Sports
Disu Wants Pinnick, Others To Be Disqualified For NFF Elections
Former Nigeria defender, Tajudeen Disu, says all members of the current board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), lack the moral standing to contest any position in the election scheduled for September.
Disu, who is also the chairman of the Players Welfare Committee of the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria, said this during an interview with Tidesports source in reaction to reports of NFF President, Amaju Pinnick and some notable members of the current board expressing their interest to run as president.
His reaction is hinged, especially on the desire of League Management Company (LMC) chairman, Shehu Dikko, who is confident of succeeding Pinnick as president of the body and is gearing up his campaign.
Buttressing the opinion severally harped on by the players’ body, Disu said the current NFF board has done a lot of damage to Nigerian football in all ramifications and will be sent packing in September at the polls.
“I just got a report stating Shehu Dikko has stepped up his NFF Presidential campaign and sounds confident of succeeding Amaju Pinnick. How can someone who has completely destroyed our league be considering becoming President of the NFF?
“I appeal to the federal government to disqualify Dikko and the other six executive members of the NFF alongside Amaju Pinnick because they are birds of the same feather,” Disu stated.
He continues: “Allowing any of them to contest is as good as enhancing Pinnick’s third term in office because they are working together.
“Members of the current board don’t know what is coming. They will all be swept away at the polls in September. People who know the game inside out will come on board so that Nigerian football can breathe again.
“The players’ bloc is ready to wrest leadership of Nigerian football from them, and we are serious about this. The era of manipulating elections is over, and the upcoming election in September will be the turning point.
“I am glad five reputable ex-footballers are in the race, and the ex-players will work as a unit to ensure that Nigerian football leaves the woods.”
There are unconfirmed reports that Pinnick will attempt to secure a third term, despite earlier making it clear he would not be running. He is likely run against the First Vice President, Seyi Akinwunmi, and Zamfara FA Chairman, Ibrahim Gusau at the polls.
Jonathan Akpoborie, Benedict Akwuegbu, Peterside Idah, Paul Yusuf, and Kenneth Boardman are the ex-internationals contesting the position of president.
No ex-international has occupied the position since its inception, and the players’ bloc is fervently seeking a change in the direction of the pendulum.
The Tidesports source recall that the Super Eagles failed to qualify for Qatar 2022 World Cup, losing the ticket to Ghana in Abuja, while the Super Falcons surrendered their African title in an embarrassing matter at the just concluded African Women’s Nations Cup in Morocco. All Nigerian Clubs have become a laughing stock in CAF competitions. There were reports yesterday that CAF has dismissed Pinnick’s alleged bid to co-host the 2025 African Nations Cup with Benin Republic.
Pinnick was said to have announced on Tuesday that he had informed CAF Executives via a room meeting of Nigeria’s interest to co-host alongside Benin, with several media reports suggesting that the event could be moved from troubled Guinea.
Sports
Kenya Keeper Under Investigation For Match-Fixing
The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match manipulation.
The 37-year-old, who plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz, has won over 30 international caps.
His most recent appearance for the Harambee Stars came in October last year, in a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
An undated video posted online appears to show Matasi agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a league game.
“I have spoken to him. He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn’t know about match-fixing,” Homeboyz owner Cleophas Shimanyula told Tidesports source .
The FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other “relevant authorities” during its investigation.
“We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions,” a statement added.
“This investigation will adhere to FKF’s anti-match manipulation regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process.
“The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”
Shimanyula backed Matasi, pointing to the fact the veteran has kept three clean sheets in as many games since joining the club a month ago.
“When we watched this video, we found that Matasi has not wronged the club,” he said.
“In a video there can misinterpretations and false narratives and we cannot trust everything.
“He will keep playing for us because there’s no wrongdoing on his part as far as we are concerned – unless there’s evidence or the FKF writes to us to say they are suspecting the player of some wrongdoing.
“He is innocent until proven guilty and then we will act.”
The FKF has called on anyone with credible information to assist its investigation, with any reports to be handled with strict confidentiality.
Shimanyula also challenged the Kenyan footballing community to provide evidence against Matasi.
“Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation,” he said.
Sports
UEFA Probes Real Players Over Indecent Conduct
Uefa has opened an investigation into allegations of indecent conduct by four Real Madrid players during their Champions League last-16 win against Atletico Madrid.
Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos allegedly made gestures towards the home fans after Real Madrid beat their city rivals on penalties to book their place in the quarter-finals.
TV pictures showed German defender Rudiger appearing to make a throat-slitting motion, apparently towards the crowd after the shootout victory, while Mbappe was shown seemingly making a crotch-grabbing gesture.
Spanish media said Atletico reported the actions to Uefa last week.
The players could be at risk of suspension but there is no guarantee the case will be heard before their quarter-final with Arsenal. The first leg for that tie is at Emirates Stadium on 8 April and the return leg a week later.
In a statement, Uefa said: “[An] ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct” made by the four Real Madrid players.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
Sports
EPL To Have Two Transfer Windows
The Premier League has announced it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.
The window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.
This summer features the first expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which involves 32 teams and adopts the format of the regular World Cup of the past few years.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League teams in the tournament which takes place in the United States from Sunday, 15 June.
But the Premier League can only have 12 weeks of a summer window – hence the five-day break in order to run it until 1 September.
Fifa has allowed new players to be registered for the Club World Cup from 1-10 June, and again from 27 June-3 July for the knockout stage.
This is happening firstly, to bring order to the global registration system, world governing body Fifa only permits the transfer window in any individual country to be open for 16 weeks in any calendar year.
In Europe, precedent dictates four of those weeks are for the winter window, leaving 12 in the summer. In 2024, the Premier League transfer window opened on 14 June and closed on 30 August.
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