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Category: Sports

  • Enyimba FC win NPFL title, N100m prize

    Enyimba International FC of Aba are champions of the 2022/2023 Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL season.

    The People’s Elephant won the league on Sunday after they played out a one-all draw with former champions, Rivers United in the final match of the 2023 NPFL Super 6 in Lagos.

    Going Into the crunchy tie, the 2019 champions needed a draw to claim their nineth League title and the recorded the draw after Rivers United forced them to a 1-1 scoreline.

    Ekene Awazie scored the opening goal in the 40th minutes for the Aba boys but Nyima Nwagua restored parity in the 47th minute for the Pride of Rivers.

    Both teams could not find the winning goal in the remaining moments of the encounter but the full time score line gave the two-time Africa Champions their deserved title, and nineth in history.

    Enyimba won the title after accruing 9 points from 5 matches while Remo Stars came second with same number of points but lesser goal difference.

    2022 champions, Rivers United came 3rd with 8 points

    By the virtue of their positions, Enyimba and Remo Stars have qualified for the CAF Champions League while Rivers United will join the winner of the 2023 Federation Cup between Rangers and Bendel Insurance in the CAF Confederation Cup.

    Rivers United were quarter-finalist in the 2023 edition of the CAF second tier league.

    For emerging champions of the NPFL, Enyimba will receive a cash reward of ₦100, 000, 000 from the organizers of the league, the Interim Management Committee, IMC.

  • Federation Cup Grand Finale now Wednesday, 21 June

    The Grand Finale of this year’s NFF-Tingo Federation Cup Competition slated for the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba has now been moved to Wednesday, 21 June 2023.

    “A couple of issues have come up for us to deal with and we are doing that speedily. The Grand Finale will still take place in Asaba and we are determined to make a showpiece of the event,” NFF General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, said on Friday.  

    As announced previously, the day will begin with the women’s final, between Cup holders Bayelsa Queens and multi-titlists Rivers Angels, which is billed to commence at 2pm. The men’s final, between 1978 champions Bendel Insurance of Benin and multi-titlists Rangers International of Enugu, will kick off at 5pm.

    Bayelsa Queens are the defending champions of the competition, having overwhelmed FC Robo Queens of Lagos in the final of the 2021 competition at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City.

    In their last visit to the Stephen Keshi Stadium for the Federation Cup final, Enugu Rangers came from three goals down in the first 45 minutes to draw level and defeat Kano Pillars on penalties in the 2018 men’s Final.

  • AFCON Qualifier: Peseiro lists Osimhen, Simon, 21 0thers for Sierra Leone

    Super Eagles’ Coach, José Santos Peseiro has invited captain Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen, goalkeeper Adebayo Adeleye, defender William Ekong, midfielder Alex Iwobi and forward Moses Simon among others for next weekend’s 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against the Leone Stars of Sierra Leone in Monrovia.

    In-form forward Victor James Osimhen, whose 31 goals in all competitions for SSC Napoli this season helped the Italian giants to the semi finals of the UEFA Champions League and to their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years, tops the strikers’ list.

    Osimhen has also recently been honoured with the National Award of Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Government of Nigeria, and has received a special ball and jersey from world football-ruling body, FIFA for his magnificent season.

    Home-based goaltenders Victor Sochima and Olorunleke Ojo are also called, as well as Rivers United defender Ebube Duru and Bendel Insurance FC midfielder Divine Nwachukwu.

    Defenders William Ekong, Kenneth Omeruo, Zaidu Sanusi, Calvin Bassey, Oluwasemilogo Ajayi and Bright Osayi-Samuel are in, with midfielders Wilfred Ndidi and Frank Onyeka, and forwards Samuel Chukwueze, Taiwo Awoniyi and Kelechi Iheanacho also in the 23-man roster.

    The Super Eagles are top of their qualification group with nine points out of four matches, followed by Guinea Bissau’s Wild Dogs who have seven points.

    Leone Stars, who gave the Eagles a tough run in Abuja on Day 1 of the qualification series before succumbing 2-1, are on five points. Sao Tome and Principe, who play the Super Eagles on the final day of the series in September, are bottom with only one point.

