Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Video - Nigeria urges Africa to forget Brexit




Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama, says Africa should ignore the Brexit referendum outcome and forge ahead with its plans for a free-trade zone on the continent.

Video - Oil workers and Nigerian government continue negotiations to end strike




Nigerian government says it's made major headway in talks with striking oil workers. Even though Monday's session was inconclusive, talks continued on Tuesday, the 12th of July. Until workers call off their strike, Nigeria is teetering on the verge of a fuel crisis. Kelechi Emekalam has the latest on the industrial action that's threatening to cripple Africa's largest economy.

Paul Le Guen appointed new Super Eagles coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), has chosen Paul Le Guen, as the new Super Eagles manager.

According to the PUNCH, the football house picked the Frenchman, from a three-man shortlist that included Salisu Yusuf and Tom Saintfiet.

It is also understood that the NFF will consider Yusuf as an assistant coach. The former Kano Pillars boss had earlier said he was not interested in being second in command to anybody.

The official said: “As it is now the position of the deputy has been thrown open because Yusuf is still insisting that he would not work as an assistant to Le Guen.

“Those who worked on their entries picked the Frenchman and with the hope that Yusuf could learn a lot from him for the immediate future but he (Yusuf) appears to have some other ideas so the federation will now have to consider a new person altogether to replace Yusuf.”

Football referees in Nigeria threaten boycott

President of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Tade Azeez, has said they might be forced to pull out of Nigerian leagues, because of several assaults on match officials.

Angry fans descended on referee Daniel Akure and his assistants, following Warri Wolves 1-1 draw at home with league leaders, Wikki Tourists last weekend.

According to reports, one of Akure’s assistants escaped the assault, by running into Wikki’s team bus.

Azeez has warned that such attacks will no longer be tolerated.

“The attack on referees has surprisingly continued with Sunday’s attack on the referee who handled the Warri Wolves versus Wikki Tourists game,” he said in a statement released by the body.

“The NRA has considered it necessary to boycott all matches involving any team where referees are either harassed or physically assaulted by them and their supporters.”

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

FIFA president Gianni Infantino set to visit Nigeria

Fifa president Gianni Infantino will meet senior football association leaders from across Africa on a two-day working visit to Nigeria in July.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) said on Monday Infantino will arrive in Abjua on 24 July and will meet "a legion of African FA presidents".

Infantino, elected in February this year, will be accompanied by new Fifa secretary-general Fatma Samoura.

NFF president Amaju Pinnick met Infantino for talks in Paris on Sunday.

"The Fifa president and secretary-general will arrive in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Sunday 24th July on a two-day working visit to Nigeria," Pinnick said on the NFF website.

The statement said the Fifa officials will meet Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari and hold a meeting "with a legion of African FA presidents, who are expected in Nigeria" at the same time.

Nigeria is seen as one of the giants of African football even though the Super Eagles failed to qualify for the Africa Cup of Nations finals for the second time in succession.

The NFF has been dogged by factional disputes over its leadership and Fifa has threatened Nigeria with suspension from international competition because of irregularities in the leadership voting process.