Sports
Stakeholders Demand Dissolution Of NFF Board
Football stakeholders in Ebonyi, have called for the immediate dissolution of the present board of the Nigeria Football Federation.
The call came in the wake of the National U-23 team’s imminent elimination from next year’s Olympics Games, after losing 1-2 to Senegal on Tuesday, in the qualifiers in Morocco.
In addition to the call for the mass resignation of the NFF board, the stakeholders also advocated for a comprehensive overhaul of the nation’s football structure to arrest the current drift.
The Tidesports reports that the U-23 team had earlier lost its opening match in the qualifiers by 1-0 to host Morocco and needed to win its match against the Senegalese team to stand a chance of making it into the semi-finals of the tournament.
But with the 2-1 loss it suffered at the hands of the Senegalese, its chances of qualifying for the semi-finals, much less the Olympics Games, now hangs on a precarious thread of hope.
One of such concerned fans, Nicodemus Omenka, a former Commissioner for Youths and Sports in Ebonyi, noted that the present NFA board had brought the nation’s football to its lowest ebb ever.
“The country had not witnessed such inept football administration in its entire history as the current board is made up of self-seeking individuals who have no inkling on how to develop the game.
“This time around, the ineptitude of the team and the mediocre nature of football administration, was bared for all to see, unlike in the past when we would have attributed the blame for the loss on poor officiating by the match officials.
“We now have a Technical Committee, whose head was more concerned about inconsequential things to the detriment of our football,” he said.
Sule Mohammed, Coach of Ebonyi United, winners of the state’s 2011 Federation Cup, told NAN that the recent decline in the nation’s football had in a way vindicated President Goodluck Jonathan’s decision to withdraw the country from all international football commitment.
“We have now seen the foresight the president had in taking the decision in 2010, as he saw the level of corruption and ineptitude in the management of the nation’s soccer and wanted to sanitise it.
“The President should take the decision again to revamp our football,” he said.
Meanwhile, Oluchi Enenwali, a staff of Ebonyi Ministry of Youths and Sports, has called for the prosecution of the politicians who imposed the Aminu Miagari-led board on Nigerians.
“It is clear that Maigari and his team have no pedigree in football administration, as they were appointed to achieve cheap political patronage.
“Their predecessors qualified for major competitions but these people cannot pass the simple test of adequately preparing teams; much less qualifying for competitions.
“The country will only get a sound set of football administrators only if it adheres to the rules and regulations pertaining to electoral matters, to guard against the foisting of mediocre individuals on football administration in the country,” she said.
Pics 1: Fencing in action.
President of the Nigeria Fencing Federation, Adeyinka Samuel, has said the country will host a unique 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships as the first sub-Saharan nation to stage the tournament, Tidesports source reports.
The championship will be held in Lagos from August 9 to 14, with the federation announcing that Rugby School Nigeria will host the event.
The Commonwealth Fencing Federation formally awarded the hosting rights for the 2026 championships to Nigeria in March 2025.
“It is the third international tournament the country will host, having also become the first to stage a junior épée World Cup, which was held in Lagos in December 2024. Nigeria also hosted the 23rd African Fencing Championships last year.
Nigeria’s hosting will be unique in several ways. First, it will be the inaugural edition on African soil, giving it historic significance. Second, we are integrating development initiatives such as an international training camp to foster technical exchange. Finally, the event will showcase African hospitality, culture, and energy, offering athletes a rich experience beyond the competition,” Samuel said on Wednesday.
“Preparations have advanced steadily across competition planning, venue readiness, logistics, athlete services, and partnerships.”
He also noted that over 24 Commonwealth nations have already registered.
“We are organising a pre-championship international training camp in Lagos to unite athletes ahead of the competition. Everything is moving in the right direction, and our focus is on delivering a world-class event that reflects Nigeria’s ability to host major international tournaments.”
The last two tournaments hosted by Nigeria were held at Charterhouse Lagos, and Samuel explained the choice of Rugby School Nigeria for this championship.
