Aminu Maigari, Philip Obaji disagree over 1 GAME’s publications

President of the Nigeria Football Federation Aminu Maigari and founder of 1 GAME initiative Philip Obaji were said to have been involved in a huge disagreement over publications made by 1 GAME when the latter visited the Glass House last week. A source close to the football federation informed our correspondent that Maigari who spoke in the presence NFF technical Committee Chairman, Christopher Green, was displeased with the publications because he believed there were capable of affecting the image of the NFF. He went further to say that while the argument lasted, Obaji tried to explain to the president why 1 GAME came up with such publications as there were intended to checkmate the NFF.

1 GAME has in recent times come up with series of media publications intended to promote non-violence and end conflicts in football, calling on the public to sign up to its campaign and support its cause.

Okonkwo explains Olympic team snub

Chibuzor Okonkwo has explained his inability to join the Olympic team for this weekend's All Africa Games qualifier against Liberia in Monrovia. 

Okonkwo was replaced by Nurudeen Orelesi after failing to show up before the team's departure on Thursday morning, but he told naijasportivo.blogspot.com that he had informed officials of his situation.

"My passport was at the German embassy for visa processing and I explained the situation to officials of the team," he said. "Of course I would have wanted to travel with them and play the game. But the passport only came out on Friday morning."

Okonkwo, who competed at the 2008 Olympic Games, says he will remain available for selection if the coaches still want him. 

Etim slams NFF over Olympic team job

Tomiwa Babalola

Former international Etim Esin has expressed dissatisfaction over the appointment of ex-Super Eagles goalkeeper Peter Rufai as the team coordinator of the national U-23 team by the Nigerian Football Federation.


Esin said he also applied for the job but was not satisfied with the NFF's appointment of Rufai for the position, arguing that the Tunisia '94 African Nations Cup winner should have been made the team's goalkeeper trainer.

He said, "I don't think they (NFF) are on the right track because of the way they appoint people for various positions in the country's football. I applied for the job of the U-23 team coordinator and it was given to Rufai who should have been appointed as the team's goalkeeper trainer."

I believe the team would have gained more from Rufai's wealth of experience as a goalkeeper," Esin told our correspondent on the telephone on Wednesday.

Olympic qualifiers: Nigeria draw Tanzania

The draw for the London 2012 Olympic Games African qualifiers second round fixtures were made in Cairo, Egypt on Wednesday with Nigeria handed tricky reverse fixtures with Tanzania.

Tanzania have turned giant killers as they dispatched former Olympic champions Cameroon 4-3 in post match penalty shootouts at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam on Saturday to reach the second round.

The East African country will host Nigeria in the first leg in Dar es Salaam on the weekend of June 3-5 while the reverse fixture takes place two weeks later in Nigeria. Nigeria won the men's football gold at the Atlanta '96 Olympic Games.

In the draw conducted by the Confederation of African Football Secretary-General Hicham El-Amrani, Egypt were drawn with their Arab neighbours Sudan, who pulled off a major shock in the qualifiers by eliminating highly-rated Ghana from the race to London.

Algeria were drawn against Zambia while Morocco will face DR Congo. Gabon will take on Mali while Benin battle South Africa. Tunisia were drawn with Senegal.

The eventual winners of the tie between Liberia and Ivory Coast will play Congo Brazzaville. The delayed second leg of the clash is set to be played in Monrovia on April 20, with the Ivorians leading 4-0.

According to CAF, the quarterfinals will be organised by a group system, as the last eight will be divided into two groups. The body added that a new qualifying system would be applied for the next stage of the championship, as three teams are going to represent Africa at the Olympics with a fourth African team meeting a team from Asia in a play-off match to be held on April 12, 2012 in London.

The national U-23 team coach Austin Eguavoen hailed the draw, saying his team would reach the quarterfinals.

"To be honest, I don't know anything about our opponents," he told SuperSport on Wednesday.

"They defeated Cameroon in the first round so that is a side that should be treated with respect.

" I am sure we will deliver yet again."

