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NFA, Players Guilty Over Bonus Row – Panel

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The Ministerial Panel on
“Review of Players’ Bonuses” has indicted players and technical crew of the Super Eagles over the recent bonus row that broke out in the team.
Minister of Sports, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, had on July 11 inaugurated the seven-member panel.
The panel was set up to unearth the causes of the bonus row which broke out after a World Cup qualifier between the Super Eagles and the Brave Warriors of Namibia.
The players had insisted on their full winning bonus of $5,000 (about N805,000) in spite of drawing the match in Namibia, while the NFA offered them $2,500 (about N402,500).
The panel was headed by Mr Segun Adeniyi, former Special Adviser to late President Umaru Yar’Adua while Mr Shehu Dikko served as its secretary.
Adeniyi, while presenting the report to the minister of sports said mutual distrust by the parties concerned and indiscipline on the part of some players sparked the row.
He said that lack of quality leadership by those in charge of the players’ affair at the time of the crisis which broke out in Namibia also contributed to the row.
The former presidential aide pointed out that officials of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Eagles captain Joseph Yobo and six home-based players, were spoken to before the conclusion of the report.
“One thing was clear from all the submissions made to our panel and the interactive session we held with critical stakeholders.
“This is, that the Super Eagles who were handsomely rewarded by Nigerians for winning the Africa Cup of Nations in February could not appreciate the implication of embarrassing their country.
“The technical crew members conveniently looked the other way because of their own pecuniary and vested interests.
“The football administration was also tardy in the manner in which it handled communication on the bonus issue by not formally conveying its decisions to the players ahead of the tournament,’’ Adeniyi said.
Adeniyi criticised a situation where players put incentive first rather than see invitation to the national team as a privilege and honour.
He expressed regret that bonus payment had over the years been mismanaged by all the parties involved resulting in avoidable crises that had desecrated the image of the country.
“From the 1994 World Cup qualifying matches to the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Mali, to the recent case in Namibia, bonus row has been a recurring challenge for our football administration.
“I want to say that the real incentive for any footballer invited to the national team is principally the privilege and pride of wearing the national colours of his or her country.
“This is to the extent that bonus payment should really not be an issue.
“In most countries, it is usually determined by the football administration according their financial standing and the importance of the matches at hand,’’ Adeniyi added.
Meanwhile, Sports analyst Jide Fashikun, has urged the sports minister not to implement the report of the panel on the bonus row.
Fashikun in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) observed that the report, if implemented could tear the team’s World Cup qualifying campaign apart.
He noted that the report which contained “Code of Conduct for Players’’ was capable of infuriating foreign-based players who would form the nucleus of the world cup qualifying team.
Victor Iroele, another sports analyst advised the minister to delay the implementation of the report untill the end of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Iroele noted that any conclusion reached without the input of players such as Mikel Obi, Vincent Enyeama, Joseph Yobo and Emmanuel Emenike, among others could be counter-productive.

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Tottenham’s Miserable Run Continues  

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Relegation-threatened Tottenham’s miserable 2026 continued as their winless run extended to 10 league games with Fulham gaining a deserved victory to boost their hopes of qualifying for European football.

Fulham, who scored twice in the opening six minutes in their 2-1 win over Spurs in November, again got an early goal with Harry Wilson netting in the seventh minute.

However, the goal was controversial as new Spurs boss Igor Tudor felt it should have been disallowed as home striker Raul Jimenez pushed Radu Dragusin as they challenged for a Kenny Tete cross, before Oscar Bobb picked out Wilson to volley home from six yards out.

Tottenham had a similar goal ruled out last week in their 4-1 loss to Arsenal for a foul by Randal Kolo Muani on Gunners defender Gabriel but, following a check from the video assistant referee (VAR) Craig Pawson, Fulham’s goal was allowed to stand, much to Tudor’s fury.

Spurs, though, had no excuses for the 34th-minute second goal with Alex Iwobi left with space to shoot home superbly from 18 yards out, with the ball going in off the inside of the post after a neat exchange with Wilson.

 

 

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City Survive Leeds’ Challenge At Elland Road 

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Antoine Semenyo scored just before half-time as title-chasing Manchester City escaped Elland Road with victory over an energetic Leeds United.

