The nation’s soccer governing body, NFF has hinted that it would in the next one month constitute boards for Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) and the other league governing bodies. In a communique released after its meeting yesterday in Abuja, the NFF said it would do this as enshrined in the Statutes. Below is the communique as released by the NFF media department… COMMUNIQUE OF THE MEETING OF NFF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE HELD AT THE NFF SECRETARIAT ON MONDAY, 17TH APRIL 2023 The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation met on Monday, 17th April 2023 at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja to deliberate on important issues in Nigeria Football and resolved as follows: 1. In order to further rejuvenate the domestic game, the Board took a decision that within the next one

(1) month, the Federation should, through its governing structure best practice and as enshrined in the Statutes, constitute boards for the Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL), the Nigeria National League (NNL), the Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL) and the Nigeria Nationwide League One (NLO).

2. After appraising the preparations that have been afforded the team pre-competition, including a proposed 10-day final camping programme in North Africa, the Board minced no words in charging the U17 Boys’ National Team (Golden Eaglets) to deploy its best efforts in overcoming all before it to win the Africa U17 Cup of Nations taking place in Algeria between 29 April and 19 May, and in the process earning a ticket to the FIFA u17 World Cup finals taking place later this year.

3. While asseverating that the bronze-medal performance of the U20 Boys, Flying Eagles at the Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt was below-par, the Board exhorted the technical crew and the players to see it as a national duty to win the FIFA U20 World Cup for Nigeria when the tournament takes place in Argentina between 20 May and 11 June.

4. The Board expressed satisfaction with the new positive spirit and winning mentality in the camp of the senior women national team, Super Falcons, which has seen the team win its last three international matches. With the bigger picture of the biggest-ever FIFA Women’s World Cup competition coming up in Australia and New Zealand this summer in mind, the Board admonished the technical crew to work even harder to give confidence to the players that they can indeed stand their own against the world’s best. Board stated that it will do even more to prepare the team for the big challenge with another grade A friendly match in Europe and a two-week camping in Australia before the kick-off of the tournament on 20 July.

5. Genuinely disturbed by the vexed issue of agents and football merchants around the various National Teams and their debilitating effects on the performance of the teams over the past few years, the Board vowed to henceforth, mete out stiff sanctions to whoever is caught aiding or abetting, dealing, perpetrating or perpetuating the ignoble activities of these nefarious individuals no matter their roles, status or pedigree.

6. The Board expressed distaste with recent results of the Super Eagles and the U23 Boys, and fully endorsed the NFF President’s stated position that the Federation will never beg any player to wear the nation’s colours. It added that whoever is not motivated for one reason or the other to represent Nigeria should always be bold enough to state this at the point of invitation. Any perceived lackadaisical attitude by any player wearing Nigeria’s colours at international level will no longer be treated with kid gloves.

7. The Board assured Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora that it remains very focused and working assiduously towards proactively and vigorously developing Nigeria Football from the grassroots, as well as providing adequate support and encouragement to the youth teams to flourish and produce players for the senior teams, and also to engender a conducive environment for the blossoming of a Football Economy that will, sooner than later, begin to contribute to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product.

Super Eagles need surgical operation, declares Elaho

As many Nigerians continue to lament the poor form of the Super Eagles in recent times, one time national team player, Friday Elaho has joined the growing list of exinternationals calling for the total overhaul of the team. In an interview with The Catholic Herald Sports, Elaho expressed surprise that a team that was rated as the best fifth team in the world after the 1994 world cup could not make the first top teams in Africa in the latest FIFA ranking and questioned the criteria for inviting players to the national team. “It’s quite unfortunate that Nigerian football has gone down considerably. Instead of the game to progress in the country, it’s retrogessing which shows that something is seriously wrong with the administration of the game. “More worrisome is the fact that a country rated as the fifth best team in the world immediately after USA 94 World Cup cannot even occupy the first three positions in the continent which is an indication that something is fundamentally wrong with our football He was also not happy that grass roots development in the game has been neglected with home based players not given opportunity to be part of the national team while journey men are always employed as foreign technical advisers which he believes does not augur well for the development of the game.

