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After NFF Election’s Intrigues, A New Era?

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I salute the newly elected President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, for surviving the hurdles that stood in his path at the elections that almost did not hold following the abracadabra of court orders, an old tactic that once again succeeded in providing the Joker in a beleaguered electoral process, in the dying minutes to September 30.
Manipulating the electoral process through court orders is not new in NFA elections. It was deployed several times in the past to drive agenda in support of any candidate favoured by the government. This time around, the same ‘weapon’ was effectively used against the Sports Ministry, rendering it helpless in determining who became President of the Federation.
It was not possible that the Ministry of Sports would not have a preferred candidate. But, without doubt, Ibrahim Musa Gusau was not the choice this time around.
The Ministry’s support had worked well in the past, particularly since State FA Chairmen became the dominant force in the Elective Congress of the Federation. Whosoever secured the votes of the majority of the State FA Chairmen, determined who became President.
When Amos Adamu was the most powerful man in Nigerian sports, he would get the Minister of sports to call up State Governors to instruct their State FA Chairmen to support the Government’s pick of Chairman.
He might also influence where the elections held, using the opportunity to get the host State governor to fete members and influence their votes.
Eventually, the elections became a ‘money-game’. Whoever had the fattest purse would pay their way through ‘poor’ State FA Chairmen to success. Gradually, the power to elect the President receded from the Sports Ministry.
That’s what came to the open following last week’s elections in Benin City. Ibrahim Gusau, not the preferred candidate of government, won the Presidential election.
He was the choice candidate of some mostly Northern State FA Chairmen who were determined to return the levers of power of Nigerian football to the North. That was the primary motivation. Money, of course, was recklessly spread amongst the delegates. They collected it, but did not deliver the votes, leading to ugly scenes at the end where refunds of the ‘bribes’ were demanded by some losers.
In Benin, all permutations failed except the one that a few friends had told me weeks before the elections had been hatched, sealed and delivered to Ibrahim Gusau by his supporters.
In several circles, the talk of Ibrahim Gusau becoming the next President had been long in muted discourse. Former Secretary General of the NFA, Mallam Sani Toro, had told me. So did Benedict Akwuegbu, the former Super Eagles player from Jos. Ben actually withdrew from the Presidential race in order to support his friend, Ibrahim Gusau.
A few other influential friends had also confided in me that only an amendment to the Elective Congress could produce anybody else but Gusau. The votes had been computed long before the elections.
It happened just as they had predicted. On the eve of the elections, I told Onome Obruthe, my colleague in The Sports Parliament, the popular Nigerian television show, and he would not believe me. Until it actually happened.
The Northern group were, as usual very smart in their strategy and politics. In discussing with most of the presidential candidates (excluding the eventual winner) I kept wondering where they got the confidence that they exhibited from; how they believed that without changing the fundamental rules of the ‘game’ they could win.
Each of them demonstrated belief in the quality of their manifesto, their antecedents in the game, their qualifications, their public presentations, and assured financial support from their State governors and some stakeholders.
Little worked this time, except the solid and untouchable pact of Ibrahim Gusau with his group of loyal FA Chairmen that insisted it was the turn of the North to rule, by an embedded member that is untainted by the shenanigans of the out-going regime. In a pact was non-negotiable, with or without financial resources to bribe delegates, the person will be delivered as the next President to promote their interest.
The other northerners in the list of candidates were all outside the loop of that understanding and stood no chance. Gusau was an insider. He is a smart politician. He is a team player to the core, an old war horse in the NFF politics. I knew this from almost two decades ago when I sought to become Chairman of the NFF. I recall my close encounter with him.
He was Chairman of Zamfara State FA and well-established within the NFA hierarchy. I knew the influence he wielded, even then. I knew the ways of the north. I grew up there. My step-mother was a Kanuri-Fulani woman from Gombe. I spoke the language even better than mine.
As part of my strategic consultation, I drove all the way from Lagos to Gusau in Zamfara State to meet with Ibrahim Gusau. When he saw me at his doorsteps, he almost collapsed in a pleasant shocked.
His words during that encounter demonstrated to me the sort of person that he is. He liked and respected my person and my place in Nigerian football.
He also more than appreciated my coming all the way to consult with him personally. He knew my capacity to deliver on my vision and plans for Nigerian football. But there was only one issue, he had given his word to another candidate, a respected Northerner that he believed would also deliver.
His word was his bond, he told me. He could easily lie to me and assure me he would work for me and then do otherwise. But he would not because to do so would be to pay a heavy spiritual price, later.
My respect for him, from that day, grew.
I thanked him and left, knowing that the man belonged in the group of decent and honourable persons. I also sensed he was one to watch out for in the future.
From that evening in Gusau we became ‘remote’ friends, respecting each other and sharing the occasional banter. During one of the sittings of the 10-Year Football Masterplan, Ibrahim Gusau presented the official paper from the NFF. That session revealed what were going on inside the NFF that were not in tandem with what the committee was developing as recommendations.
I sensed he would bid to be the next NFF Presidential candidate. I do not know what all the other candidates depended on to change the dynamics of an election that was designed to stop anyone attempting to break into the exclusive club of State FA Chairmen.
Till the very end, my contacts kept insisting that Gusau would coast ‘home’ to victory for as long as the elections held last week in Benin. He was the one that stood most resolutely against the idea of an Amaju-Third term agenda, and told him so to his face.
That’s why, even if he did not ‘blow’ Dollars like some others did, did not have the academic and professional credentials that some dangled, did not display the sophistication and flamboyance of some, did not enjoy the advantage of having the elections in his own State, and did not even have the support of the Sports Ministry, to have beaten the odds and won the elections meant he earned it!
What shape will an NFF under Ibrahim Gusau take?
Already the sound bites from him speak loudly.
I can already see deft moves to smoothen the rough road ahead. As a man of some compromise, he would give up a lot to survive, particularly to make his reign more peaceful and, hopefully, more successful.
He said he will work closer with the Sports Ministry; he will embrace some dialogue with the Players Union; he will pursue the Presidential ‘advise’ of expanding the elective Congress but not at the expense of surrendering the power of State FA’s; he will work with the newly introduced Interim Management Committee, IMC, and give the domestic leagues a new fillip.
Generally, I foresee that his reign will be more peaceful, inclusive, and very different from the experiences of the last eight years.
If he steers clear of all the ‘wahala’ of previous regimes and charts a new path, he might bring about a new era for Nigerian football.
I wish Ibrahim Gusau the best of luck during his reign after he must have first survived the remnant of a few dark and scattered clouds that still hang quietly and dangerously around the 30th of September elections.
Odegbami, an Ex-International lives in Lagos

