Sports
NPFL: MFM FC Threatens To Take NFF To FIFA
Following Nigeria Football Federation’s disciplinary decision on the match day 20 encounter between FC Ifeanyi Ubah and MFM FC which the former failed to honour despite being the home team, the Lagos-based side has responded to NFF, promising to take matters to FIFA if decisions are not overturned, BSNSports.com.ng report.
The Disciplinary Committee of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) upheld the appeal of FC Ifeanyi Uba but ordered it to pay MFM FC the sum of N2 million over its failure to honour match day 20 fixture scheduled to be played on the 9th May, 2021 at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium Enugu, with claims that there were typographical errors in the fixture venue where Nnewi was stated as the venue of the match, but match officials and the away team were at the Enugu stadium, the supposedly venue FC Ifeanyi Ubah were banished to following the aftermath of their matchday 15 fixture.
In response to the decision, a statement released by MFM FC’s Media Officer, Olawale Quadri reads: “The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Disciplinary Committee on Friday, 18th June 2021, ordered the replay of the fixture involving FC Ifeanyi Ubah and MFM FC after the hearing of the Appeal lodged by the former against the decision of the League Management Company (LMC), which awarded the three points and three goals to the Olukoya Boys against the Nnewi-based.”
“The LMC decision was in accordance with the universal rules of the game, following the willful failure and refusal of FC Ifeanyi Ubah to honour the match, which was scheduled to take place at the Nnamdi Azikwe Stadium, after their banishment to Enugu State, as a result of security breaches and incidences of assault on Match Officials, at their traditional home ground (Nnewi).”
The top division games climaxed at the Tafawa Balewa Square Oval, while the division one games were rounded off at the UNILAG Oval.
Rising Stars Cricket Club capped a phenomenal season by claiming the premier division title, finishing at the top of the Super Six standings with nine points after four wins and one no result from five matches.
They edged out last year’s champions, Island Titans Cricket Club, who had been undefeated in the league stage, recording a perfect eight wins from eight matches.
Ibeju Lekki Cricket Club 1 also put up a spirited campaign, securing third position in the Super Six phase.
beju Lekki Cricket Club 1 also put up a spirited campaign, securing third position in the Super Six phase.
In a fierce battle for survival, Government College Ughelli Old Boys and Ibadan Metropolitan Cricket Club finished at the bottom of the premier division and were relegated to division one for the 2025/2026 season.
After an intense campaign in division one, Rocks Cricket Club of Abeokuta emerged as league champions and also secured their promotion with a dramatic one-wicket victory over Lagos Rangers Cricket Club on the final day to leapfrog their rivals on net run rate.
Hot on their heels were Super Eagles Cricket Club, who also posted four wins in the Super Six, finishing with an identical eight points as Rocks. Their aggregate performance in the full league season, including seven wins from 12 matches, confirmed their promotion to the premier division.
With a total of 22 teams across the two divisions, the CCC league was hailed by stakeholders as the heartbeat of cricket in Southwest Nigeria.
The Federal Government has been urged to partner with private organisations to bridge the funding gap in grassroots sports development, particularly football, across the country.
Speaking at the finals of the Honourable Rasheed Super Cup held last Thursday, June 12, the organiser, Rasheed Alao emphasised the untapped football talent across Nigeria, saying inadequate financing remains a major setback to nurturing local talents.
He stressed that while government involvement is essential, the private sector must also play a key role.
“I realised that we have a lot of talent in this country, but there’s still a huge gap. This field wasn’t like this before. I commend the authorities for their efforts so far, but more still needs to be done, especially in terms of financing.”
“It’s not necessary for the government to handle all the financing directly. Around the world, where football thrives, you will find the hands of technocrats and private organisations involved. If we continue to sideline them, government alone cannot shoulder the burden.”
According to him, partnerships between the public and private sectors will not only advance sports development but also shift public mentality away from overreliance on government.
In a broader message, Alao noted that the event was also held in commemoration of June 12, a day he described as significant in Nigeria’s democratic journey.
He said young people, especially in Lagos, were awakened to the responsibilities of preserving national history and identity.
“We all know today is an important day in Nigeria’s history,” he stated. “As youths of the Lagos chapter, we are awake because we are part of both the old and the new Nigeria. We see the gap and miscommunication between the elite, middle, and lower classes, and we are working to bridge that gap by raising awareness.”
He however called on Nigerian youths to take ownership of the country’s future by engaging with its past.
The Super Cup final match was played at the Ladoja Primary School Stadium between Harmony FC and Adwaaik Sports Academy.
The encounter ended 2-2 in regulation time, forcing a penalty shootout in which Adwaaik Sports Academy triumphed 4-1 to lift the trophy.
The newly appointed Director-General of the National Institute for Sports, Comrade Philip Shaibu, has announced plans for a comprehensive overhaul of the institute as part of efforts to reposition Nigeria’s sports development system.
Shaibu, who assumed office last Monday, said the mandate given to him by President Bola Tinubu was to carry out major reforms in line with the administration’s ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda.
“What is critical is that we need a total overhaul of the institute. The mandate given to me is to come here and carry out a major reform with the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda of Mr President. I think this structure needs renewed hope,” the former Edo State deputy governor stated during an inspection of the NIS facilities.
The new DG expressed shock at the level of decay in some parts of the institute, which was established in 1974 to improve Nigeria’s performance in international sporting competitions.
“The NIS is the engine room of Nigeria sports. If the NIS is sleeping, Nigeria sports is sleeping.
That is why our sports have not been moving forward,” Shaibu said.
He promised to end the culture of celebrating mediocre performances at international competitions, particularly the Olympics.
“Nigeria cannot be a giant of Africa in terms of size and economy and each time we go to international competitions, we’re not on the medals table. Each time we go to the Olympics, the silver medal becomes like gold for us, and so, it’s obvious that we need a lot of work to be done,” he said.
Shaibu, who officially took over from Professor Olawale Moronkola, represented by Omonode Christyne, Head of Department of Coaching and Training, expressed confidence that a reformed NIS would restore Nigeria’s winning ways in international competitions.
“The quality of your coaches and managers will determine what you can do at the Olympics. The mandate given to me is total reform of the NIS, and I am grateful to President Bola Tinubu for his great vision for Nigeria sports,” he stated.
Shaibu emphasised the economic potential of sports, describing it as a goldmine that could create massive employment opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“We have to rebrand the NIS to attract stakeholders. Sports is a goldmine. It is more than the oil we have in Nigeria. During my tenure as Deputy Governor in Edo State, I came to realise that football, handball and a few sports can take more than 50 million of our youths from the labour market. We need to do something fast,” Shaibu said.