Sports
Lulu, Ogunjobi, 10 Others Seek NFF Re-Election
Twelve members of the current Executive Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) are among 26 prospective candidates who have collected forms for the federation’s elections in August.
Already, all the 12 members, including NFF President Sani Lulu and first Vice-President Amanze Uchegbulam, have submitted their nomination forms alongside seven other prospective candidates.
The electoral body had on May 28 released guidelines for the polls while the collection of nomination forms began on June 7.
Between June 8 when the first form was purchased, and June 21, the deadline for the purchase, collection and return of forms, 26 prospective candidates picked the forms.
The other NFF Executive Committee members seeking re-election are Taiwo Ogunjobi, Abubakar Ladan, Obinna Ogba, Stephen Gyebgon, Patrick Ekong, Aminu Maigari, Dominic Iorfa, Shehu Adamu, Peter Singabelle and Taiwo Odebunmi.
Out of the 13 members elected into the 15-member committee of the then Nigeria Football Association (NFA) in August 2006, only Princess Bola Jegede was yet to pick a form as at June 21.
The remaining member was Alili Galadima who died last February.
Shehu Adamu, a committee member who has picked a form, was elected onto the committee about a year later.
Also on the list of those who have collected nomination forms and returned them are Felix Anyansi-Agwu, Chairman of Enyimba International FC of Aba, and Chief Effiong Johnson, the Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Football Association.
Others are Suleyman Muazu, Chris Green and Babagana Kalli who were elected at the December 2005 elections of the then NFA in Kano but whose mandate was withdrawn by the congress in May 2006.
The rest are Sharif Inuwa and Al-Kassim Makoda, both from Kano State, while the likes of Aisha Falode and Ayo Omidiran, a former NFA board member, are among the seven yet to return their forms as at the initial deadline.
Meanwhile, the 2010 NFF Electoral Committee has decided to extend the return of forms by two weeks, ending by 6 p.m. on July 5, “in the spirit of fairness, equity and clear conscience’’.
Mr Abdulhakeem Mustapha, Chairman of the Electoral Committee, who disclosed this in Abuja while giving a mid-term update on the Aug. 21 polls, said the extension would give other Nigerians the chance to participate.
“We have done this in view of the fact that this is a World Cup year.
“It is in line with our vow to Nigerians that we will provide an equal playing ground for all interested candidates in this election.
“We are aware that some candidates complained that they were unable to get members of the NFF that would endorse their forms.
“Now, we believe that two weeks is a reasonable period for any serious person to get appropriate nomination and endorsement,’’ Mustapha said.
The Electoral Committee Chairman said his committee had critically examined the guidelines of the NFF Electoral Code to ensure there was no violation, before arriving at the decision.
He, however, said that those who collected their forms before June 21 remain eligible to still return their forms on or before 6 p.m. on July 5 to the committee’s secretariat.
The committee is expected to make public on July 12 the names of qualified candidates for the elections.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
One of the greatest strikers of the past 15 years, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski, is among the big names who will not be playing at the 2026 World Cup in Canada, the United States and Mexico.
The 37-year-old Barcelona striker, who has scored 89 goals for his country, was not able to inspire his side as they lost 3-2 in Stockholm against Sweden in Tuesday’s play-off final.
Lewandowski, who won the German Bundesliga title on 10 occasions, twice with Borussia Dortmund and then in eight successive seasons with Bayern Munich, before winning La Liga twice with Barca, may have played in his last major international tournament.
Lewandowski captained Poland at the World Cup in 2018, but did not score in Russia as his country came bottom of the group. He had a better tournament four years later in Qatar, scoring twice as Poland reached the last 16 before losing to France.
He netted four times in Group G in 2026 qualifying only for Poland to finish three points behind the Netherlands, before losing to Sweden on Tuesday.
Gialuigui Donnarumma (Italy and Man City)
Another star that will be missing in action at the mundial is Gialuigui Donnarumma of Italy.
Italy lost in the World Cup play-offs for a third successive qualifying tournament
Gianluigi Donnarumma has been one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League this season since he moved from Paris St-Germain for £26m in September, after helping the French club win the Champions League last season.
Despite being player of the tournament as Italy won the 2020 European Championship, he misses out on a World Cup again after Italy lost 4-1 on penalties to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Tuesday.
Serhou Guirassy (Borussia Dortmund and Guinea)
Serhou Guirassy is Fourth in the list of Bundesliga top scorers this season
Serhou Guirassy has established himself as one of most prolific strikers playing in Europe, with 62 goals in the German Bundesliga over the past three seasons, while no player scored more than his 13 goals in the Champions League in 2024-25.
But he will not be at the World Cup as his country Guinea went out in the first round of African qualifying, finishing fourth in their group, with only four wins and three draws from their 10 matches.
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (Georgia and PSG)
Khvicha Kvaratskhelia helped Paris St-Germain become European champions last season, scoring in the 5-0 final win over Inter Milan, and he came 12th in the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards.
But Georgia had a miserable campaign in World Cup qualifying as they only picked up three points from a group that contained Spain, Turkey and Bulgaria.
Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray and Nigeria)
Victor Osimhen has scored 26 goals for club and country this season
Victor Osimhen helped Napoli win Serie A in 2023 before moving to Galatasaray, where he grabbed 26 goals in 30 games to take them to the Turkish title last season.
Nigeria drew five of their 10 matches in the first group phase as they finished one point behind winners South Africa, but then had a second chance in the following play-off.
With Osimhen already substituted, Nigeria lost on penalties to DR Congo to miss out on the World Cup.
Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool and Hungary)
Dominik Szoboszlai has scored 12 goals for Liverpool this season
Liverpool and Hungary midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai has impressed this season and scored some stunning long-range goals.
But he will not be at the World Cup after his country let a 2-1 lead slip in their final group game with the Republic of Ireland scoring twice in injury time to clinch a spot in the play-offs and eliminate Hungary.
Female wrestlers in action at Governor Diri Wrestling Classics.
Ondo State wrestlers dominated the women’s events on Day six of the fourth Governor Douye Diri Wrestling Classics in Yenagoa on Monday, claiming gold medals in two of the four women’s freestyle categories.
African champion Khadijat Idris of Ondo State led the charge in the 55kg division, defeating rising talent Mary Ayeloh of Bayelsa State by technical superiority to claim gold. Happiness Soso of Delta State and Augustine Rhoda of Lagos State took bronze medals in the category.
Damola Ojo also flew the Ondo flag proudly in the 76kg event, retaining her title after defeating all opponents in a round-robin format. Nigeria Army wrestler Laide Ojo settled for silver, while Juliet Ogo of Bayelsa State and Mercy Alison of Abia State each claimed bronze.
In the 62kg category, Patience Kakanda of Bayelsa State produced the upset of the day, defeating Nigeria Army’s Precious Tieberi 3-1 in the final to be crowned the new champion. Isioma Abojei of Delta State and Blessing Apah of Dynamite Club won bronze medals.
Rivers State’s Esther Asaolu also retained her title in the 59kg division, overcoming all her opponents in the round-robin format, with Patience Opuene of Bayelsa State finishing as runner-up.
In the men’s events, Solomon Ulabo of Bayelsa State claimed gold in the 79kg category, with Kpum Ayibasisei of Edo State taking silver and Rasheed Saliu of Ondo State and Ebisindei Okorie of Dynamite Club winning bronze. NewLife Ebikeme of Bayelsa State won the 92kg gold, ahead of Perezidei Obaze of Edo State in silver position, while Tobechukwu Udeh of the Nigeria Army and Timilehin Adekanmi of Ondo State claimed bronze medals.
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