By: Segun Odegbami

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Former Champion Seeks Title Defence At Para Table Tennis Tourney

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Former African champion Faith Ugwueke has expressed her ambitions for the seventh edition of the Valuejet Lagos Para Table Tennis Open which is holding at the Molade Okoya Thomas Sports Hall of the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere.

The 2006 Commonwealth Games silver medallist spoke to Tidesports source her desire to defend her para singles title in the women’s category and to also secure a qualification berth for both the regional West Africa para table tennis event in Abeokuta in September and the continental championship billed to hold in Cairo, Egypt in November.

The multiple Paralympian said, “My expectation is to come out great at this wonderful tournament and to qualify for the forthcoming tournament that is coming up in Nigeria and Egypt in September and November. Last tournament, I won the singles. I won three golds at the last ValueJet tournament. And I want to believe and hope that I will maintain my position by coming in first position.”

Ugwueke had featured in the para event at the 56th Molade Okoya-Thomas National Table Tennis Championships, held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in January, where she suffered a stunning defeat to eventual finalist and tournament runner-up Taiye Oyinloye, who in turn was beaten 3-1 (11-3, 7-11, 11-6, 11-9) by Commonwealth Games medallist, Kate Oputa, to become the women’s class 1-5 champion.

The ValueJet Lagos Para table tennis Open, which is in its seventh edition, is an event sanctioned by the governing body ITTF Africa and put together by the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation in partnership with Lagos State Sports Commission.

The event will come to a close on July 11, with the competition serving as qualifiers for the country’s players for the regional tournament in Abeokuta.

A total of 98 athletes—57 men and 41 women—from Nigeria, Benin Republic, and Togo are competing in the singles events.

Notable performances have come from Alabi, Agunbiade, Ogunkunle, and Commonwealth Games medallists Kate Oputa and Faith Obazuaye, who have showcased their class against emerging talents across various classifications.

Their presence has intensified the battle for podium finishes, with top seeds asserting dominance in their respective singles events.

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Nigerian Athletes Serving Doping Bans

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The Athletics Integrity Unit continues to take a hard stance against doping violations across the globe, and Nigeria has not been spared. Below are ten Nigerian athletics serving doping ban Imaobong Nse Uko (July 2026)

The AIU announced in the June 2025 sanctions list on July 1 that 21-year-old quarter-miler Uko was found guilty of an anti-doping rule violation committed on June 5 2024. Her infraction falls under whereabouts failures, having missed three tests within a 12-month period.

The AIU confirmed that her period of ineligibility will run until 23 July 2026 and all results recorded from the date of the infraction have been officially disqualified.

Uko rose to fame after clinching three gold medals at the 2021 World U-20 Championships in Nairobi, winning the women’s 400 metres, 4x400m relay, and the mixed 4x400m relay.

Stephen Eloji (June 2028)

Sprinter and hurdler Stephen Eloji tested positive for dehydrochloromethyl-testosterone in an out-of-competition test in Nigeria on May 2, 2024 and has been handed a four-year ban by the AIU.

The 25-year-old was active in the American collegiate circuit, recording strong performances in the 110m hurdles and relay events as recently as April 2024, including at the Pepsi Florida Relays and Music City Challenge.