    Nigeria and Sierra Leone clash at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium in Monrovia on Sunday, 18 June, as Sierra Leone do not have any stadium in their country approved for international matches.

    ALL THE INVITED PLAYERS:

    Goalkeepers: Adebayo Adeleye (Hapoel Jerusalem, Israel); Victor Sochima (Rivers United); Olorunleke Ojo (Enyimba FC)

    Defenders: William Ekong (Watford FC, England); Calvin Bassey (Ajax FC, The Netherlands); Kevin Akpoguma (TSG Hoffenheim, Germany); Chidiebube Duru (Rivers United); Oluwasemilogo Ajayi (West Bromwich Albion, England); Kenneth Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Zaidu Sanusi (FC Porto, Portugal); Bright Osayi-Samuel (Fenerbahce FC, Turkey)

    Midfielders: Joseph Ayodele-Aribo (Southampton FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Everton FC, England); Divine Nwachukwu (Bendel Insurance); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Frank Onyeka (Brentford FC, England)

    Forwards: Moses Simon (Nantes FC, France); Samuel Chukwueze (Villarreal FC, Spain); Ademola Lookman (Atalanta FC, Italy); Victor Osimhen (SSC Napoli, Italy); Taiwo Awoniyi (Nottingham Forest, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Ahmed Musa (Sivasspor K, Turkey)

  • NFF to set up normalization c’ttees for A’Ibom, Nasarawa, others

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has opted to immediately set up Normalization Committees for temporary administration of the Football Associations of Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna States.

    This followed flagrant disregard of directives from the NFF by the said State FAs not to proceed with conduct of their elections as a result of court injunctions and petitions, in varying cases, and various shades of irregularities in the processes leading to the so-called elections.

    Ali Muhammad Abubakar, NFF’s Head of Member Associations, explained: “Normalization Committees will be set up for Akwa Ibom, Nasarawa, Kogi and Kaduna States. All four States have failed to uphold the Statutes and the electoral code in their processes. Article 85 of the FIFA-approved NFF Statutes, under Unforeseen Contingencies and Force Majeure clearly stipulates that ‘the Executive Committee shall have the final decision on any matters not provided for in the Statutes or in cases of force majeure’.

    “However, the NFF has decided to uphold the decision of the Edo State FA to pass a vote of no confidence on its chairman, Mr. Rowland Abu, and to have the vice chairman in the role of Ag. Chairman. He has been told to lead the charting of a roadmap to the conduct of free, fair and credible local football councils’ elections and subsequently, the FA executive committee elections.”

    Thenff.com gathered that a monitoring committee set up by the NFF will be in Jos on Monday, 12 June 2023 to assess the current situation in the Plateau State Football Association, and subsequently take a decision on the swirling controversies in the FA’s situation.

    A normalization committee was approved for Akwa Ibom State because elections were conducted in contravention of a court injunction, and subsequent advice by the NFF not to go ahead. The tenure of the executive committee had since elapsed on 23 May.

    With regards to Nasarawa State, so-called elections were conducted into the FA executive committee without first conducting elections into the local football councils, and the identities of delegates were shrouded in secrecy. The tenure of the FA board had since expired on 27 May. The situation in Kogi State was similar, with the tenure of the Kogi State FA executive committee having expired on 28 May.

    As for Kaduna State, the tenure of the board expired on 31 May without elections, either into the local football councils (which were dissolved nearly four years ago) or the State FA.      

  • Don’t sign for Egyptian clubs, FIFPRO warns players

    The International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPRO), a global representative body for professional footballers, has advised foreign players against signing for Egyptian clubs.

    A statement issued by FIFPRO said the decision followed a series of alleged frequent contractual disputes and abusive behaviour by club officials.

    The statement has already triggered a strongly-worded response from the Egyptian Football Association (EFA).

    FIFPRO said a player moving to a club in the country had “a high chance of resulting in legal proceedings”.