Olympic Eagles: Anyanwu out, Oduamadi in, Chibuzor expected

Enyimba international defender, Emmanuel Anyanwu, on Tuesday left the camp of the Dream Team V for the Flying Eagles’ camp in Portharcourt to join the John Obuh-led side as it puts finishing touches to flying the country’s flag at the forthcoming Africa Youth Championship in South Africa.

Anyanwu, who played the right full back position in the Dream Team’s 4-1 win in Malabo, expressed confidence that his team mates will do the country proud in the first leg of All Africa Games qualifier against Liberia in Monrovia this weekend. “I may be leaving but I will always say a prayer for them. But there is no cause for alarm this team has great players and I believe they will take the three points in Monrovia” he said.

Meanwhile, AC Milan’s midfielder, Nnamdi Oduamadi, hit the Ajao Estate camp of the Dream Team V in Lagos on Tuesday afternoon. The player, who was sensational in the first leg game against Equitorial Guinea, was full of smiles on arrival.”I am happy to have got clearance to feature for my country and I will give my all in Monrovia”

Similarly, Kano Pillars’s midfielder, Wasiu Showememo, hit the camp of the dream team late on Tuesday to take the number of players in camp to 21. Still being expected is Heartland of Owerri and Super Eagles’ defender, Chibuzor Okonkwo.

Okonkwo is expected to fill the vaccum left by Emmanuel Anyanwu. In the meantime, the Dream Team V had its first training session inside the mainbowl of the Surulere National Stadium, Lagos. Chief coach of the team, Austin Eguavoen, who supervised the session which lasted a little over 50 minutes charged his wards to remain focused for the game against Monrovia.

“I want to says again congratulations to you boys but remember that there is another task ahead and we must remain focused to ensure that we keep the temple on which we started this qualifiers”.

Supporters Club targets N30m for S/African AYC ...Awaits visa for 60 members

President-General of the Nigerian Football and other Sports Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo, has disclosed that it would require a whooping N30 million to storm South Africa and drum support for the Flying Eagles, participating in the African Youth Championship.

Ladipo, who made the disclosure in a chat with the sporting media in Abuja, said that he was planning to hit the southern African country with 60 members, expressing optimism that the South African Embassy would grant all of them travelling visa today.

“The Nigerian Supporters Club will be there in South Africa. Globacom will be there for us and it will give us some assistance but it will not be enough. No amount of money given us can be enough, considering the fact that we may be up to 100 members in South Africa.

“We have to take care of their accommodations, match ticket, feeding and other logistics. All these will take more than N20 or N30 million for the trip alone. We are bringing our members from Delta, Abia, Imo, Bauchi, Kaduna, Rivers Oyo, Ogun, Lagos and other states.

“It is not a small expenses because members have to come by busses, flight, we will accommodate and feed them and also give them allowances. Where do I get this money?

AYC: Flying Eagles set to hit Johannesburg

Festus Abu



The Flying Eagles are expected to depart Lagos for Johannesburg on Thursday ahead of the 17th African Youth Championship kicking off in South Africa on Sunday.


The U-20 competition will take place from April 17 to May 1 in Johannesburg.

The hosts are scheduled to take on Mali in a Group A opening game at the Dobsonville Stadium in Johannesburg, followed by the second group encounter between Egypt and Lesotho at the same venue.

On Monday, the Flying Eagles will engage their bitter rivals the Black Satellites of Ghana in the opening Group B match at the Rand Stadium, while Cameroon face The Gambia in the other fixture. Ghana won the competition in Rwanda in 2009 and progressed to win the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Egypt.

Ghana coach Orlando Wellington has warned Nigeria to be prepared for a tough match, saying the Satellites would try everything to win the encounter.

"They do not fear us, neither do we fear them," Wellington told KickOffGhana.com.

"But we respect them, we respect their pedigree at this level and we respect what they have achieved at this level."

The semifinalists of the 2011 championship will represent Africa at the FIFA U-20 World Cup scheduled for July 29 - August 20 in Colombia.

Flying Eagles coach John Obuh last week named a 21-man squad for the tournament.

