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Sports Lovers Hail Miagari’s Sack

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12 years ago

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Some sports enthusiasts
have in Abuja said the impeachment of Aminu Maigari as the Chairman of Nigeria Football Association (NFA) was a welcome development.
NFA board had on July 24 accused Maigari of financial maladministration and misapplication, and subsequently impeached him.
The association’s First Vice-Chairman, Mike Umeh, was consequently mandated to preside over the affairs of the NFA pending the composition of a new board after their forthcoming August 26 elections.
In reaction to the development, the sports enthusiasts told newsmen in separate interviews that corruption should be effectively tackled if the NFA was to take the country’s football to greater heights.
Kola Daniel, a sports broadcaster, said it was high time embezzlement and misapplication of funds were treated as serious offences.
“When the level of financial misappropriation is revealed, it must not be treated with levity and I am indeed pleased with the recent development in the Glass House.
“It is alarming to hear that some group of people have formed a cartel to rape our football to its last breath with impunity.
“We have not heard the last of this matter yet as more secrets of their shenanigans will be revealed as the days go by,’’ he said.
Godwin Bamigboye, the Chairman of Nigeria Football Coaches Association (NFCA), FCT Chapter, said everyone found wanting must be brought to book to serve as a deterrent to others.
“We need to take the necessary steps to get it right for once in the NFA as Nigerian football is in dire need of professionalism,’’ he said.
Mansur Abdullahi, the Secretary, Organising and Disciplinary Committee, FCT Football Association, said the move by the NFA board was a sign of better things ahead for Nigerian football.
“It was obvious that the Aminu Maigari-led administration got drunk from the chalice it brewed.
“For me, I think it was not just the Chairman that should go, but the whole board should go also. This is because there is no way that they (all the other board members) will be innocent of the same crime,’’ he said.
Taofeek Lawal, a sports analyst, told newsmen  that it was worrisome that it had become a practice in the NFA for those who take over the helm of affairs to see it as an avenue to enrich themselves.
“I recall that Sani Lulu (the NFA Chairman from 2006 to 2010) was also allegedly impeached on the basis of the same offences in 2010.
“All those who helped to ease out Lulu and called Maigari to come and take the NFA chairmanship were effectively shut out by Maigari,” he said.
Bala Shehu, the Head Coach of Adamawa United Football Club of Yola, said the move was a step in the right direction. He told newsmen  that Maigari’s administration should be made to account for all the monies it collected during the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
“ Nigeria, through the NFA, got eight million dollars for participating in the group stages of the World Cup, just like the other 31 participating teams.
“This is aside from the 1.5 million dollars initially given to the NFA to prepare the team for the competition.
“For getting to the Round of 16 they also raked in another 9 million dollars. So, Maigari must be able to tell Nigerians how these monies were spent,’’ the coach claimed.
He, however, said he never had any blames for the Super Eagles players who asked to be paid their bonuses.
Shehu said it was embarrassing that NFA had to hold meetings with the players over matters of bonuses during the competition.
“ In the past, when the players weren’t aware of their rights, the NFA used to collect such monies from FIFA after the World Cup and then deny receipt of it.
“This is not going to be any more. Times have changed and everyone is more enlightened, including FIFA who now knows how corrupt some of the Football Associations are,’’ he said.

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We ‘ill No Longer Pay Athletes Training Grants In Foreign Currency- NSC

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2 days ago

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March 16, 2026

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The National Sports Commission (NSC) says it will no longer pay athletes training grants in foreign currency.

The development came after sprinter, Kayinsola Ajayi, alleged foul play regarding the disbursement of training grants by the Commission.

Head of NSC’s Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board, Yusuf Alli, told Tidesports source on Friday that it was wrong of Ajayi to rubbish the good intention of the NSC, saying: “I have been in athletics for over 40 years now, and this current NSC Board, led by Mallam Shehu Dikko and Bukola Olopade, has done what others could not do. So far, the NSC has spent over N200 million in payment of training grants for athletes ahead the 2026 Commonwealth Games and preparation for Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.”

The NSC sourced the money from the private sector. It has never happened before. “I expected the athletes to encourage the NSC so that it can do more instead of raising unnecessary alarm and making allegations that is capable of discouraging them (NSC) and even the sponsors. It takes good initiative and trust for sports administrators in Nigeria to convince sponsors to donate money for welfare of athletes,” he said.

Speaking further, Alli, whose long jump record of 8.27m set in 1989 (35 years ago) is still unbroken, said: “We have decided that henceforth, all payment of training grants will be in Naira. No more payment of grants in U.S. dollars. We are Nigerians, and everyone knows that the exchange rate is not stable. As at the time Ajayi got his money, the rate of dollars to Naira may have changed

“I expected him to make a call either to myself or anybody in the Elite Board, or even the NSC to find out what happened instead of resorting to such allegation.

