The Brazilian superstar is amongst several high profile dignitaries, including Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan invited to the official opening of the 30,000 ultra-modern Akwa Ibom International Stadium
Author: Bowale Odutola
Coach Stephen Keshi has also called up Emem Eduok and Mfon Udoh, the two men in the hot chase for the Top Scorer’s award in this year’s Premier League, as well as Gbolahan Salami, Rabiu Ali, Christian Pyagbara, Bright Esieme, Umar Zango, Solomon Kwambe and Azubuike Egwuekwe in a 24-man squad
Amodu was announced to take over the senior squad in the early hours of October 16, hours after the team’s 3-1 win over Sudan in Abuja only took it to third place in the Group A table of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign
The LMC Chairman harped on the issue of players’ welfare, which he said is a fundamental requirement under club licensing regulations and expressed displeasure that some Clubs have been cited in cases of non-fulfilment of contractual obligation to players
Home-based defender, Solomon Kwambe, also returns and Aaron Samuel (who got one of the goals against Sudan), Hope Akpan, Sunday Emmanuel and home-boy Emem Eduok have further chances after being called for the matches against the Falcons of Sudan
This time, they were declared absent 30 minutes after the scheduled kick-off time by the Centre Referee, M. A. Sule, who concluded the walk-over formalities with a whistle
The angry players have also threatened to adopt other options, which includes boycotting of the remaining Nigeria Premier League matches
The Vice President of the Ghana Football Association, Fred Crentsil, who was mandated by the Confederation of African Football to inspect the facility, has given the infrastructure very high marks
The Chairman of the Appeal Committee, Barrister Okey Ajunwa, who stated this on Wednesday while briefing journalists after the inaugural sitting in Abuja, said the committee has so far received four petitions on the general conduct of the September 30 elections in Warri
It had told the NFF Congress not to go ahead with another Elective Congress, after the Chris Giwa-led board, which was elected in Abuja on August 26, had lodged a complaint.
The match would be played in Durban instead of Nelspruit as a tribute to Bafana Bafana goalkeeper and captain, Senzo Meyiwa, who was shot dead on Sunday
It is also to provide positive role models for players and to educate them on how to recognise, resist and report any attempts to manipulate matches
Jonathan called a truce meeting involving leading figures in Nigeria football on Wednesday, which effectively led to the resolution of a leadership crisis that threatened the very soul of the game in Nigeria
In a letter dated October 27, 2014 and addressed to the NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, through the Chairman of NFF Technical Committee, the 56-year-old tactician, who was named as new Head Coach penultimate week, said he wanted Keshi reconsidered for the two matches as the time frame is too short to tinker with the fabric of the squad or start to build a new one altogether
The court was expected to deliver a ruling on Thursday on whether or not it had the jurisdiction to hear the matter
This move comes in time to stave the Friday noon ultimatum given by world’s football governing body, FIFA, to resolve the quagmire in the country’s football house or face a long term ban
The one-day athletics championship, which was powered by the 1st Vice President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, Alhaji Tunde AbdulKareem, featured athletes from Kwara, Benue, Plateau and Niger States and the Federal Capital Territory, who competed for cash rewards and honours in different categories
The order, according to an impeccable source, was issued during a meeting Jonathan had with the President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick, at the Presidential Villa on Wednesday night
The Super Falcons of Nigeria emerged champions for the seventh time at the continental tournament, which ended on October 25, 2014, while their Ivorian counterparts, the Elephants, came third, with both ECOWAS teams clinching two of Africa’s three slots for the FIFA Women World Cup finals taking place in Canada in 2015
For United, the deal will boost their coffers further as they look to continue to fund their incredible spending on players through commercial tie-ups