 ” I’ve said it severally that we must take the issue of grassroots development of the game serious. Most of us were discovered from the grassroots and we did well for the country. “It’s also absurd that players plying their trade in the Local League are not given chance to be part of the national team while some foreign coaches who are journey men and out of job in their various countries are engaged to handle the Super Eagles’ and that accounted for why football minnows like war torn Central African Republic and Guinea Bissau would come here and beat us”, he lamented Elaho believes that the only way to correct the anomaly is for a surgical operation of the national team starting from the coaching crew as well as ensuring that only players playing regularly for their clubs and who’re willing to give their best to the country are invited to the Super Eagles even as he advocated giving home based players opportunity to showcase their talents in the Eagles’ as was done in the past.

FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw: Scola, Saweetie to light up ceremony

Excitement is building up for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda, in Manila, Philippines on April 29 when all 32 participating nations will find out their opponents for the event. The event for the prestigious tournament which for the first time will be co-hosted by three nations in the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia, will take place at 19:30 local time at the Araneta Coliseum. Argentina legend and FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Global Ambassador, Luis Scola, will be on stage to assist with the draw. Scola is the second all-time top scorer in the competition, having appeared in five editions, with his 41 appearances the joint-highest in history. He will line up alongside the iconic Dirk Nowitzki, Central Board Member and Chair of the FIBA Players’ Commission. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda will see performances from global hip-hop artist Saweetie and Filipino favorites, Sarah Geronimo and Billy Crawford. Saweetie is a California-based multi-hyphenate artist, actress, philanthropist and entrepreneur. The multi-platinum award winning rapper is widely recognized for her catchy melodies and dynamic rhymes.

She grew up in the veritable melting pot of the Bay Area but also traces her roots to the Philippines by way of her mother, where she will be performing for the first time. Geronimo is a singer, performer, and actress who has attained an array of accolades for her work, including a FAMAS Golden Artist Award and a World Music Award. She is also considered one of the most influential celebrities and influencers in Asia. Billy Crawford is a Filipino-American singer, songwriter, actor, and TV host known for his smooth R&B and pop music style. He has released several albums and hosted various TV shows in the Philippines and abroad. Also in attendance for the event will be the Local Ambassadors of each respective host nation: Catriona Gray and LA Tenorio from the Philippines, Takehiko Orimo from Japan, and Raffi Ahmad from Indonesia. Catriona Gray is a Filipino-Australian beauty queen, singer, and model, who won Miss Universe 2018. LA Tenorio is a former member of the Philippines national team. Takehiko Orimo is a legend in Japan basketball and played in two previous World Cups including in 2006 when the competition was last hosted in Japan. Raffi Ahmad is an Indonesian actor, presenter, and singer, best known for his work in the Indonesian entertainment industry.

In addition to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda being available live and in full on the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Website, on the FIBA YouTube channel, and official streaming service Courtside 1891, it will be broadcasted live by many of FIBA’s official broadcast partners across the world on both television and digital services. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw presented by Wanda will be a major primetime television event in the Philippines on ONE Sports. Meanwhile, in Japan there will be coverage of the event by TV Asahi and Nippon TV along with a live stream via DAZN. For fans in Indonesia, the Draw will be broadcast on MNC Sports. The draw will sort the 32 qualified teams into eight groups of four teams each. The FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Draw Principles will be published before the event. On Saturday, 29 April, there will be a Draw Festival in Uptown BGC open to the public and will feature performances from popular local acts headlined by Ben & Ben. The Draw Festival will include the launch of the official FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 Molten Official Game Ball as well as the launch of the Official Licensing collections that will be taking place on stage with a fashion show. The Trophy Tour presented by J9 will also be tipping off in Manila after the Draw and fans will have the opportunity to see the Naismith Trophy on display at the Draw Festival.