Sports
NFF Probes Alleged NPL Fraud
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is investigating the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) for suspected fraud.
The leadership of the NPL has come under severe scrutiny amid accusations by external auditors that it mishandled millions of dollars in broadcast fees.
And the NFF has been ordered by the country’s sports minister, Bolaji Abdulahi, to carry out an inquiry.
In a statement, Minister Abdulahi said: “The content of the external auditor’s report, without prejudice to the veracity of the allegations made, is inimical to the development of football and sports in general.
“While we will exercise utmost restraint in interfering in these matters, we will not hesitate to discharge our full responsibilities as the foremost custodian of sports in Nigeria.
“The kind of issues at stake appears to neither serve the interest of Nigerian football nor that of FIFA.”
The minister also revealed that he has referred the case to the NFF, which is the primary agency responsible for football, in order to avert an infringement on FIFA rules barring governmental intervention in football.
Premier League clubs have often threatened to boycott the league if the supervisory body (NPL) does not distribute outstanding revenue due to them.
Some are of the opinion that the body’s failure to pay their share of sponsorship and TV rights stretched the lean finances of the clubs.
As the investigation escalated early in the week, the NFF president Aminu Maigari said the scandal is all the more embarrassing for football because it has always presented itself as being above the corruption that blights so much of Nigerian society.
Sports
Super Eagles Beat Guinea Bissau Tops Group A
The Super Eagles on Monday in Bissau beat hosts Guinea Bissau 1-0 to reclaim leadership of Group A in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Moses Simon’s penalty kick after 29 minutes gave the Nigerian senior men’s football team the needed win to move to nine points after four matches.
They have now upstaged from the apex position Guinea Bissau who toppled them on Friday in Abuja with a 1-0 win.
Guinea Bissau are with seven points from four matches and in second place, ahead of Sierra Leone who have five points from four matches.
The Tidesports source reports that Nigeria will next face the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in a Match Day 5 fixture.
Sports
2022 NPFL: Nasarawa United Unveils New Players
Nasarawa United Football Club, Lafia, has unveiled eight new players for the remainder of the 2022/23 league calendar
The newly acquired players comprise one goalkeeper, four defenders and three attackers.
A release signed by the Media Officer of the Club, Eche Amos and made available to Tidesports yesterday, said Goalkeeper, Mohammed Galadima and central defender, Victor Collins both returned to the club after spells at Wikki Tourists FC of Bauchi and Amanat Baghdad FC of Iraq, respectively.
Right full-backs, Samson Vandi Drambi and Nelson Abiam joined from 2nd division side, EFCC FC of Abuja, while Nelson Abiam joined from premier league side Wikki Tourists FC, Bauchi. Full-back, Aminu Yusuf joined from neighbouring Lobi Stars FC, Makurdi.
The trio of centre forwards, Kazeem Abdulrafiu, Isaac James Ogiri and Kolawole Daniel inked the contract papers from Ruqayya Football Academy of Kaduna, ABS FC of Ilorin, and Gombe United FC, Gombe, in that order.
The unveiling ceremony took place last Wednesday in Lafia.
Each of the players is expected to bring his wealth of experience to bear as the Solid Miners prepare to overturn their current position on the league standings.
In another development, Nasarawa United yesterday defeated border neighbours, Lobi Stars FC of Makurdi, in an explosive friendly game decided at the Sports Complex of Federal University, Lafia, to fine-tune both teams ahead of the resumption of the second phase of the 2022/23 Nigeria Premier Football League.
Sports
Corruption, Bane of Nigeria Football Dev – Peterside
If not for the high level of corruption in Nigeria football administration, the country would have produced lots of football stars, former Super Eagles goalkeeper Idah Peterside said.
According to him, the country has a bunch of good and talented players like Victor Osimhem, but because of corrupt administration, many young players were deprived to get national call up.
Idah made the assertion last Wednesday in an interview with sports journalists shortly after Rivers United FC defeated Rangers FC 1-0 in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt.
He revealed that he will come back to Nigeria with the view to promote and develop football, following the experiences gained outside the country.
“If I was elected as the President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) a lot of things would have changed in the football administration.
“ I have come back to Nigeria, Port Harcourt, my base with all the experiences I had gained around the world to see how one can be involved in the development of the game.
“ Football is my game, I have sacrificed a lot for the development of the game” Idah said.
He congratulates Osimhen for his impressive performances in the Italian League, adding that what he expected Osimhen to do was to win World best or Africa footballer of the year.
By: Kiadum Edookor
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