Sports
PFAN Jostles For Next NFF President In South-West
In a surprise move, the Professional Footballers Association of Nigeria (PFAN) has started combing the South-West region for the next president of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).
The Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF board marked its one-year in office at the 79th yearly general assembly on September 9 in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.
But sources at the PFAN, Monday, said some of its key members are working with some influential Nigerians to choose a new NFF president when Gusau’s four-year tenure expires in 2026.
Tidesports source reports that the body already picked the Southwest zone to produce the next NFF president in 2026, while the position would move to the Southeast in 2030.
“As things stand, there is no way we will allow the Ibrahim Gusau-led board to seek a second tenure in office. Nothing has changed since he came on board, and it is obvious he wants to continue with the hegemony of the states’ FA chairmen, who are running a skewed administrative structure. It is killing our football.
“We are looking at the southwest to produce the next NFF president because the zone has been shut out of the position since early 2000. In fact, the last person from the southwest to occupy the position was Kojo Williams. After the southwest zone, we will shift focus to the southeast,” the source said.
Contacted on the issue, yesterday, the Chairman, PFAN Task Force, Harrison Jalla, said: “We have started consultations with stakeholders already. The issue of looking at the Southwest zone to produce the next NFF president is not far from the truth. The North has been producing the president of the NFF. The Southsouth also had its share. Since the exit of Kojo Williams in early 2000, the Southwest has not occupied the position.
“There are some intelligent football administrators from the Southwest zone, and what we are doing now is to keep a tab on them. From the way things are going, the Ibrahim Gusau-led NFF board won’t take our football anywhere. We have to call a spade a spade.”
The Guardian recalls that Jalla had tagged the NFF’s 79th AGM held in Uyo, on September 9, a mere ‘tea party,’ following its alleged failure to address some key issues affecting football development in the country.
Sports
Nigeria, Zambia Join WAFCON Train
Nine-time Women’s Africa Cup of Nations winners, Nigeria became the final side to book their place at the 2024 tournament as qualifiers culminated this week.
The Super Falcons came from behind to beat Cape Verde 2-1 away from home, with Rasheedat Ajibade’s injury-time winner clinching a 7-1 aggregate victory on Tuesday.
Barbra Banda was among Zambia’s scorers as the Copper Queens, who finished third at last year’s Nations Cup, thrashed Angola 6-0 at home to complete a 12-0 aggregate win.
However, two-time champions Equatorial Guinea will miss out on the 12-team finals following a 2-1 defeat away against DR Congo which saw the hosts progress 3-2 overall.
Botswana beat Kenya 1-0 to secure qualification for their second consecutive finals. while Ghana, Mali, Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia all sealed their places in Morocco, who will host for the second time in a row.
The dates for the tournament, scheduled for next year, are yet to be announced.
Holders South Africa and Algeria secured their spots on Monday, with Banyana Banyana beating Burkina Faso 3-1 on aggregate and the North Africans sealing a 1-0 win in Burundi to progress 6-1 over the two legs.
Ghana will return to the finals for the first time since 2018 despite losing 1-0 away against Namibia, with the Black Queens going through 3-2 on aggregate.
Senegal, Tanzania and Tunisia also failed to win their away ties, but progressed against Egypt, Togo and Congo respectively.
Mali won 3-0 away against Guinea to round off a 10-2 victory overall.
Sports
Olowu Targets WABU Crown At GOtv Boxing Night 30
Super welterweight boxer, Taiwo ‘Gentle Boy’ Olowu, on Wednesday , said his target is to claim the West African Boxing Union (WABU) super welterweight title at GOtv Boxing Night 30 on December 26.
The enterprising boxer, who is the national welterweight title holder, will square up to top Ghanaian boxer, Michael Ansah, at the event slated for the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos.
Speaking ahead of the fight, ‘Gentle Boy’ boasted that he would ensure the Ghanaian returned to his country empty-handed.
“I aim to add this West African Boxing Union title to my national title. As a national champion, I cannot allow a foreigner to come and take this belt away in front of my fans. This is a big opportunity for me to be a WABU champion. Ansah will leave Nigeria empty-handed,” he said.
The more experienced Ghanaian boxer has a record of 23 wins, 12 defeats, and three draws from 38 professional fights, while ‘Gentle Boy’ boasts 15 wins and one defeat from his 16 professional fights.
In another title fight, Sifon ‘Best’ Iwatt will battle Saheed Azeez for the national super flyweight title.
Also on the card for the night are five other national fights, including a female national cruiserweight challenge fight between national champion, Bolatito ‘Black Tito’ Oluwole and Blessing Abisoye.
Arabambi Ojo and Ibrahim ‘Golden Boy’ Opeyemi will slug it out in a national bantamweight challenge bout; Abdulafeez ‘Big Name’ Osoba will face Christopher Ucheji in a national super welterweight challenge fight, while Ayanfe Adeoye and Ahmed Ganiyu will duel in a national light welterweight category.
Sports
Nigeria Makes Final Team Of The Year Award
Nigeria made the final three shortlists for the 2023 Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) Women’s National Team of the Year award.
CAF announced the final three shortlist on their X handle yesterday.
The other two countries are reigning Women’s Africa Cup of Nations champions South Africa and Morocco.
Nigeria, Morocco and South Africa featured at this year’s FIFA women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
The trio all reached the round of 16 at the tournament, which was won by Spain.
The winner will be announced on Monday, December 11, in Marrakech, Morocco.
Meanwhile, Nigeria’s Super Falcons recently qualified for the 2024 WAFCON, hosted by Morocco.
A 7-1 aggregate win against Cape Verde ensured the Falcons will be making their 13th appearance at the tournament, which began in 1998 in Nigeria.
-
Niger Delta2 days ago
Bolt Driver, Female Passenger Abducted In Calabar
-
News2 days ago
Ex-NUPENG Secretary, Frank Kokori Dies At 80, Keyamo Mourns
-
Politics2 days ago
Alleged Move To Arrest Sylva: Leave Diri Alone, PDP Tells APC
-
News2 days ago
FRSC Commander Faces Sanction Over Unauthorised Comments
-
Opinion2 days ago
What Hope, Oh Super Eagles!
-
Rivers2 days ago
WAD: Commissioner Charges Communities On HIV Control …87% Rivers People Virally Suppressed
-
Sports2 days ago
‘It Is Too Late To Build The Confidence Of Home-Based Goalkeepers’
-
Nation2 days ago
NAPTIP Arraigns Woman Who Sold Over 120 Children …Laments Unavailability Of Tracking Devices