The hard-earned outcome narrowed Arsenal’s lead to two points at the top of the Premier League.

City travelled to West Yorkshire without their Leeds-born star striker Erling Haaland who was injured in training, and it looked for large periods in the first half that they would rue not having their top goalscorer available.

But Ghana international Semenyo stretched to convert Rayan Ait-Nouri’s fizzed low ball into the penalty area for his sixth City goal since joining from Bournemouth in January.

Leeds will be wondering how they did not score after making a sprightly start and giving City real cause for early concern.

Meanwhile , a clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

Bayern Rebound To Overcome Dortmund In Bundesliga (5)

Harry Kane scored two second-half goals as Bayern Munich came from behind to beat Borussia Dortmund in a thrilling match and move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.

The England striker took his tally to 45 goals in all competitions this season as Bayern became the first team to inflict a home league defeat on Dortmund.

Kane, who passed 500 A clinical Liverpool performance helped them beat battling West Ham in the Premier League and move level on points with fourth-placed Manchester United.

The hosts were 3-0 up at the break thanks to goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk and Alexis Mac Allister.

West Ham pulled one back early in the second half through Tomas Soucek before Cody Gakpo restored Liverpool’s three-goal lead in the 70th minute.

Nuno Espirito Santo’s side scored again through Taty Castellanos, but an Axel Disasi own goal ensured Liverpool hit five goals in a league game for the first time this season.

All three of the Reds’ first-half goals came from set-pieces – with Arne Slot’s side now leading the table in 2026 when it comes to goals from set-plays (excluding penalties).

In the fifth minute, Ryan Gravenberch teed up Ekitike, who finished smartly to beat Mads Hermansen at the near post for his 16th goal of the season.

West Ham threatened to equalise, but against the run of play Liverpool doubled their advantage when Van Dijk headed in Dominik Szoboszlai’s corner.

The visitors failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s complacency with Konstantinos Mavropanos, Jarrod Bowen and Soucek all wasting chances.

And just before half-time, Mac Allister’s superb volley took a deflection and ended in the back of the net. That was the cue for sections of the travelling support to head for the exits.

 Nico Schlotterbeck’s opener.

Dortmund thought they had snatched a point when Daniel Svensson’s thumping volley sent Signal Iduna Park into pandemonium.

But that was until Joshua Kimmich’s strike three minutes from time kept Bayern in pole position to win a 14th title in 15 seasons.

Schlotterbeck headed Dortmund ahead in the 26th minute when he rose highest in a crowded penalty area to connect with Svensson’s free-kick from the left.

Dortmund had the chance to double their lead later in the half when Fabio Silva squared the ball to Maximilian Beier, who was denied by the onrushing Jonas Urbig.

Despite dominating possession in the first half, Bayern – playing with a front three of Kane, Michael Olise and Luis Diaz – were unable to test Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel.

But Kane equalised early in the second period with a poacher’s effort from inside the area at the end of a slick move involving Kimmich and Serge Gnabry.

Both teams missed chances before Kane scored a penalty – a record 10th in a Bundesliga season – after Josip Stanisic was floored by Schlotterbeck.

Dortmund levelled when Svensson volleyed past Urbig, but Kimmich all but ended their hopes of winning a first title since 2012.

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PSG Extend Lead In Ligue 1 

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Paris St-Germain stretched their lead at the top of Ligue 1 to four points by claiming a narrow win at Le Havre.

The defending champions hoped to take advantage after second-placed Lens drew at Strasbourg on Friday, and Bradley Barcola gave them a deserved lead shortly before half-time.

PSG had chances to extend their lead and substitute Desire Doue had a late penalty saved by Le Havre goalkeeper Mory Diaw.

Lee Kang-In had an effort saved by Diaw before his right-wing cross was headed home by Barcola for his ninth goal of the season.

Moments later Lee fired wide when through on goal, before PSG winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia fired against a post just after half-time.

Keeper Matvey Safonov made a fine save from Issa Soumare to keep PSG in front, while Diaw denied substitutes Nuno Mendes, Ibrahim Mbaye and Doue.

Diaw parried Doue’s spot-kick low to his right after Doue was brought down by Lucas Gourna-Douath with 11 minutes left.

 

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