    “In recent times FIFPRO has seen a spike in labour conflicts in Egypt, concerning both the non-payment of salaries and abusive behaviour such as the confiscation of passports, forgery, and blackmail,” the statement read.

    The body warned players against handing over their passports to club officials, even if told it was required to obtain a residency or work permit.

    It added that the retention of travel documents had been used to force players to sign termination agreements.

    FIFPRO also warned players not to sign blank contracts and to retain one signed version of the contract, while also ensuring the correct currency was stipulated on it.

    The EFA, which oversees the country’s professional clubs, has however firmly rejected FIFPRO’s allegations.

    “EFA is extremely frustrated with the statement issued by FIFPRO, which contains several erroneous pieces of information.

    “We can confirm that even if some incidents occurred, they represent individual cases that do not apply to all Egyptian clubs.

    “We have 268 foreign players in different tiers and over the past four years, we have only received two complaints regarding passport withholding.

    “Both matters were immediately resolved after our intervention,” it said in a statement late.

    Clubs like Zamalek, Egyptian Premier League champions for the last two seasons, Al-Ismaily and Pharco have in the last few years been handed hefty fines and transfer bans.

    This was due to non-payment of salaries and breaches of contracts. 

  • Women’s W/Cup: Players to get $30,000 prize money

    Women’s W/Cup: Players to get $30,000 prize money

    Players at the FIFA Women’s World Cup will be guaranteed at least $30,000 each after FIFA decided to disburse some of the prize money to individuals rather than national federations.

    All 23 members of the winning team will take home $270,000, which is part of a $110 million total prize pool that is roughly 300 percent higher than what FIFA offered for the 2019 tournament.

    The $30,000 minimum directed prize money is more than twice the average salary of 14,000 dollars for paid players surveyed in FIFA’s 2022 benchmarking report.

    In March, FIFA President, Gianni Infantino, pledged at the FIFA Congress that organisers would direct prize money toward the players, a first for the women’s tournament, which kicks off on July 20 in Australia and New Zealand.

    For the upcoming Women’s World Cup, member associations would also receive increased funding based on performance, with winners taking $4.29 million home and delegations earning $1.56 million for participating in the group stage.

    The total performance-based prize funds still significantly trail what was on offer at the men’s tournament last year, where $440 million total prize fund was awarded.

    FIFA has made it clear to national federations that it expects that the amount retained by member associations would be reinvested in their footballing activities, including coaching staff, grassroots projects, youth national teams, and women’s football capacity-building programmes.

    FIFPRO said the news “represents not only the outcome of tremendous global collective action by 150 national team players but a constructive negotiation with FIFA over the past months.”

    “They have listened to the voice of the players and we have taken steps toward greater gender equity in our game at the highest levels,” the global soccer players union said in a statement. 

  • Benzema fever hits Jeddah ahead Al-Ittihad presentation

    Saudi champions, Al-Ittihad have sold more than 56,000 tickets for Karim Benzema’s presentation at Jeddah’s King Abdullah Sports City Stadium in only a few hours after sales were announced on Wednesday.

    The France striker and Ballon d’Or winner signed a three-season contract with the Saudi Pro League club on Tuesday for a total of 165 million dollars, according to local media.

    Tickets for Thursday’s presentation of the former Real Madrid captain later at the 62,000-seat arena, known locally as ‘The Shining Jewel,’ started from just nine riyals (2.40 dollars).

    A large number of supporters wearing the club’s yellow and black colours greeted Benzema upon his arrival in the city on Wednesday night and he is expected to hold a press conference on Thursday before being presented to the fans.

    Benzema, 35, was Al-Ittihad’s first signing since winning the league title for the first time since 2009 with compatriot N’Golo Kante expected to join him from Chelsea soon.

    Cristiano Ronaldo blazed the trail in the Saudi Pro League by signing a lucrative contract with Al-Nassr in December.

    Saudi clubs are targeting other big names in the coming months with the likes of Sergio Busquets, Angel Di Maria, Jordi Alba and Sergio Ramos being linked with moves to the desert kingdom in local media.

