Sports

Giwa, NFF: Greed Or Love For The Game?

Published

7 years ago

September 19, 2018

On the morning of Monday, July 2, 2018, Nigerians arose to the news of Ambassador Christopher Giwa, the supposed factional President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), control of the glass house.
He relied on the Supreme Court ruling of April 27, 2018, which allegedly set aside the election of the Amaju Pinnick board of the NFF of September 30, 2014, stormed the football secretariat with policemen, claiming the end of the Pinnick-led board, and the birth of a new era.
“I am here to claim my mandate as the substantive chairman elected on August 26, 2014. We waited for the other board to finish the preparations for World Cup so that we can assume office. For four years I fought this battle, I went the extra mile to get justice. This is to tell you I am particular about the development of football in Nigeria. You have nothing to fear because I am not here to witch-hunt anybody but to make sure Nigerian football moves forward”, he was quoted as saying.
Ambassador Giwa is a man having many ambitions on several positions. He was popularly quoted as being a “politician par excellence and sports administrator of high repute” having overseen the birth and eventual rise of his club, Giwa FC since its inception in 2012. He is a man highly regarded as an intense politician by many in his state, Plateau.
In 2011, he contested the governorship election of Plateau State under the umbrella of the former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) but was defeated in the party primaries. The fact that he was defeated did not deter him from expressing his ambition contesting again in 2013 for the Plateau North Secretarial seat under the same political party which he lost.
It will be recalled that Giwa was made chairman of Mighty Jets Football Club of Jos, in the late 1990’s. He also served as the chairman of Plateau United before going into full time politics in his state.
On August 26, 2014 he was elected as the president of the NFF in an election that was seen as not official since it was only 29 out of the 44 members that protest in the process which he ended up defeating the former NFF vice president Mike Umeh, and the election was endorsed by the then Sports Minister, Tammy Danagogo.
Meanwhile, another election was conducted by the Maigari-led board in Warri about a month later in which Amaju Pinnick won and this was supposedly given the thumbs up by the former president of the World Football governing body FIFA, Sepp Blatter.
But the crux of the matter is that FIFA who control all football related matters in the world have before now confirmed the worldwide extension of five-year sanctions imposed by the NFF disciplinary committee on May 12, 2016 on Christopher Giwa, Muazu Suleyman, Yahaya Adamu, Sanni Ferma and Johnson Effiong for breaking the NFF statutes and the FIFA Code of Ethics.
The main issue for the ban of Giwa and the four others is that they took their dispute with federation to a civil court, knowing fully well that all football related issues are not allowed to be taken to a civil court but the Court of Arbitration for Sports.
So what is quite astonishing is the fact that someone who is banned and not recognised as an eligible candidate for any election is claiming a foothold on the football of the country.
According to Giwa, he was rightly elected on August 26, 2014 as the President of the NFF and in attendance were; chairman Senate Committee on Sports, Senator Obinna Ogba, board member representing North West, Shehu Adamu, also for the North East, Sanni Fermi and John Effiong for the South-South, while the duo of Sunday Ajayi and Yahaya Adamu representing South West and North Central respectively were also present. But according to FIFA the “purported election that allegedly brought Giwa to office was not even recognised by them since they approved the election of Amaju Pinnick.
Giwa in defence has said that he is fighting to become the number one person in Nigerian football because of his love for the game. But the fact remains that if he is really fighting for the “love” as he calls it for four years now, why not leave the Pinnick administration to complete it’s tenure since it’s just a few weeks to the proposed NFF elections to elect new officials and especially now that Nigerian football seems to be heading towards the right direction both on and off the pitch.
In April 2017, a oil company Aiteo Group signed a N2.5bn sponsorship deal with the NFF as it concerns the Federations Cup now known as the Aiteo Cup. In the same vein, a mega deal was also signed between the NFF and American sportswear company, Nike concerning the kits of the male and female national teams in the country. Another bumpeer deal was also done with Nigerian Breweries, maker of the official beverage of the National teams. Also not forgetting the contract signed on October 6, 2017, with Tropical General Investments (TGI), the parent body that produce Chivita and Hollandia yoghurt among others, making them the official food of the Eagles and also the $4m five year deal with coca-cola bottling company.
Nigeria have performed relatively well on many age grade competitions. Taking a look at the U-17 level, the country has not performed badly for the duration of this current NFF board, although there have been the never ending case of not having enough money to sponsor the different age grade teams to go for tournaments. This has also affected even the female national team, the Super Falcons who have seemingly not getting enough support as their male counterparts. The Super Eagles, who are like the pride of Nigeria football on terms of getting support, seem to also be on the rise since the appointment of Gernot Rohr as the coach. In terms of result, they performed fairly well in a quite difficult group in the just concluded FIFA World Cup.
The recent wrinkle in Nigerian football whereby the league ended in an abrupt manner was due to the deadline given by CAF for the submission of names of all companies that qualified from the different African leagues.
This can be traced to the struggle for power between Pinnick and Giwa that led to the delay in the commencement of the second phase of the league after it was suspended due to the world cup that came up in the months of June and July. This issue can also be traced to Giwa as it was as a result of his taking over the Glass House that the League Management Company (LMC) had to postpone the Nigerian professional football league indefinitely.
Although the administration of Amaju Pinnick has not been a bed of roses for Nigerian football, there have been a considerable rise when compared to when he, Pinnick, took over. This makes one wonder why someone like Amb. Chris Giwa wants to disrupt the work going on in different angles of Nigerian football, even though the Pinnick board has just a few days to the end of their tenure.
It leaves one wondering whether he is really doing all this for the “Love of the Game” or for personal interest, as all the issues of his involvement in Nigerian football has further plunged our football into crisis and making the nation a laughing stock in the eyes of the footballing world.

