Governing Bodies
TODAY IN HISTORY: SUPER EAGLES’ MATCH ENDS DIEGO MARADONA’S CAREER
BY KUNLE SOLAJA.
One of the most influential footballers in the World Cup history has been the legendary Argentine footballer, Diego Maradona. He featured in four straights tournaments of 1982, 1986, 1990 and 1994.
Had Coach César Luis Menotti not dropped him on account of age from the 1978 squad, he would have been at the World Cup on five occasions.
Maradona was the central figure of ‘Hero”, the official video documentary of the 1986 World Cup tournament as he almost singlehandedly propelled Argentina to their second success at the World Cup.
But on this date, 25 June 1994 all he stood for crumbled like a cube of sugar in water as he played what has turned to be his last match as a player.
It was a Group D World Cup duel of Nigeria and Argentina at the USA ’94.
It was the first of a fixture of both teams that later became a recurring decimal at all subsequent World Cup editions but one.
The only edition that had both Nigeria and Argentina in attendance and did not meet was France ’98.
In fact the 2014 World Cup clash at Porto Alegre coincided with the 20th anniversary of their first encounter at Foxboro Stadium, in Boston.
At the 1994 match, which Argentina won 2-1, Maradona failed a dope test as he tested positive to a cocktail of banned five variants of ephedrine, a stimulant banned by soccer’s international governing body.
He was subsequently banned for 15 months. The match with Nigeria has remained the very last match for the player that was the centre of attraction in previous three World Cup editions of 1982, 1986 and 1990.
The decision to expel Maradona from the World Cup was announced just six hours before Argentina’s last Group Dmatch against Bulgaria at the Cotton Bowl in Dallas.
“The medical evidence was clear and we couldn’t hide it,” FIFA President Joao Havelange said after making a dramatic appearance near the end of a packed news conference at the resort hotel that is serving as FIFA’s headquarters here.
“Maradona will always be one of the greatest soccer stars of all time. But FIFA has its rules and principles.”
A tearful Maradona denied having taken illegal substances and wished his teammates well in an interview with a Buenos Aires television station.
“I didn’t take drugs and above all I did not let down those who love me,” Maradona said in an interview aired minutes before the Argentina match against Bulgaria.
Had Maradona been allowed to play the match, which his side lost 0-2, he would have made a record 22 World Cup match for him.
The president of the Confédération of African Football, Dr. Patrice Motsepe, has announced five new CAF Vice Presidents. They are:
- CAF First Vice President: Mr Fouzi Lekjaa (Morocco)
- CAF Second Vice President: Mr Kurt Okraku (Ghana)
- CAF Third Vice President: Mr Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
- CAF Fourth Vice President: Ms Bestine Kazadi Ditabala (Democratic Republic of Congo)
- CAF Fifth Vice President: Mr Feizal Sidat (Mozambique)
In addition, the CAF President has co-opted Yacine Idriss Diallo, President of Fédération Ivoirienne de football, into the CAF Executive Committee.
The CAF Executive Committee also approved the names to fill vacant positions on several CAF Committees.
Organising Committee for the African Nations Championship (CHAN)
- President: Pierre-Alain Mounguengui (Gabon)
CAF Technical and Development Committee
- President: Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)
- Vice President: Malouche Belhassen (Tunisia)
CAF Medical Committee:
- President: Dr. Mohammed Bouya (Mauritania)
- Vice President: Dr. Thulani Ngwenya (South Africa)
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Governing Bodies
Nigeria becoming an epicentre of global badminton as Francis Orbih enters the Badminton World Federation Council
Laurels on the courts and now glory in the boardroom sums up the mark that badminton is making in Nigeria.
The President, Badminton Federation of Nigeria (BFN), Francis Orbih, has been elected as a council member of the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The election took place during the BWF Annual General Meeting on Saturday in Xiamen, China.
Orbih emerged victorious over top contenders from other African countries.
He will join Cameroon’s Odette Assembe Engoulou on the council, while Chipo Zumburani (Zimbabwe) and Hadia ElSaid (Egypt) missed out.
An elated Orbih expressed his gratitude to fellow badminton presidents across the globe for their trust and support.
He said, “I am deeply honoured by the trust placed in me by my peers across the badminton world.
“I look forward to quality representation, driving development initiatives, and strengthening badminton’s global reach over the next four years.”
Orbih also acknowledged the support of the Federal Government of Nigeria, particularly the National Sports Commission (NSC), which he said played a significant role in his successful bid.
“The Chairman and the Director General of the NSC monitored the entire process. I’m grateful for their involvement and confident Nigeria will benefit from this,” he stated.
He further appreciated the BFN board members and the Nigerian badminton community for their prayers and continued belief in his leadership.
“From the day I declared my intentions, the board members of BFN have been supportive, and I promise not to disappoint them,” Orbih concluded.
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A former member of the FIFA Council, Mamoutou Toure, has been released from jail in Mali after almost two years in detention for alleged corruption, Malian media reports said on Wednesday.
Toure, president of the Malian Football Federation since 2019, was released after 622 days in prison on Tuesday.
He served on the FIFA Council, world football’s all-powerful decision-making body, for four years until last month when he lost his seat after failing to contest new elections.
The 67-year-old was arrested in August 2023 on allegations of embezzling $28 million of public funds but was granted a provisional release order by the Malian courts, reports said.
He was accused of misconduct during his time as the National Assembly’s financial and administrative director from 2013-2019.
Toure denied all charges and, during his time in jail, was last August re-elected as Malian Football Federation president for a second consecutive term, with his supporters claiming he was a victim of a conspiracy fuelled by detractors.
While in jail, he received a letter of support from FIFA president Gianni Infantino. However, as of last month, Toure is no longer a member of the FIFA Council or the Confederation of African Football’s executive committee.
-Reuters
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