“If we make payment in Naira, any athlete who wants to convert his or her money to any foreign currency can tell their people back home to do so. I am sure this will solve the problem. If anybody wants to know how much he is entitled to, he must first of all find out the category that he or she belongs to.”

Alli disclosed that coaches, who train the athletes would soon get their grant. “They train the athletes, and the NSC feel is it not proper to leave them out in payment of grants. We have compiled their names, and very soon, the coaches would get their money,” Alli stated.

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NPFL orders tribute for late Nwosu

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2 days ago

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March 16, 2026

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The chairman of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Gbenga Elegbeleye, has directed that a minute’s silence be observed before kick-off at all Matchday 30 fixtures this weekend in honour of former Green Eagles captain Henry Nwosu, following the death of the former midfielder at the age of 62.

In a statement made available to Tidesports source on Saturday, the league body confirmed that the tribute would be held across all matches to recognise the contribution of the former international to Nigerian football.

Elegbeleye described Nwosu’s passing as both a personal loss and a painful moment for the country’s club football community.

Nwosu, who was the youngest member of Nigeria’s squad that won the 1980 African Cup of Nations, died in the early hours of Saturday at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital in Ikeja after a brief illness.

The former midfielder had reportedly spent several days in hospital receiving intensive care before his death.

Elegbeleye said the late footballer was more than a colleague within the sport, describing him as someone with whom he had maintained a long-standing personal relationship dating back to his time at the National Sports Commission.

He said the former national team star had remained supportive of him in various moments of his career, including when he was nominated for the Pitch Football Awards.

Reflecting on Nwosu’s legacy, the NPFL chairman said the news represented the loss of a major figure in Nigerian football, noting that the former midfielder distinguished himself not only at club level but also later contributed to the development of the domestic game as a coach.

Elegbeleye said the death of the former international was “the death of a true ambassador of the domestic and national team football because he not only made his mark as a player in league clubs, but he also coached some of the league clubs.”

He added that death remained a submission to the will of God and prayed for the repose of Nwosu’s soul while urging strength for his family as they mourn the loss of their loved one.

Earlier confirmation of the former midfielder’s death came from former Nigeria international Segun Odegbami, who revealed that Nwosu died after spending five days in hospital. Odegbami said the former player passed away at about four o’clock in the morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment in intensive care.

“It is with deep pain in my heart that I have to be the conveyor of the news of the death of Henry Nwosu MON,” Odegbami said.

“After five days in hospital battling for his life, the one I call ‘Youngest Millionaire’ passed on at four o’clock this morning at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos, where he had been in intensive care since Wednesday. May he rest peacefully with our Creator in heaven”.

At the club level, the former international spent most of his career in Nigeria, starring for New Nigeria Bank FC of Benin City and African Continental Bank FC of Lagos during a period when both sides were among the dominant forces in domestic football. His performances later earned him moves abroad, where he also played for ASEC Mimosas of Ivory Coast and Racing FC Bafoussam of Cameroon.

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FIBA WCQ: D’Tigress plot Philippines’ fall

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2 days ago

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March 16, 2026

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Nigeria’s Women Basketball team, D’Tigress, is targeting victory against Philippines this Saturday in their third game at the ongoing FIBA Women’s World Cup qualification tournament holding in Lyon, France.

The Coach Rena Wakama-led D’Tigress, on Thursday, lost their second game 60-77 to South Korea, making it the first time the Nigeria senior women basketball team is losing to their Asian opponent.

After this Saturday’s game against Philippines, D’Tigress will face two European giants, France and Germany.

Both Nigeria and Germany had already qualified for the FIBA Women’s World Cup slated for September in Berlin, Germany. They are only taking part in the qualification competition in Lyon as preparatory test ahead of the World Cup.

In Thursday’s game against South Korea, the Nigerians had a closed game in the first and second quarter losing narrowly by 36-32 points but couldn’t build their usual momentum in the third and final quarter as the game slipped away from them.

Coach Rena Wakama said they learnt quickly from the loss to South Korea, and charged her girls to quickly put the defeat behind them and focus on an improved performance in their game against the Philippines.

“South Korea is a great team. We struggled today (Thursday) shooting the balls and we turned over the ball 22 times, which is not typical of our game.

“Mentality we are fine, and we are not going to over react to the loss. There are lessons in losses so we are going to take the lessons from this game and try to get better and be ready for our next game.

“The Koreans were very physical, denying our passing lanes and double up on our players. They did a great job and credit to them,” Wakama stated.

Victoria Macaulay was Nigeria’s best performer after her MVP display in the first game against Colombia, scoring 22 points and 6 rebounds.

South Korea is hoping to pick one of the two World Cup tickets in the round robin qualification tournament to join Nigeria and Germany for the FIBA Women’s World Cup in September in Berlin, Germany.

The FIBA Women’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament is currently taking part in four counties – France, Turkey, Puerto Rico and China as countries fight to make the World Cup.

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