Sports

Forest Embarrass Liverpool At Anfield

Published

11 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Liverpool’s season of abject misery worsened as they were beaten with embarrassing ease by a hugely impressive Nottingham Forest at Anfield.

Arne Slot’s Premier League champions were looking to bounce back from a heavy defeat at Manchester City, but instead ran into a Forest side revitalised under new manager Sean Dyche and looking back to their best.

Liverpool head coach Slot gave £125m British record signing Alexander Isak a start, but he was totally anonymous once more and only lasted 67 minutes.

Forest went ahead after 33 minutes when defender Murillo shot powerfully past fit-again Liverpool keeper Alisson to subdue an already anxious Anfield.

Igor Jesus had a second ruled out for handball, but Forest doubled their advantage 39 seconds after the break when former Liverpool defender Neco Williams set up Nicola Savona for a crisp finish in front of The Kop.

Liverpool could barely raise a response in a desperate display, Forest increasing their lead 12 minutes from time when Morgan Gibbs-White scored after Alisson saved from Omari Hutchinson.

It means Liverpool, who lie 11th before Saturday’s late fixture, have now lost six of their past seven Premier League games as Slot’s near £450m summer spending spree comes under further scrutiny.

Forest, meanwhile, are surging away from the relegation zone and are up to 16th.

Sports

Bundesliga: Oliseh Stars As Bayern Rebound To Thrash Freiburg

Published

11 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Michael Olise scored twice and provided a hat-trick of assists as Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich came from two goals down to thrash Freiburg.

The visitors stunned the defending champions by taking a 2-0 lead after just 17 minutes when Yuito Suzuki scored from close range and Johan Manzambi rose highest to head home Jan-Niklas Beste’s corner.

Bayern, who had not lost in the league since March, responded superbly and had restored parity by half-time.

Teenager Lennart Karl fired into the bottom corner from Olise’s pass in the 22nd minute and set up the Frenchman for a fierce finish in first-half injury-time, although Freiburg goalkeeper Noah Atubolu should have done better.

Bayern took control in the second period as Dayot Upamecano headed home Olise’s corner to put them ahead for the first time.

England captain Harry Kane netted his 14th league goal of the campaign on the hour mark, before Olise made it three assists when he threaded a pass through for Nicolas Jackson to finish at the first time of asking in the 78th minute.

Winger Olise completed a sensational afternoon with his second of the game six minutes later, driving at the Freiburg defence and curling into the far corner.

A 10th victory in the first 11 games left Bayern eight points clear of second-placed Bayer Leverkusen, while Freiburg remain 10th in the standings.

Vincent Kompany’s side visit Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday with both sides having a perfect record of four wins so far in the league phase of the competition.

AS FAR Morocco Win African Women’s Champions League (8)

AS FAR held firm to beat debutants ASEC Mimosas 2-1 in the African Women’s Champions League final and become continental champions for the second time.

Hanane Ait El Haj put the Moroccan club ahead from the penalty spot in the 13th minute after Safa Banouk had been tripped by Aboa Yapo.

