Nigerian Football

NFF LAUNCHES SHORT CODE TO DRIVE RUSSIA 2018 CAMPAIGNS

Published

6 years ago

November 27, 2017

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday in Lagos launched a short code – *1945# – which will be used for all campaigns that are geared towards Nigeria’s preparation and participation at the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals in Russia.

The event was organized in conjunction with Secure and Trusted Alliance Services Limited – STA Mobile.

The NFF 2^nd Vice President/LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko, who is also Chairman of Marketing, Sponsorship and Television Advisory Committee, disclosed that the short code would be available for use by all NFF partners, sponsors and suppliers, in the process also revealing an ‘Official Supporter’ program into which corporate concerns not presently in relationship with the NFF can lodge to be part of Nigeria’s 2018 FIFA World Cup excitement train.

NFF President Amaju Pinnick and 1^st Vice President Seyi Akinwunmi also spoke at the event, just as STA’s Managing Director Biodun Jagun and a clutch of NFF’s current partners, including AITEO Group, Zenith Bank and TGI Group. Super Eagles’ stars Odion Ighalo and Ikechukwu Ezenwa were present, as well as former Eagles’ skipper Mutiu Adepoju – one of 16 players to have scored for Nigeria in five previous FIFA World Cup outings.

In explaining the idea behind the short code, Jagun said the plan is for a total of 100 fans of the Super Eagles to win all –expenses paid trip to the 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, in four tranches of 25 people-a-month between January and April 2018.

“The Naija 4 Russia initiative is born in due season as a feel-good factor for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, which is at its highest-ever in the recent history of Nigerian Football.

“For the first time in the history of football in Nigeria, we have a VAS platform for the fans and supporters of Nigerian Football by way of a short code.

“The deployment of this iconic short code *1945# across USSD, IVR, SMS AND WEB platforms is designed to reward the teeming National Team followers and football lovers across the country with a chance to cheer our footballing heroes live in Russia as they take on the best teams from across the globe.

“Our business has deployed the best possible technical infrastructure and systems to ensure this VAS drive flows seamlessly.

“A comprehensive marketing and publicity campaign has also been put in place to guarantee TOMA and heavy media noise over the legacy and digital media ecosystem.

“As an addendum we are focused on ensuring the generation of appreciable revenue for the NFF and its constituents,” Jagun explained.

While Akinwunmi, Chairman of the NFF Legal Committee assured the gathering that all necessary legal permits have been obtained to run the program, Dikko informed that the NFF is targeting the sum of N2 billion from corporate organizations to support the Super Eagles’ preparation and participation at the finals (while stating clearly that whatever monies remain after the competition would be used for legacy projects).

Pinnick regaled the hall with a story of how the NFF planned for a successful 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, admitting that the chastening effect of failure to qualify for successive AFCONs spurred the Board and Secretariat to action.

“We knew we were condemned to qualify, and everybody worked hard for it. We identified the areas that needed extra effort and also knew that we needed to get a top –notch coach as well as be relevant in the game’s boardroom internationally. We scored bull’s eye in both areas and these helped us greatly in the campaign.

“I want to also commend the players and the technical crew and backroom staff. They aligned with the vision of the Board and the Secretariat and I have immense confidence that Nigeria can really dazzle the world at the World Cup in Russia next year.”

A raffle draw conducted by STA at the event to pick the first Nigerian journalist that would be sponsored to the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia produced Miyen Akiri of Galaxy Television. Organizers announced that of the 25 persons that would be picked monthly for four months between January and April 2018, one would be a journalist.

Nigerian Football

Remo Stars close to winning their first Nigeria Premier League title

Published

22 hours ago

April 26, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Remo Stars on Friday inch closer to achieving their first ever title in the Nigeria elite division league after beating visiting Niger Tornadoes 3-0 to move second on the log and just a point behind league leaders, Enugu Rangers.

Remo Stars are now with 53 points and still have an outstanding home game to play.

Friday’s win which comes on the eve of the proprietor’s birthday has put the team back into contention for the title.

They have progressively become prominent in the Nigerian premier league having placed third two seasons ago and second last season.

Top finish this season will confirm their progression and also a third consecutive continental outing.

Top scorer, Sikiru Alimi launched them of victory path as his 28^th minute penalty kick heralded their return to high scoring ways.

