NPFL: FC Ifeanyiubah now league leaders, Rangers vs Giwa tie abandoned

NIGERIA Professional Football League (NPFL) was played through three days with three live television coverages starting with a Friday night football game at the Agege Stadium, Lagos between MFM FC and Wikki Tourists.

By Sunday evening, it was FC Ifeanyiubah, who had gone top of the pile no thanks to the abandoned game involving leaders going into the match day, Rangers International.

Police takes over Nigeria Football Federation secretariat

THE Nigeria Police Force took over the Nigerian Football Federation headquarter in Abuja on Monday as the leadership crisis took a new twist .

Plateau Utd hit Giwa FC 2-0 in Jos derby

PLATEAU United came out tops in the first Jos derby in five years as they beat Giwa FC 2-0 in a pulsating game at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos on Sunday.

United were the designated home side in the Match Day 11 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) tie as both sides use the stadium for their home games.

Giwa’s NFF announces new appointments

THE Chris Giwa-led faction of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF, rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja on Saturday, announcing the appointment of new management staff, acting chairmen of committees and secretaries.

The board equally announced the dissolution of all standing committees appointed by the board led by Amaju Pinnick. Also, all contract staff apart from Director of Marketing, Mr. Idris Adama, are to proceed on one-month compulsory leave with effect from Monday April 11, 2016.

In a statement signed by Chief Effiong Johnson the Chairman of Chairmen, Mr. Bola Oyeyode is now the acting General Secretary, Mr. Lawrence Katken will head the competition department in acting capacity, Mr. Barnabas Joro will be acting head of protocol, Dr. Robinson Okosun-acting of head of media & communications, Mr. Ayo Rahman acting executive secretary national league, Mr. Shola Ogunnowo acting secretary nationwide league, Mr. Danlami Alalana acting secretary women league.

The President of NFF Ambassador Chris Giwa is the chairman emergency committee, while Chief Effiong Johnson is the chairman the security committee, A. Akinshola and Alhaji Inuwa M. Umar as members while Dr. Christian Emeruwa is the secretary.

Senator Obinna Ogba is the chairman organising and disciplinary committee, Pharmacist Lanre Alege and Barrister Effiong Oboho are members while Dr. Christian Emeruwa is the secretary.

Mr. Olajide Fashikun will serve as the chairman, Marketing and Sponsorship committee. Others are Alhaji Suleiman Mu’azu is chairman of referees’ appointment committee, to be assisted by NRA President, Mr. Tade Azeez and Mrs Judith Nwankere. Sunday Okhai is the secretary.

Mr. Yahaya Adama is the chairman of match commissioner appointment committee. Godwin Odekina and Austin Mgbolu are members while Mr. Emmanuel Adesanya is the secretary. Barrister Leye Adepoju is chairman appeals committee with Dr Chris Ekong and Barrister Tony Okah, Barrister Okey Obi is the secretary.

Dr. Shehu Adamu is the head of finance committee. Alhaji Sani Fema is the head arbitration committee, Alhaji Isah Umar and Felix Akhigbe are members while Nasir Jubril is the secretary.

Mr. Ayo Alabi secretary of Ekiti State FA is the chairman national league, Leo Igbokwe, M. T. Talle FCT FA Chairman, Abbi Ekine Tubonimi; Mohammed Alkali Nasarawa State FA Chairman is the acting chairman of Nationwide League, Debo Adeoye and Chika Nwankwo.

Chief (Mrs.) Margaret Icheen the Benue State FA Chairman is the acting chairman of women league with Hajia Laraba Shoda and Effiong Johnson. Ethics committee will be chaired by Barrister J. B. C. Ebigwere. His members will include Alhaji Kabiru Atur, Alhaji Fantami Garbai.

Meanwhile, Chief Johnson has directed the NFF electoral committee led by Barrister Amoni Biambo to come up with guidelines for elections into the three leagues with immediate effect.

NFF CRISIS: Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Ejidike calls for caution

THE Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has called for caution among the ranks and files of the Nigeria football ruling authority in the face of the brewing crisis rocking the boat of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF.

Chief Donatus Ejidike made the passionate appeal to the warring factions following the ruling of a Federal High Court in Jos that dismissed Amaju Pinnick-led NFF and eventually pronounced Mr Chris Giwa as the new president of NFF.

The Nigeria Pillar of Sports appealed to the warring factions to calm frayed nerves and thread the path of peace talk and amicable resolutions instead of opening old wounds; more importantly when FIFA would not want interference in football procedures by  law courts.

The Pillar of Sports who doubles as the President of Karate Federation of Nigeria called on the Minister of Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung to mediate and prevail over the two sides for peaceful resolutions.

“Now is not the best period to open any can worms that will either polarize the Nigeria football ruling authority or distract the nation’s focus. Nigeria is tottering on the precipice of world football ladder; therefore, celebrating  crisis  is not the best thing to happen to us at this period.”

He said further, “ the pain of Super Eagles crashing out of the African Nations Cup is still very fresh in our memory and that should be our collective concern even as the Nigerian league should find its rhythm to win the hearts and followership of numerous sports lovers. In this sense, we should eschew any act that will derail sports promotions and development”.

Chief Ejidike believes that this country will rise again in the world of sports; and, to achieve that, all hands must be on deck.

COURT JUDGEMENT:NFF files appeal

THE Nigeria Football Federation has swiftly moved to file an appeal, a motion to vacate the order and a motion for a stay-of-execution against the judgement of the Jos High Court, which on Friday decided to re-list a case brought by Ambassador Chris Giwa against the validly –elected NFF administration of Amaju Melvin Pinnick.

In re-listing the case for hearing on 30thMay this year, the court shockingly also restored the order that the election and Congress of 30th September 2014 be nullified.