Mohammed Sanusi Says We Will Make NFF Independent

Sanusi said one of the key areas the NFF failed in the outgoing year was of getting funds, hence the need to go back to the government every time.

It would be recalled the the Flying Eagles threatened to boycott their AFCON U-20 qualifiers against Sudan in Lagos, the Falconets protestested their unpaid allowances after returning from the FIFA U-20 Women World Cup and as well as the Super Falcons after winning the African Women Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

He added that they must work on how to forestall recurrence of such scenario this year by trying as much as possible to be independent of government.

“We were not happy with what happened with some of the national teams especially the Super Falcons, but we are working seriously so that such didn’t happen this year,” he said.

“The issue of funding is a serious area we failed in the outgoing year. I have always said it that government cannot do it alone, there are so many projects competing for funds from the government, education, roads and others.

“We are calling on other individuals, the private sectors to come to the aid of football in Nigeria, and also to our sponsors who are yet to fulfill their obligations to the federation to do so, and let’s have a good relationship this year.”

Read More

My Contract With NFF Ended with the Rio Olympics , All I Need Now Is My Money - Siasia

The Nigeria Football Federation officials have stated that they are not expecting any letter of resignation from the national U23 coach, Samson Siasia, as his contract ended with the Rio Olympics. A member of the federation who spoke with The Punch on Sunday said the former Super Eagles striker was free to move on.

Siasia who also spoke with The Punch newspaper on Sunday corroborated the NFF statement of his contract having ended but demanded that his outstanding salary be paid him.

Siasia said, “This is not really resignation; my contract was arranged to end with the Olympics. And so the contract has ended.

“What is very important is that I get every kobo that I am owed. I need the money now than ever and I believe I have really endured and I have been cooperative.”

The coach who just won the Olympic bronze in Rio this month did not however completely deny the resignation story that made the headlines by the weekend.

“I spoke with a reporter but I guess the one who are referring to was extracted from the interview I granted somebody else. What I was asked was my entire story at the Olympics and this included Atlanta camping.

“Of course a lot of things happened that I can’t be really happy about especially the way the team was portrayed. But that is over as my contract has also actually ended. What is left now is my cash and that is very, very important,” he said.

Siasia and his friends are hoping that the FA should be able to sort out his bills quickly as they have been able to appoint a new coach from Germany for the Eagles.

Read More

NFF Interested In $390k Donated By Japanese Billionaire? Read...

Well this is according to Vanguard and it had better NOT be TRUE. WTH! Lol...

Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel will according to team’s sources, donate part of his share of the $390,000 awarded to the bronze winning Nigeria U-23 team at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Katsuya Takasu, a Japanese surgeon made good his promise to reward  the team for their bravery in Rio after they beat Honduras 3-2 for the bronze medal.

The Nigeria Football Federation and the Sports Ministry made their observations known by insisting that the money must be from a credible source, but according to feelers from the camp of the Olympics Eagles, the NFF were only seeking for means of getting their hands on the money.

However, Takasu issued two Citibank cheques $200,000 in the name of coach Samson Siasia and $190,000 in the name of Mikel. One of the team’s officials disclosed to Africafootball.com that the team vowed not to hand over the money to the NFF.

“Mikel has insisted all of us will get our share of the money. That we should not mind what the people in the NFF are saying. “He will make available this cash when he comes for next month’s AFCON qualifier against Tanzania in Uyo.”

A team meeting has already resolved that both players and officials will receive equal amount of the cash with Mikel himself agreeing to give part of his own share for the chief coach (Siasia) to get more than the rest of the squad.

It was further gathered that the sharing formula agreed was a flat rate for the 22 players (18 accredited players and four alternate players) and 10 officials. 

Read More

Dogara Begs Siasia, Dream Team Not To Boycott Quarter Final Match

The speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has appealed to the national U23 team styled Dream Team VI, not to boycott its quarter final encounter against Denmark on Saturday, at the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics.

Dogara, who was speaking against the backdrop of complaints of Team’s Head Coach, Samson Siaisia, that the players of the team have refused to train and may boycott the tie due to unpaid allowances and wages, said the Dream Team should take patriotism as a fulcrum of their campaign, as he will personally do everything within his powers to intervene in the matter.

He said the team has a very bright chance of repeating the feat of the Atlanta ’96 Dream Team led by the legendary Nwankwo Kanu and the team should be encouraged by all Nigerians.

He noted that football being the major unifying factor in the country should be maximized by all for Nigeria’s continued joy and unity.

Read More

NFF to pay siasia - Report

Samson Siasia

The Nigeria Football Federation President  says it will  use the  $60,000 grant  recently received from the Confederation of African Football  to clear the unpaid salaries of  the national Under-23 team coach Samson Siasia and his assistants,

Before the Olympics in Rio, Siasia told the media he has not received his salary for five months.

It has also been reported that the former Super Eagles  coach threatened to quit his post after the team’s win over Sweden in Manaus on Monday and had to be begged by his players led by Chelsea star Mikel Obi to rescind this decision.

“I have directed the secretariat that the $60,000 we received from CAF be used immediately to pay the U23 team coaches,”  the outlet quoted the NFF President Amaju  Pinnick as saying on Tuesday. “ We are in the process of paying them.”

The NFF boss admitted the federation is “financially challenged”.

He said the past NFF administration led by Aminu Maigari left his board with “an obscene amount of debts.”

Read More