The new President of Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau has given his pledge to run an inclusive administration, in which all stakeholders will be welcome to make suggestions and recommendations on the best way to deal with knotty and not-so-knotty issues. “Administration at every level, that of football inclusive, requires the wisdom to be able to listen to everyone who has an idea and then pick the very best to deal with each situation at hand. Those of us in the Executive Committee are only privileged to be representing the entire fraternity. “We will run an inclusive administration in which ideas and advice will be welcome from all quarters, and will be guided in our resolutions. It is very important to resuscitate the League and engender a massive football economy from which every stakeholder can benefit and also be happy to contribute to its growth.”

A former Chairman of the Zamfara State Sports Commission, Ibrahim Musa Gusau served as a Member of the organizing committee for the African Nations Championship, and is today a Member of the CAF organizing committee for youth competitions, viz U17, U20 and U23. He is also a Safety and Security Officer of the Confederation of African Football. Having served two terms as Chairman of Chairmen and Member of the NFF Executive Committee under the Amaju Melvin Pinnick administration, Gusau says he is determined to focus hard on the welfare of players and officials of the various National Teams, in order to ginger and motivate them for podium appearances at international competitions to the glory of the country. “It is important to prioritize grassroots football and youth development, and that we will take to heart. It is also important to win trophies, and both can go side-byside. Winning trophies is good for our country’s image in the international sphere and also helps to motivate the upcoming stars at the grassroots level.”

Kwara dominates YSFON CNN/ NOWA football championship

Host state Kwara, has won both the boys U-14 Chief of Naval Staff and the girls U-17 Nigerian Navy Officers Wives football championship. The finals which was decided at the Kwara State Football Academy Complex, Ilorin saw the male team beating their Enugu state counterpart by 4-2 penalties after their game ended 0-0 at full time while their females who are winning the title a record fifth time recorded a 1-0 victory over their opponents from Osun State to emerge winners. Presenting trophies and medals to the teams, the Chief Of Naval Staff Vice Admiral Awwal Gambo who was represented by Rear Admiral B.J. Gbasa, Chief of Naval Administration expressed delight at the successful hosting of the week-long event assuring that the Navy will continue to partner Youth Sports Federation of Nigeria in their quest to develop grassroots football. He was particularly happy that the championship over the years has produced many talented youths who later represented the country both locally and internationally and charged YSFON not to relent in their efforts at championing grassroots sports development. ” The Nigerian Navy is happy to partner with YSFON in it’s talents discovery programme and am happy that since the commencement of this championship, many talented players have been discovered who later became household names internationally in football. “

 I also want to say that I’m happy with the football artistry displayed by the players, the discipline and their level of sportsmanship and I want to assure YSFON that the Nigerian Navy will contact to sponsor this competition because of the immense benefit that goes with it”, he stressed. In his closing remarks, National President of YSFON Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna who was represented by the Vice President North- Central Alhaji Mustapha Allayday said that the Federation is happy with what the Navy is doing in grassroots football development and charged similar services and corporate Nigeria to partner with it in order to develop sports further and give hope to talented youths of the country. ” We at YSFON are particularly happy with what the Navy is doing in grassroots sports development in the country and I appeal to similar services, corporate organisations and philanthropists to emulate them and give hope to our youths”, he concluded Some top government officials that graced the grand finale are; representative of the Inspector General of Police, Commissioner of Police, Paul. O. Odama, representative of Kwara State Governor, Director of Sports Nigerian Navy, Commodore R.M Shammah , Deputy Commandant Navy College of Health Sciences, Offa, Kwara State, Navy Captain S.A Ahmadu and Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Donatius Agu- Ejidike amongst others.

Ebun Comets, MFM, Grizzly Bear confirmed for Oguche/Bullet B’ball championship

Nigeria Basketball league traditional teams such as Ebun Comets, Rivers Hoopers and First Bank are some of the top clubs already confirmed to feature in the next edition of the Sam Oguche Energy Bullet Basketball Championship. The competition billed for November 1 to 6, 2022 will be staged at the Sports Hall of the National Stadium in Surulere Lagos. Sam Oguche who spoke from his base in the USA by the weekend said just a few teams would be invited to join the list of the 19 already confirmed for the competition. “We are almost good to go with the teams featuring this time. There about two or three teams especially in the women’s category still under consideration,” he said. Oguche, an ex-Nigeria international who was also a guard with the Lagos Islanders had earlier said “I am delighted once again to expand the next edition of the championship to add more teams.” Hoopers who represented Nigeria in the first edition of the African continental event, BAL are tipped as favourites for the trophy. Lagos Legends are steadily on the rise while Abuja based scholars, Nile University cannot be overlooked. They have won the NBBF National Division Two League and later Division One. There will quality prizes for teams and individuals backed by a lot of entertainment and fun in the American style. Male teams (1)Hot Coal Abuja (2)Nile University Abuja (3)Mo Heats Abuja (4) Correctional Services Abuja (5) Ebun Comets (6) Legends Lagos (7) Kwara Falcons (8) Rivers Hoopers (9) DYTO Lome, Togo (10) Warlords Ogun (11) Delta Force (12) Grizzly Bear Women’s teams (1) First Bank (2) MFM (3) Air Warriors (4) Impression Basketball Academy (5) War Queens, Ogun (6) Peace Basketball Academy (7)Tap Queens

Ladipo charges new NFF board on inclusive government

Following the emergence of Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau as the 36th President of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), President General of the Nigeria Football Supporters Club, Dr. Rafiu Ladipo has charged him to run an inclusive government and set motion in place to placate all aggrieved stakeholders. Gusau immediate past Chairman of Chairmen and chairman of Zamfara State Football Association last Friday in Benin City, the Edo State Capital defeated eleven other contestants to emerge the new boss of the football house. Other members of the board includes; Felix Anyansi Agwu as 1st Vice President, Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Chairman of Chairmen, Margaret Icheen, North- Central representative, Alhaji Babagana Kali and Timothy Henman, North- East representatives and Alhaji Sharif Rabiu Inuwa representing North- West. Others are; Essien Udofot and Aisha Falode representing South- South, Sunday Ajayi and Ganiyu Majekodunmi representing South- West while election for the representatives of South- East was suspended. Ladipo told Nigerian Xpress Sports that while he congratulates Gusau and his board members for their victory , he would like to see genuine reconciliation of all stakeholders just as he admonished him to avoid the mistakes of immediate past President of the Federation, Amaju Pinnick whom he accused of factionalising the Supporters Club and the players union. ” We at the Supporters Club are happy that the era of Pinnick has gone and Gusau is now the new helsman and I congratulate him and pray he succeeds. “

My advice is that he should avoid those things that made Pinnick’s tenure turbulent. As an experienced football administrator, I expect him to run an all inclusive government and involve all genuine stakeholders before taking any major decision affecting the country’s football. ” He must also not toe the line of his predecessor, who because of his selfish interest encouraged division in the Supporters Club and the players union which the country’s football is paying dearly for “, he stressed. Ladipo while looking forward to a cordial working relationship between the new board and the Supporters Club, assured Gusau that members of the club will always support him once he’s doing the right thing but will not fail to criticize him once he derails. ” I’m hopeful that we’re going to have a good working relationship with the new NFF board and I also believe that the new helmsman and his team will put in place noble ideas that will move the country’s football forward. “Once this is done, he’ll receive the support and blessing of all and all the rancor in our football will be a thing of the past but whenever he derails, we will not waste time in criticising him to enable him take corrections”, Ladipo concluded.