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Losers And Winners Of NFF Elections

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11 years ago

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The much-awaited NFF
elections have come and gone. And its wake left some winners and losers. Below are some of the biggest losers as well as those  throwing a party after the hotly-disputed polls.
LOSERS: SPORTS MINISTER DANAGOGO
By far the biggest loser in the whole drama series leading to Tuesday’s FA polls is Nigerian Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo, whose very poor handling of the whole leadership tussle has questioned his competence. He did not wish for his townsman Chris Green to return to the board, and even fired a last-ditch phone call to a top official inside the congress hall in Warri to make sure he has his way, but the NFF congress decided otherwise.  And in the coming days we expect to be bombarded by ‘exposes’ from those the minister openly backed about what the whole agreement was all about.
CHRIS GIWA  AND COMPANY
The Warri elections, whose results have since been endorsed by FIFA, have buried once and for all whatever the claims of self-acclaimed NFF president Chris Giwa. He has been rejected twice by the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) and has now resorted to the courts to reclaim “my mandate”. His lieutenants are now jumping ship and begging to rejoin the mainstream.
KESHI
The interim Super Eagles coach must now be increasingly nervous after some of his backroom staff openly complained the new executive committee is dominated by “Maigari’s men” who would rather love to see his back. Before any talk on a new contract, there is now the little matter of the must-win double-header against Sudan later this month for Nigeria to stand any realistic chance of reaching Morocco 2015.
UMEH  AND COMPANY
“Acting NFF president” Mike Umeh, who for decades has been FA boss of Anambra State, was roundly disgraced at the polls as he did not get a vote in his bid to be president. Did that mean even the Anambra representative did not vote for him? His co-travellers who were first used and later dumped by Danagogo like Shehu Adamu and Muazu Suleyman suffered a similar fate at the polls.
WINNERS: NIGERIAN FOOTBALL
Millions of fans will now heave a sigh of relief that despite some close shaves, FIFA did not ban Nigeria leading to these elections. The world football governing body had warned that should there be any hindrance or mishap leading up to the elections, Nigeria will be automatically banned till the next FIFA congress in May 2015. Thankfully, it did not come to that at the end.
SHEHU DIKKO
A spurious “security report” against “Dr Shehu Dikko”, which was dispatched to Warri on the morning of the elections by a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) ferried by a private jet from Abuja, disqualified the front-runner for the presidential elections. But the manner and timing of this disqualification has only swelled the businessman’s popularity and acceptance across ethnic, regional and religious divides. Grown men broke down and wept when it was announced he has been disqualified. He may not be the NFF president, but he now commands a lot more influence and respect because of how he fought and, more importantly, how he has conducted himself even after this disappointment.
AMAJU PINNICK
The Delta FA chairman and a passionate Arsenal fan was a late entrant to the presidential race. His dream to run Nigerian football has come true and now he must deliver on his many promises which include attracting more sponsorship cash for the game in this country. He has done it in Delta State and now he has to do it for the entire country.
CHRIS GREEN
The Rivers State FA chairman has yet again proved to be a dogged fighter. You either love him or loathe him. Many very powerful men dreaded his return to the board, but even in the face of two dehumanising experiences at the hands of the country’s secret police, he battled on to shame them and his critics. It is a mixed bag of congratulations and curses for Mr. Green.
CONGRESS
The 44-man NFF congress soldiered on even putting their lives literally on the line in some instances. They have once again proved to be the supreme decision-making body of Nigerian football and must now walk tall for not allowing intimidation, lies and blackmail to cow them right up to the elections.
But it is not yet Eldorado for anybody. First of all fences must be mended, bridges built if the new board is to get all the support it needs to do well.
Audu writes for Africanfootball.Com.

 

Samm Audu

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

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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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1 day 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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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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