    A source close to Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, last month told Reuters that he had received a formal offer to join Al-Hilal but the 35-year-old World Cup winner decided to join Inter Miami in the United States instead.

  • West Ham beat Fiorentina to win Europa Conference League

    Jarrod Bowen’s dramatic 90th-minute goal secured West Ham their first major European trophy since 1965 with a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final on Wednesday night.

    It is the second European trophy for West Ham after they won the now defunct Cup Winners’ Cup 58 years ago with a team including England World Cup heroes Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst.

    Bowen picked up a superb through ball from Lucas Paqueta, before sending a low shot past a helpless Pietro Terracciano in the Fiorentina goal.

    “I obviously dreamed of scoring but to score the winner in the last minute. It’s what you always say you want to do,” Bowen told BT Sport.

    “To do it in front of these fans. I thought I was going to cry. I’m just happy.”

    Said Benrahma had opened the scoring for West Ham in Prague as he blasted a penalty past Terracciano on 62 minutes after VAR had caught Cristiano Biraghi handling the ball trying to stop Bowen in the box.

    Giacomo Bonaventura levelled five minutes later, beating West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola with a fine, low right-footed effort.

    Bonaventura capitalised on a superb header back from Nicolas Gonzalez who had leapt over West Ham full-back Emerson.

    The champions’ name will be the second ever on the Conference League trophy following Roma, who won the maiden edition of the competition last year.

    West Ham have also clinched a spot in next season’s Europa League with the win, while Fiorentina will miss out on European competition after finishing eighth in the Serie A.

    West Ham’s previous major trophy was back in 1980 when they won the FA Cup.

    They spent most of the last season battling the prospect of relegation, finishing 14th in the Premier League in the end.

  • Benzema bids farewell to Real Madrid, moves to Saudi

    FIFA Ballon d’Or winner, Karim Benzema, on Tuesday said goodbye to Real Madrid in a small, private ceremony closed to fans and media, after spending 14 years at the LaLiga club, loaded with trophies.

    The 35-year-old French striker is leaving as a free agent in the close of t season and is set to move to Saudi Arabian side, Al Ittihad, after signing a two-year deal estimated by media reports to be worth more than US$106.93 million.

    There were no tears in the ceremony that lasted less than 20 minutes and in which only players, family and close friends were allowed to attend.

    “I will never forget Real Madrid. It’s impossible; it’s the best club in history. But I think today is the time to leave and to get to know another story,” Benzema told the small audience at Real’s training facilities.

    “It’s difficult to talk with so many feelings, but I wanted to thank Real Madrid and my team mates. It was a good path in my life. I have been lucky enough to fulfill my childhood dream.”

    Having joined Real Madrid FC in 2009 from Olympique Lyonnais, Benzema became the spearhead of the club’s attack and their main goal-scoring threat after Cristiano Ronaldo left for Juventus in 2018.

    Benzema scored 354 goals for Real to sit second on the club’s all-time scoring list behind Ronaldo.

    He had his best season in the 2021-22 campaign when he scored 44 times in all competitions to lead the side to a record-extending 14th European title as well as the LaLiga crown.

    His pivotal role earned him the Ballon d’Or award, making him the first French player to win the trophy since Zinedine Zidane in 1998 and the fifth Frenchman overall.

    Real Madrid president, Florentino Perez, praised Benzema for all he had done at the club.

    “Karim, you have been an example of behaviour and professionalism in our club,” Perez said.

    “You have earned the right to decide your destiny. A future that only belongs to you and we must respect it.”

  • Spurs appoints Postecoglou on 4-year deal

    Tottenham Hotspur have appointed former Celtic Manager, Ange Postecoglou as their head coach on a four-year deal.

    The 57-year-old Australian, who won the domestic treble with Celtic this season, moves south to London to replace Antonio Conte.

    Conte was sacked in late March, with Cristian Stellini and then Ryan Mason taking temporary charge.

    Postecoglou will officially join Spurs on July 1.

    Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said on the club’s website: “Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play.

    “He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy –– everything that is important to our club.

    “We are excited to have Ange join us as we prepare for the season ahead.”