Sports
Pinnick, Maigari, Others Jostle For NFF
Incumbent President, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Melvin Pinnick, former President Aminu Maigari, Ex-Super Eagles defender Taiwo Ogunjobi and football administrator, Chinedu Okoye have all been cleared and deemed eligible by the electoral committee to contest for the presidency of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) elections tomorrow.
Amaju Pinnick has decided to go for the top job once again as he hopes to build on his achievements in the last four years and stabilize the state of football in the country.
Pinnick is on the verge of making history as no president of the federation has served two terms consecutively on recent years
Pinnick who is also to first Vice President of the confederations of African Football (CAF), Members of the African Cup of Nations Committee, and a member of the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions in world football seems to enjoy CAF and FIFA backing.
Vying for the top job is also Aminu Maigari, who served as the 38th President of the NFF from 2010-2014. Maigari’s administration handed over the mantle of leadership to Pinnick in 2014, after serving for four years. Maigari is also a former chairman of the Bauchi State Football Federation.
Pushing to attain that same position is former Nigerian International, Taiwo Ogunjobi. He served as Secretary General of the NFF from 200202008, and was a member of the NFF Executive Committee in 2006-2010.
He is presently the chairman of the Osun State Football Association.
There is also Chinedu Okoye, Proprietor of Bimo Sporting Club, a Nigerian National League Club on Nasarawa State. He is also currently the vice president of Bimo Sports Management Company in Switzerland. Okoye, a referee in the Swiss National League for 10 years appears to be the outsider in the contest.
With the furore raised by the recent attempt by Chris Giwa and his co-travellers to seize the mantel at the NFF and Minister of Youth and Sports, Barrister Solomon Dalung’s body language towards the exercise, it is hoped that the 44 member congress of the NFF would be able to produce a new leadership that would end all the squabbles in the interest of the game in Nigeria in the incoming dispensation.
The Ardova Handball Premier League 2025, which began with the first phase in Benin City months ago, before the second phase in Lagos which ends with a finale that the Executive Chairman of Ardova PLC, Dr. Abdulwasiu Sowami, ably represented by the Deputy Managing Director, Ardova PLC, Mrs Abiola Babatunde-Ojo, described as delightful to watch in her speech.
For Safety Shooters, it was a historic moment as they clinched the men’s title for the first time since 2020, completing a dominant campaign that saw them finish top of the table with 57 points from 20 matches while Safety Babes also etched their name deeper into Nigerian handball history, winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive women’s championship, reaffirming their status as the league’s most dominant team, not just in the women’s category but in the history of handball premier league in Nigeria.
In the Men’s Safety Shooters finished the season in style, beating COAS Shooters 43–32 (20–10) to cap off a dominant outing in Phase 2.
Their final-day victory ensured they remained clear at the summit with an impressive 18 wins, one draw, and one loss, totaling a superb goal difference of +214 after scoring 638 goals and conceding 424.
The organisers of the Ikoyi Club Tennis Masters Tournament have earmarked N4 million as the prize money for this year’s edition.
?The Chairman of the tennis section of Ikoyi Club, Diran Famakinwa, stated this at a briefing, highlighting the activities for the second edition of the tournament.
?The tournament, which is in collaboration with MegaMound Investment Limited, is endorsed by the Nigerian Tennis Federation.
?According to Famakinwa, the male and female champions will receive N500,000 each, while the runners-up in both categories will go home with the sum of N350,000 each, with the remaining money to be shared among the semi-finalists and other participants.
?Sixteen players, which includes the eight top ?male and eight top female players, will feature in the one-week event, which started on December 5, and run till Saturday, December 13.
?The female final will be held on Friday, December 12, while the male final will take up on Saturday, December 13.
In a statement released on Saturday, the NSC described the defender as “Captain Fantastic” and praised his decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, highlighting a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty.
“After a decade of distinguished service to Nigeria, Troost-Ekong leaves behind a legacy defined by professionalism, consistency, patriotism and an unwavering commitment to national duty,” the NSC stated.
The commission noted that, as one of the most capped defenders in Super Eagles history with 83 international appearances since his debut in 2015, Troost-Ekong served as a pillar of leadership across multiple tournaments and qualification campaigns.
“His exceptional outing at the last Africa Cup of Nations, where he scored three goals and was named Player of the Tournament, remains one of the most remarkable achievements by a defender in AFCON history,” the NSC added.
The statement further emphasised that Troost-Ekong’s “Nigeria first” mindset, discipline and exemplary conduct set a standard for the next generation of athletes, with his influence within the national team extending beyond the pitch to inspire unity, resilience and professionalism among his teammates.
Meanwhile, Troost-Ekong has dismissed rumours that he was forced to retire by the country’s football administrators as punishment for leading a revolt against the NFF.
The 32-year-old’s announcement came less than a month before the AFCON, and he was named in the 54-man preliminary list. His decision sparked speculation, particularly as he had led a strike in protest against unpaid bonuses during the World Cup qualifying play-offs.
One fan speculated on social media, suggesting that Troost-Ekong was pressured to quit after exposing the NFF. The Al Khoolood defender offered a sharp retort, establishing that he unilaterally made the decision to retire.
“Not true! My own choice/decision and on my own terms. No one ever asked/tried to force me out. If anything, the opposite when I shared my decision. I wish the team all the best and support them together with all Nigerians for the upcoming AFCON to go all the way,” he wrote on X.
The NSC concluded by wishing Troost-Ekong the very best in the next chapter of his career and commending him for representing Nigeria with honour.
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