They are Danjuma Paul, John Felagha, Gideon Gambo, Markson Ojobo, Ganiu Ogungbe, Mohammed Aliyu, Terna Suswan, Kingsley Oluocha, Gbenga Arokoyo and Emmanuel Anyanwu.

Others are Chidi Osuchukwu, Ramon Azeez, Philemon Daniel, Abdul Jeleel Ajagun, Uche Nwofor, Olanrewaju Kayode, Edafe Egbedi, Stanley Okoro, Terry Envoh, Gomo Onduku and VVV Venlo's Ahmed Musa.

Also, the national U-23 team, which were drawn against Tanzania in the second round of the 2012 Olympics qualifiers, will leave for Monrovia for their first leg 2011 All Africa Games qualifier with Liberia on Saturday. Nigeria beat Equatorial Guinea 4-1 in their Olympic qualifiers in Malabo on Sunday to complete a 9-1 aggregate win over the central Africans.

Meanwhile, the Super Falcons were scheduled to depart the country for Namibia on Wednesday night ahead of their second leg of 2012 Olympic Games qualifier against the Brave Gladiators in Windhoek on Saturday.

The Falcons won the first leg in Abuja 7-0 to take a healthy lead into the return leg. 

Eguavoen heads to Monrovia with 20-man squad

Chief Coach of the national Under-23 team ”the Dream team V”, Austin Eguavoen, has picked a 20-man list for the All Africa Games qualifying match against Liberia this weekend in Monrovia. 

 The names were picked from a list of 24 players in the Golden Destiny Hotel camp of the team. Addressing the players, Coach Eguavoen appealed to those who did not make the Monrovia list not to hold grudges as they remain an integral part of the team. 


“As you all know, not all of us can make it to Monrovia. For those of you who would not make the trip to Liberia, you remain an integral part of this team. We are still building and every one of you who has started this campaign will remain a part of the family.” 



“All we ask of you is remain with the team in spirit and put us in your prayers as we head to Monrovia”, Eguavoen appealed. Players for Monrovia duel are: Dele Ajiboye, Ibok Edet, Uchechi Daniel, Rabiu Ibrahim, Ofem Inah Otekpa Emergi, Femi Thomas, Udoh Kingsley, Mba Chimeze, Ayo Saka, Christian Ibeagha,Usman Amoda, Maduabuchi Josiah, Reuben Gabriel, Osas Okoro, Theophilus Afelukan, Ekigho Ehiosun, Wasiu Showemimo, Chibuzor Okonkwo, Nnamdi Oduamadi. 

The Dream Team will on Thursday depart Lagos for Monrovia for its first leg of All Africa Games qualifier against Liberia. The return leg holds in a fortnight in Nigeria.

Nigeria rise in FIFA rankings

After amassing 28 more points, Nigeria climbed a step from 39th to 38th in the April FIFA rankings released on Wednesday by the world football governning body.

Samson Siasia

Nigeria, however, remain, fourth in Africa. Nigeria's improved ranking may be attributed to its two recent victories over Ethiopia and Kenya.

Ghana, Africa's number one, also moved up a step from 16th to 15th position in the world, followed by Cote d'Ivoire who are 21st in the world.

Egypt are ranked 36th globally and third in Africa.

South Africa are ranked 39th, Algeria, 40th and Cameroon 48th.

Spain still maintain their global number one sport, with the Netherlands and Brazil in second and third places respectively.

LIBERIAN FA ABANDON U-23 EAGLES

The Nigeria Dream Team had a bitter experience on arrival at the Liberia International airport as their host, the Liberia FA, left the team stranded at the airport for about three hours.

The team’s media officer, Arafat Aliu, revealed that the Liberia FA only arrived to pick them after the NFF back home had threatened to report them to the Confederation of Africa Football to report the situation.

On arrival, the Liberia FA claimed that they were not aware that the Nigeria team was arriving in their country on Thursday.

“The Liberia FA claimed that they were not aware that we were arriving on Thursday which is a blatant lie because the Nigeria Embassy called them in the morning to tell them of their arrival.” The team is currently accommodated at the Thinker Village Hotel.