Ada Princess Bright (September 2027)

Ada Princess Bright is serving a four-year ineligibility period after testing positive for Metenolone during the National Athletics Trials held on July 6 2023 in Benin City.

She had an active season prior to her suspension, competing in national meets in Lagos, Uyo, and Benin, and earning a relay gold at the African U20 Championships in Ndola, Zambia.

Grace Nwokocha (August 2025)

Nwokocha is serving a three-year ban after testing positive for SARMS substances including Ostarine and Ligandrol during the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

The fallout was significant, as Nigeria was stripped of its women’s 4x100m relay gold medal at the Games. Prior to her suspension, she had qualified for the Tokyo Olympics, posted a personal best of 11.00s in the 100m, and reached the semi-finals in the 100m and 200m at the 2022 World Athletics Championships. She is ineligible to compete until 2 August 2025.

Yinka Ajayi (January 2030)

Ajayi, a 400m specialist and one-time Olympic representative, is currently serving an extended eight-year ban for multiple anti-doping violations.

The first sanction, issued after she tested positive for Metenolone in an out-of-competition test in Iowa, USA, led to a four-year ban starting in December 2021. However, further findings of tampering led to an additional four-year penalty in 2024, extending her suspension until January 25 2030.

Glory Okon (January 2026)

Glory Okon is serving a four-year ban for testing positive for Metenolone following an out-of-competition test conducted on December 2 2021 in Nigeria.

She previously won gold in the 400 metres at the 2019 African U-20 Championships in Abidjan and featured prominently at the 2021 National Sports Festival in Benin City.

Blessing Okagbare (July 2031)

Once the face of Nigerian athletics, Okagbare is now serving a 10-year ban following multiple anti-doping rule violations. She tested positive for human growth hormone and EPO in an out-of-competition test in June 2021.

Her suspension came while competing at the Tokyo Olympics and was announced in February 2022. It was later extended by an additional year in June 2022 due to further breaches.

Divine Oduduru (February 2029)

Oduduru’s  career was derailed by anti-doping violations linked to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. On October 12 2023, a Disciplinary Tribunal of the AIU imposed a six-year ban on Oduduru after he was found guilty of possessing and attempting to use prohibited substances and methods. The case stemmed from the wider investigation into Eric Lira, the first individual convicted under the US Rodchenkov Anti-Doping Act, who supplied banned substances to athletes, including Okagbare, ahead of the Tokyo Games.

Oduduru’s ban is effective from February 9, 2023 and will run until February 8, 2029.

Henry Azike (Lifetime ban)

Azike is one of two Nigerian athletes currently serving a lifetime ban after testing positive for Metenolone, an anabolic steroid. His case was classified as a second ADRV, automatically triggering a lifetime suspension from the sport.

Azike last competed in 2011, including at the Doha Amir Cup and Nigerian Championships in Calabar.

Vivian Chukwuemeka (Lifetime ban)

Two-time Olympian and African shot put record holder Vivian Chukwuemeka is serving a lifetime ban for a second doping offence after testing positive for Stanozolol at the 2012 National Championships in Calabar.

The 2002 Commonwealth Games champion and multiple-time African gold medallist had previously served a two-year ban following a 2009 positive test. Her personal best of 18.43m remains the African record in women’s shot put.

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Eagles B Players Admit Pressure For CHAN Qualification 

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EAGLES B PLAYERS
Pix: Super Eagles B players at the training session. 

Invited players into the Super Eagles B camp ahead of the rescheduled African Nations Championship tournament are feeling the pressure of selection, three days into their training camp at the Remo Stars Stadium in Ikenne, Ogun State.

The eighth CHAN tournament is taking place in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda between August 2 to 20.

Ahead of the tournament, head coach Eric Chelle had invited an initial 35 players to camp and they began training on Monday with 21 players.

Five more players arrived on Tuesday to take the number to 26 while 28 players trained on Wednesday morning with the rest expected before the end of the week.

Captain of the team through the qualifiers, Junior Nduka, spoke about the intensity of the sessions and the jostle to make the final squad.

“Everybody is under pressure but definitely the coaches want the best among the 35 players,” Nduka said.

River United and former Flying Eagles forward, Aniekeme Okon, also admitted the pressure.

“It puts pressure on us, 35 players being invited, everybody is going to give out their best with an expectation of being selected. So we keep pushing.”

Ikorodu City defender, Leonard Ngenge also said, “Obviously, it puts everyone under pressure even myself. But I just need to do my best to be on the coaches’ radar.”

Nigeria, the 2018 runners-up, are in group D of the 19-team tournament, alongside Cup holders Senegal, Sudan and Congo.

The Super Eagles B will play their first two matches of the competition, against Senegal and Sudan, at the Amman Stadium on the island of Zanzibar, before taking on Congo at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium in Dar es Salaam.

Nigeria has never won the tournament, having finished third at the 2014 edition in South Africa before losing the final against hosts Morocco four years later.

 

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