these various harassments are designed to scuttle the Nigerian Football Federation Congress slated for the 30th of September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, and your actions are at the behest of those who intend to scuttle the congress as they do not mean well for Nigerian Football. Kindly note that if your actions precipitate a crises that bungles the Congress, our clients shall not be held responsible for any fate that befalls our football from FIFA.

“We look forward to your co-operation in the circumstance.

Friday, September 26, 2014

1. The Director-General,

State Security Service,

Aso Drive,

Abuja.

2.The Inspector-General of Police,

        Force Headquarters,

        Louis Edet House,

        Central Area,

        Abuja.

Dear Sir,

INCESSANT INVITATIONS AND UNLAWFUL DETENTION OF ALHAJI AMINU MAIGARI, BARRISTER CHRISTOHER GREEN, BARRISTER MUSA AMADU AND ALHAJI SHEHU DIKKO

We are counsel to Alhaji Aminu Maigari, Barrister Christopher Green, Barrister Musa Amadu and Alhaji Shehu Dikko (hereinafter referred to as ‘our client’) and on whose instructions we write to you.

Our client informed us that upon their arrival from the FIFA World Cup Competition in Brazil on 4th July, 2014, they were arrested by your men and operatives and detained at the SSS headquarters. Our clients further briefed us that subsequently, they have been receiving series of invitations from both the State Security Service and the Nigeria Police and that when they honour those invitations despite their busy schedules, they are detained for hours without any information as to the reason for their invitation.

Owing to the foregoing and acting on our clients’ instructions, we have instituted an action in the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking declarative and injunctive reliefs for the enforcement of our clients’ fundamental rights. Find attached the court processes.

We are by this letter giving you notice of the pendency of this suit and respectfully urging you to desist from carrying out any action that will undermine the authority and jurisdiction of the court which is now seised of this matter. Please find attached a copy of the originating processes in this suit.

We hope you realise that any action on your part in form of continuous invitations, harassments, arrests and detentions will undermine the authority of the court in this regard.

We understand that these various harassments are designed to scuttle the Nigerian Football Federation Congress slated for the 30th of September, 2014 in Warri, Delta State, and your actions are at the behest of those who intend to scuttle the congress as they do not mean well for Nigerian Football. Kindly note that if your actions precipitate a crises that bungles the Congress, our clients shall not be held responsible for any fate that befalls our football from FIFA.

We look forward to your co-operation in the circumstance.

Thank you.

Yours most trusted,

FESTUS KEYAMO, ESQ.

Head of Chambers

...As FG Introduces Use Of MRI Scanners for Athletes

 Minister of Sport Dr. Tanmmy Danagogo has vowed to deal decisively with any coach or official who takes encourages athletes to use banned performance enhancing substances in Nigeria.

Danagogo issued the warning on Thursday in his first official reaction to the doping  allegation on teenage weightlifter Chika Amalaha, in the ongoing Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland. He also said the country would introduce the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) as condition for double checking the status of athletes before any major competition.

"I will ensure the use of MRI scanning devices amongst other measures, as routine on our age-grade players, and pre-competition drug-test regime on athletes generally," Danagogo said.

He warned of severe consequences for any officials and coaches  who are found guilty of encouraging or condoning cheating of any kind.

"The reported first sample drug-test failure of our female weightlifter is very embarrassing and I feel so sad, although I am still convinced that 16-year-old Amalaha is innocent," he added.

"I hope she doesn't fail the confirmation test." 

Danagogo promised to use his office as sports minister to enshrine tenets of integrity and fair competition in the nation's sports,especially focusing on the youths.

More Articles ...

  1. FG Pledges $7,000 For Gold Medalist At Commonwealth Games
  2. NFF Sacks Maigari for Maladministration, Misappropriation, Others
  3. FIFA Lifts Ban on Nigeria
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