“The venue was selected for its modern, state-of-the-art facilities and its proximity to hospitality, tourism, and entertainment hubs. This ensures athletes and officials will enjoy excellent accommodation, transport, and leisure options during their stay.”
While thanking the private sector for its support in organising the championship, the president also called for greater government intervention in the fast-growing sport.
“The private sector has shown encouraging support, with institutions like Rugby School Nigeria and companies such as Flour Mills of Nigeria backing the championships. However, stronger government involvement is needed. Hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Fencing Championships is a milestone achievement, and we believe institutional support will help Nigeria maximise the opportunity and deliver a truly memorable event.”
The final draw was concluded at CAF Headquarters in Cairo, Egypt, on Wednesday and posted on the body’s website.
Notably, hosts Morocco will face a North African showdown in Group A, drawn alongside Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia.
Only the top two teams from each group will advance to the quarter-finals, making Group A particularly competitive.
Group B features former champions Côte d’Ivoire and Cameroon, alongside Uganda and debutants DR Congo.
In Group C, 2015 and 2017 champions and last year’s runners-up, Mali, will meet Angola, Mozambique, and Tanzania.
Group D is led by 2023 champions Senegal, who will face South Africa (2015 runners-up),
The eight quarter-finalists from the tournament will automatically qualify for the 2026 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Qatar.
The teams finishing third in each group will contest two play-off matches to determine the final two qualifiers, bringing the total number of African representatives at the global finals to ten nations.
2026 CAF U-17 Africa Cup of Nations – Groups:
- Group A: Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Ethiopia
- Group B: Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, Uganda, DR Congo
- Group C: Mali, Angola, Tanzania, Mozambique
- Group D: Senegal, South Africa, Algeria, Ghana
Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will not feature at the tournament for the second consecutive edition.
The Golden Eaglets suffered a 2-0 defeat to rivals Ghana in the semi-finals of the WAFU Zone B qualifiers in September 2025, dashing their hopes of advancing to the finals.
The Super Eagles of Nigeria will begin their title defence at the 2026 Unity Cup with a semi-final clash against Zimbabwe on May 26 at The Valley in South London, Tidesports source reports.
The four-nation tournament, which also features Jamaica and India, returns to its historic venue after the success of the 2025 edition in Brentford, where Nigeria emerged champions.
The competition, scheduled to run from May 26 to 30, blends elite football with cultural celebration, bringing together Afrocentric and global diaspora communities.
Nigeria’s opening fixture against Zimbabwe serves as a rematch of their recent encounters in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, setting the stage for a highly competitive contest.
The winner will progress to the final on May 30, while the second semi-final between Jamaica and India will be played a day later.
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Ibrahim Gusau, expressed confidence in the Super Eagles’ chances while acknowledging the quality of the opposition.
“The Nigeria Football Federation is pleased with another opportunity to see the Super Eagles compete at the highly exciting and entertaining Unity Cup Tournament,” Gusau said.
“As perennial champions, the Super Eagles will look to retain their title again this summer, even as they will not underrate the other participating teams viz India, Jamaica and Zimbabwe. The tournament promises to be explosive and that is the setting in which the Super Eagles thrive best.”
The Unity Cup will culminate in a finals day featuring both the third-place play-off and the final, alongside a festival atmosphere that includes cultural showcases, food exhibitions, and live performances.
Zimbabwe Football Association president Nqobile Magwizi described his nation’s participation as a landmark moment, highlighting the opportunity to compete on an international stage in England for the first time.
“The Unity Cup represents far more than a celebration of football and culture, it is a powerful platform that reflects Zimbabwe football’s growing ambition to compete, perform, and excel on the global stage,” Magwizi said.
With Nigeria seeking to retain their crown and rivals eager to make their mark, the opening clash against Zimbabwe is expected to set the tone for what promises to be a fiercely contested and culturally vibrant tournament.
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