It has been a while since they scored high in the league. Barely three minutes later, Sikiru, a contender for the top scorer award increased the tally to two.

Ahmed Akinyele completed the route in the 75^th minute.

Nigerian Football

Nigeria face tough defence as Burkina Faso lie in wait at U17 WAFU B AFCON qualifiers

Published

4 days ago

April 23, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Defending champions Nigeria have been handed a difficult path to the 2025 U17 Africa Cup of Nations finals after being drawn in the same group as Burkina Faso for next month’s WAFU B qualifying tournament in Ghana.

The Golden Eaglets, who won the last edition of the regional championship in 2022, will also face Togo and Niger in Group B of the competition which runs from 15-28 May.

Hosts Ghana find themselves in Group A alongside Cote d’Ivoire and Benin in a tough-looking section of the competition to be played in Accra.

The draw was conducted by 1970s Ivorian football legends Kobenan Kouman and Die Foneye at the Ivorian FA headquarters in Abidjan on Friday.

Nigeria claimed their WAFU B U17 AFCON title by defeating Burkina Faso 2-1 in the regional final in Ghana two years ago.

However, they will need to overcome some familiar foes if they are to defend their crown and with the Burkina Faso finishing third at the last TotalEnergies U17 Africa Cup of Nations, some exciting matches are expected.

Arch-rivals Nigeria and Ghana are among the two favourites and could meet in the final in Accra on 28 May, should they top their respective groups and make it through the semi-finals.

Ghana also have pedigree at this level, having the World Cup in 1991 and 1995 as they bid to reach the U17 AFCON finals on home soil.

The top two teams from the WAFU B tournament will qualify for next year’s U17 Africa Cup of Nations.

Groups:

Group A: Ghana, Cote d’Ivoire, Benin

Group B: Burkina Faso, Nigeria, Togo, Niger.

Nigerian Football

Former Nigeria international, Onye recommends Amuneke-Siasia combo for Super Eagles

Published

5 days ago

April 22, 2024

Kunle Solaja

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

Kingsley Onye, the left sided defender who was a member of the first Flying Eagles side to have a podium finish at the U-20 World Cup has suggested the employment of Emmanuel Amuneke as the coach of the Super Eagles.

He wants him to be assisted by Samson Siasia when the ban on the latter lapses in August. Alternatively, Onye pointed to Sylvanus Okpala as alternative to Siasia.

The Super Eagles are in dare need for a head coach as the clock ticks down to the Match day 4 and 5 of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in which the team is trailing at the third position.

The two matches in early June are crucial for the Super Eagles to bounce back into reckoning as the team can not afford to drop any of the available six points in the duels with South Africa at home and away to Benin.

From this Monday, it is 41 days to the potentially challenging tie with South Africa, but the Nigerian national team has been without a coach since the expiration of the contract of Portugal’s Jose Peseiro shortly after the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire.

Without mincing words, Onye remarked: “Emmanuel Amuneke is the right man for the job of the coach of Super Eagles. He has been there before.

“He tasted it and had been fantastic with the Nigeria youth team, the U-17 by assisting Manu Garba to win the U17 World Cup in 2013 and as head coach, led the Golden Eaglets to win the cup again in 2015.”

Onye who played for the Enugu Rangers in Nigeria before venturing to the UK but had his career scuppered by freak injury pointed out that the solution to Super Eagles’ technical deficiency is the appointment of an indigenous coach and that Amuneke is the man.

In buttressing his assertion, he declared: “As a senior team coach, Amuneke qualified a long standing absentee team, Tanzania for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

“His record as a player is also very impressive. He played and won with the Super Eagles, the AFCON 1994. He played at the Olympic Games and was also the first Nigerian to score two goals at the World Cup.

“He has played at the African Games and also for top clubs in the continent as he was a member of the Egyptian giants, Zamalek. In Europe, he played for Sporting Clube de Portugal and then Barcelona before injury ended his playing career.”

Onye also looked at the personality of Amuneke in recommending him for the Super Eagles job.

His record as a player is also very impressive. He played and won with the Super Eagles, the AFCON 1994. He played at the Olympic Games and was also the first Nigerian to score two goals at the World Cup.

He has played at the African Games and also for top clubs in the continent as he was a member of the Egyptian giants, Zamalek. In Europe, he played for Sporting Clube de Portugal and then Barcelona before injury ended his playing career.