Energy solution company, AITEO Group yesterday acquired the naming rights for Nigeria’s oldest football competition, the Nigeria Football Federation Cup for 5 years. The competition is now to be known as Aiteo Cup.
Speaking at the press conference for signing of Aiteo Cup agreement, NFF President, Amaju Pinnick said, “We want to celebrate and thank Aiteo. I promise you, we will not only qualify for AFCON but we will beat SA in SA”.
Ace sports broadcaster and Independent Chairperson of the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode chipped in, “I am very excited that the women (women’s FA Cup) have been taken care of”
With the new deal, men’s winners will now get N25m prize money while runners-up will receive N10m. Women’s winners will be paid N10m and their runners-up N5m.
NFF announces N2.5bn partnership deal with AITECO Group.
The Nigeria Football Federation have announced AITECO Group, a frontline integrated energy solutions company as its latest corporate sponsor. According to NFF President, Amaju Pinnick, the partnership which is worth N2.5bn starts on May 1, 2017 and will last five years with an initial option of a one-year extension.
The firm becomes the official optimum partner of the federation and will pay salaries of all National team coaches for the next five years. The statement issued after the signing of the agreement, “it will improve the technical preparation and enhance the performance of Nigerian national teams involved in tournaments.”
Shehu Dikko, chairman of the League Management Company Limited (
Amaju Pinnick gets FIFA appointment
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) have confirmed the appointment of their President, Amaju Pinnick into the Federation of International Football Federation (FIFA) Organizing Committee for Competitions.
According to thenff.com, FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, who signed Pinnick’s letter of appointment dated 18th January 2017, wrote: “We are very pleased to inform you that you have been appointed member of the Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions. We wish you our sincere congratulations on this appointment.
“The FIFA administration is at your disposal through the following Administration Officer, who will be in contact with you regarding the upcoming meetings and any further aspects relating to your office as member of this committee: Colin Smith, Chief Competitions Officer.
“We wish you great success and enjoyment in this role at FIFA and look forward to welcoming you soon to Zurich.”
he world body had different committees for organization of its several competitions, including the FIFA World Cup, FIFA Confederations Cup, FIFA Women’s World Cup, FIFA U20 World Cup, FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup, FIFA U17 World Cup, FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, FIFA Club World Cup and the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup. Pinnick was a member of the Organising Committee for the FIFA U20 World Cup.
However, at its 66th Congress in Mexico City on 12th – 13th May 2016, and in accordance with the revised FIFA Statutes that came into force on 27th April 2016, the model of the standing committees was reviewed, cutting the number from 26 to 9.
The new model has only the following committees: Governance, Finance, Development, Member Associations, Referees, Players’ Status, Football Stakeholders, Medical, Organising Committee for FIFA Competitions.
In line with the new FIFA reforms, each proposed member of any of the committees was made to go through a comprehensive integrity check conducted by several organisations of global relevance and stature.
As a member of the CAF Organising Committee for the Africa Cup of Nations, Pinnick is presently at the 31st Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, and will be match commissioner for Saturday’s clash between Mali and Ghana.
Meanwhile Pinnick is a candidate for election into the Executive Committee of CAF.
The CAF elections will take place at the 39th Ordinary General Assembly of the organization in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 16th March.
Source: thenff.com
Amaju Pinnick defends absence at Keshi's burial
NFF President, Amaju Pinnick has come in for harsh criticism for missing the funeral of the late Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi few days ago. Even though he attended the lying-in-state ceremony which preceded the burial, a lot of Nigerians expressed disappointment at his absence at the funeral service which took place at his home town, Illah, Delta State on Friday.
Responding to criticisms on social media, Amaju said “It’s really sad the way we just use extreme languages. Right from the moment he passed, I have been actively involved greatly,”
“I followed the motorcade from the morgue to the church in Benin. I was at the service throughout. I followed the motorcade to the stadium. I was there again throughout again.
“I did a two and half hour journey to Asaba. I did the entire programme with them. I had a private meeting with the family to reappraise plans.
“I woke the next morning unwell, threw up. On my way to Illah, I was struggling but had to reverse immediately, I got a member to leave Port Harcourt to attend which he did.
“You people should kindly find out the role I and the NFF played from his death to date.”
Court sacks Amaju Pinnick as NFF President
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A Federal High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State today nullified the election that brought NFF President, Amaju Pinnick into office. The court also ordered Chris Giwa to take over. The duo of Adama Yahaya and Obinna Ogba had approached the court to re-list the suit against Pinnick which they withdrew after the intervention of former President Jonathan.
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Reacting to the verdict, Pinnick said, “It is disappointing we are still taking football matters to civil courts. We will definitely appeal this case.” - Chris Giwa on the other hand was elated. “This is victory for Nigeria football. The right ruling has been made and we are taking over immediately.”
CHAN 2016 exit: NFF, Oliseh apologise to Nigerians
Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh as well as Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Amaju Pinnick have apologised to Nigerians over the Super Eagles’ exit from the African Nations Championship.
Nigeria lost 1-0 to Guinea in yesterday’s last group C match and subsequently crashed out of the tournament. They garnered four points from their two previous matches and only needed a draw against Guinea to advance to the quarter-final.
“We apologise to Nigerians for this loss, we never planned to exit the tournament this early. The boys gave their best,” Oliseh said after the game.
Pinnick added, “We apologise to Nigerians for the poor outing of the Super Eagles in Rwanda, but we toe the line of CAF which states that CHAN is a developmental and preparatory competition. Of course, as Nigerians, we love to win always, and we feel bad when we don’t.