ASEC Mimosas rallied after the break and Ami Priscal Diallo netted a fine header from Sopie Brou’s cross to drag the Ivory Coast club level 10 minutes into the second half.

But AS FAR were handed a second spot-kick in the closing stages when Noura Diarra committed a rash challenge on Sofia Bouftini.

This time it was Zineb Redouani who stepped up to stroke home in the 85th minute and restore her side’s lead.

Asastasie Gbehi came close to forcing extra time but she poked wide of the post in stoppage time, and the centre-back was sent off after the full-time whistle for dissent.

AS FAR move level with South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns as two-time winners of the title, having first lifted the trophy in 2022.

The Rabat-based side will now take on Chinese’s Wuhan Jiangda on 14 December for a place at next year’s Fifa Women’s Champions Cup.

The winner of that match will face European champions Arsenal in the semi-finals of the inaugural competition early next year in London.

Sports

Barca Impress On Return To Camp Nou

Published

12 hours ago

November 24, 2025

The Tide

Barcelona moved to the top of La Liga on Saturday with an emphatic win over 10-man Athletic Club in their first match at the Spotify Camp Nou since May 2023.

Robert Lewandowski scored their first goal back in their iconic home, which had been closed for extensive renovations, in the fourth minute.

Ferran Torres then netted twice in the second half, each assisted by wonderful skill from Lamine Yamal, who was aged just 15 in his only previous Nou Camp appearance.

Fermin Lopez also struck in the 48th minute, while visiting midfielder Oihan Sancet was sent off for a crude challenge on Lopez just six minutes later.

Large sections of the Nou Camp remained closed for the game, which was played in front of a 45,157 crowd.

The rebuilding work, which was originally scheduled to be finished in November 2024, will eventually increase the stadium’s capacity to 105,000.

Barca moved to 31 points from 13 games and top on goal difference, but Real Madrid had the chance to replace them, if they won at Elche in their game in hand, late last night.

Poland striker Lewandowski got his side off to the perfect start when he drove his low shot in off the arm of Athletic Club goalkeeper Unai Simon for an eighth league goal of the season.

The home side extended their lead in first-half added time as Yamal’s superb pass off the outside of his foot set up Torres for a good finish.

Lopez made it 3-0 three minutes after the restart, drilling a shot past Simon from near the penalty spot.

Sancet’s tackle from behind on Lopez was initially deemed a yellow card, but upgraded to red after the referee consulted with the video assistant referee (VAR).

And just before full-time, Yamal twisted and turned before sending Torres away to claim his second goal, which was originally disallowed for offside but overturned following a VAR check.

It was a dream return to their ground, with the reigning Spanish champions having mostly played at the 55,000 capacity Olympic Stadium on the city’s Montjuic hill since renovations on the Nou Camp began in June 2023.

They were forced to play two matches at the 6,000-capacity Johan Cruyff Stadium, home to their women’s team, this season after failing to get a permit for the Nou Camp through safety reasons.

Pogba Returns To Action In Ligue 1 (6)

Paul Pogba played his first minutes of professional football in more than two years as he came off the bench during Monaco’s 4-1 defeat by Rennes at the weekend.

The 32-year-old was introduced in the 85th minute at Rennes’ Roazhon Park, though his side were already four goals and a player down, following a red card for captain Denis Zakaria.

French World Cup winner Pogba broke down in tears when he joined Ligue 1 club Monaco last summer, after his four-year doping ban was reduced to 19 months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas).

Pogba’s last competitive appearance was 811 days ago, when he featured for Juventus in a Serie A match against Empoli on 3 September 2023. He left Juventus by mutual consent in November 2024.

Pogba was provisionally banned from football for four years after a positive test for dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) in February 2024, following a doping test in August 2023.

Pogba maintained it was a mistake and that he was given a supplement without knowing it contained a banned substance.

The former Manchester United midfielder was permitted to return to football in March following the decision to reduce his ban.

Pogba watched from the bench as goals from Abdelhamid Ait Boudlal, Mahdi Camara, Breel Embolo and Ludovic Blas put Rennes out of sight.

Fellow substitute Mika Biereth pulled a goal back for Monaco in the 95th minute, but a second consecutive 4-1 defeat means Sebastien Pocognoli’s side drop to eighth in the table with 20 points after 13 games.