“I want us to take the positives from this tournament. A player like Chisom Chikatara broke onto the global platform and players like Usman Mohammed, Chima Akas, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Austin Oboroakpo and Ifeanyi Mathew confirmed their class.
“For me, it is disappointing that we did not progress. But the NFF will now focus on the 2017 AFCON qualifiers, and start preparations early for the remaining rounds.”
Enyeama could reconsider his decision to retire from international football
Lille goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama could reconsider his decision to retire from international football following his face-off with Super Eagles coach, Sunday Oliseh. The 32-year old who called time on his career last Thursday via social media held a meeting with NFF officials; Amaju Pinnick, Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko on Saturday in Belgium and even had a phone conversation with Sunday Oliseh.
We await Enyeama’s comment this week. 🙂
Nigeria to face Cameroon, Congo in a friendly encounter
President of the NFF, Amaju Pinnick has confirmed that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will be playing two friendlies against Cameroon and Congo in Belgium next month.
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“I can confirm that we will play against Congo on October 8 in Antwerp and against Cameroon on October 11 in Brussels,” Amaju Pinnick said on television.
“I can confirm that we will play against Congo on October 8 in Antwerp and against Cameroon on October 11 in Brussels,” Amaju Pinnick said on television.
Congo denied Nigeria a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea earlier this year by finishing second in the qualifying group behind South Africa.
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Pinnick said the Nigeria Football Federation was also eyeing another friendly with a north African team before the Super Eagles’ 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in March.
Pinnick said the Nigeria Football Federation was also eyeing another friendly with a north African team before the Super Eagles’ 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Egypt in March.
Tunisia and Algeria are being considered as possibilities for the fixture in November, he added.
Egypt currently lead Group G with six points from two matches. Nigeria are second on four points.
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The two sides clash in a double-header in what is being seen as the decider for automatic qualification for the tournament in Gabon in two years’ time.
The two sides clash in a double-header in what is being seen as the decider for automatic qualification for the tournament in Gabon in two years’ time.
We have no regrets appointing Sunday Oliseh – Amaju Pinnick
President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick has insisted that the NFF have no regrets in appointing ex-international, Sunday Oliseh as the manager of the Super Eagles.
Amaju maintained that Oliseh remains the best option for the team while also appealing to the fans to be patient and supportive.
He made this known on Tuesday via Twitter and the federation’s website as he defended some decisions of the FA that had taken public scrutiny.
He said, “We have no regrets appointing Sunday Oliseh. Other African countries were gunning for him, but he opted for his country. Oliseh’s stock in international football is high because apart from his work with FIFA, he has a company that trains and grades coaches all over the world.
“What the NFF, Oliseh, the League Management Company and other aspects of Nigerian football need is support from everyone, and patience, so that we can put in place our developmental programmes that will take the country’s game to a new height.”
In response to the regular criticisms of Oliseh due to his lack of experience, Pinnick responded that his national team playing career, which saw him winning the Africa Cup of Nations’ gold, silver and bronze, Olympic gold and working with the FIFA Technical Study Group, would take care of that area.
“Experience is accumulation of knowledge over time to be used in a given situation. Technology provides immediate solution. “Oliseh won’t be only a coach; he will be manager of the Super Eagles.”
Pinnick then urged critics of Nigerian football to be constructive and not destructive, and to cultivate the habit of proffering alternative solutions whenever they feel that the federation’s decisions were not good enough.
“Instead of simply castigating those at the helm of affairs, we should have tendency to offer what we believe are better solutions for specific issues. It is not about one person; it is about our dear country, Nigeria.
Done deal! Sunday Oliseh is Super Eagles manager-in-waiting.
The Nigeria Football Federation are currently in talks with ex Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh to become the Head Coach of the men’s national team. Recall that the managerial position became available few days back after ex coach, Stephen Keshi was fired for breaching some terms of his contract.
Sunday Oliseh met with NFF President Amaju Pinnick in London on Tuesday and right now negotiations have reached advanced stage. Confirming the news, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee said, “An offer has been made, and there is understanding, but we have to work out the final details of the agreement in a few days. Of course, the Executive Board has to give approval for his appointment based on the final terms to be agreed.”
Oliseh will come with a Foreign Technical Assistant, whose job description will centre around development programmes, and who will work with Clubs’ Youth Teams and certified Academies towards developing the game from the grassroots.
According to nff.com, Oliseh is expected to come up with a five –year developmental plan to fashion a unique playing and coaching philosophy for all the National Teams, and will for this purpose, interface regularly with coaches of those teams.
“We are also looking at how he will periodically organize clinics and seminars for coaches of Clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, probably once in a month, so as to strengthen the playing philosophy across board. A robust youth development programme, elite player development strategy and performance programmes to drive higher standards, among other core sustainable development programmes, are also part of the proposal,” Anyansi-Agwu added.
NFF President Amaju Pinnick said: “Sunday Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game, and will certainly add value to what we are doing. He has bought into our vision and objectives towards the development of Nigeria football. He will command the respect of the players and we trust he has the temperament to work harmoniously with the Technical and Development Committee, the Technical Directorate and the Technical Study Group.
“On our part at the NFF, we will give him all the support to succeed as we have been giving to all our coaches. Subject to the approval of the NFF Executive Committee, we will conclude negotiations by weekend and he will be unveiled next week.”
The 40 year-old FIFA instructor won 63 caps for Nigeria between 1993 and 2002. He was part of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994, and played in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup final competitions. He played in clubs like Reggiana, FC Cologne, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund etc. He holds a UEFA Pro License. Between 2008 and 2009, he coached Belgian club, Vervietois.
Credit: nff.com