Nigerian Football
We’ll Dim Sunshine Stars, Says Akwa Skipper
BY MFON PATRICK.
Akwa United captain, Otobong Effiong, has charged his teammates to be ready to fight for all three the points at stake when they engage Sunshine Stars of Akure at the Dipo Dina Stadium in Ijebu-Ode on Sunday.
The Match day 33 showdown will see third placed Akwa United battle 12th placed Sunshine Stars. A win for Akwa United will ensure they maintain their third position on the log.
Speaking with the club media officer ahead of the match, Effiong praised his teammates for their dedication and tenacity so far this season and encouraged them to be more focused in their remaining six matches starting with the crucial game against Sunshine Stars this Sunday.
“We have had a good season so far, that is why we are third on the table at this stage of the season. We still have six matches before the end of the season and if we win all the six remaining matches, then the NPFL title could be ours.
“We are determined to give our best in the remaining matches beginning with this weekend’s game against Sunshine Stars. The team cannot afford to lose focus especially now that the race for the NPFL title is becoming interesting”.
“We have won away from home this season and we want to do that again this Sunday in Ijebu-Ode. We have a great team and wonderful coach and our fans are always behind us, and that has given us the belief that we can beat any team in the league.
“Our major concern is to end this season on a high, possibly with the league title” the captain explained. Meanwhile, Coach Abdu Maikaba will welcome back four of his players from the CHAN Eagles camp into the team as the Promise Keepers face Sunshine Stars.
Vice-Captain Ariwachukwu Emmanuel, Alhassan Ibrahim, Aremu Afeez and Ifeanyi Ifeanyi joined up with the rest of the squad in Ijebu-Ode on Saturday afternoon.
The Promise Keepers defeated Sunshine Stars 3-1 in their first leg in Uyo and will be aiming to do the double over the Akure based side. Akwa United are on 51 points from 32 matches.
Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s broadcast icon, Danladi Bako hails NFF on choice of Finidi George
Nigerian broadcasting icon, Dr. Nasir Danladi Bako has praised the Nigeria Football Federation for settling for former international and ex-Enyimba FC strategist Finidi George as Head Coach of the Super Eagles.
The Kogunan Sakwatto, 66, who created a plethora of famous TV programmes including Morning Ride, Mastersports and Second Chance, among others, and served as Special Adviser to a number of Sports Ministers many years ago, insisted the NFF leadership struck a bull’s eye with the appointment of the two-time FIFA World Cup star, stating that George oozes class and character, and an iron determination to succeed despite his public carapace of a quiet person.
“Finidi George has that cultured, disciplined mien and personality that makes you want to trust him with a big project. He understands the meaning of constituted authority and right from his playing days, has always displayed the attribute of a team player. He has always had that calm, collected nature even in the face of pressure or danger.
“Above all, he is not someone who thinks he is doing the nation a favour. He is grateful for the opportunity and I believe that he has all it takes to succeed. I am calling on the Federal Ministry of Sports Development, the NFF and Nigerians as a whole to support him to take the Super Eagles to brand-new heights.”
Bako, who holds a doctorate degree in development communication from the Ahmadu Bello University and was Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission between 1999 and 2002, says all hands must now be on deck to ensure victories in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and Benin Republic on 7 June and 11 June respectively.
“No doubt, the NFF got this one appointment right. Very much on point. Now, they should endeavour to give George all the support he needs to succeed in his task of qualifying Nigeria for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”
Nigerian Football
Nigeria’s sports minister, Enoh applauds NFF for ‘buying local material’
Nigeria’s Minister of Sports Development, John Owan Enoh on Monday praised the leadership of Nigeria Football Federation for settling for an indigenous Head Coach for the Super Eagles, despite the plethora of foreign tacticians who applied for the job.
Enoh, who spoke at the unveiling ceremony of the Eagles’ new substantive Head Coach, Finidi George at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, charged the NFF to give the former winger all the support to succeed, while also soliciting the support of all Nigerians for the new helmsman.
“As a student of the University of Calabar in those days, I used to go to the UJ Esuene Stadium to watch Calabar Rovers, which included Finidi George. I am excited to see him seated here as the new Head Coach of the Super Eagles.”
President of NFF, Ibrahim Musa Gusau exuded delight with the ‘new chapter’ the Federation is opening about the Nigeria game, saying the football-governing body is determined to fully support George and his assistants to lead the Super Eagles to new heights.
“When we returned from the Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire, we began the search for a new Head Coach. There was a plethora of foreign applicants, far more than the indigenous applicants. However, we undertook a thorough process that has produced an indigenous Coach and we are very happy about that. Finidi George was part of the technical crew that came close to winning the AFCON, and we have faith in him that he will lead the team to the title next time.
“Our objective now is to ensure the enthronement of excellence at all levels of the National Teams.”
Nigerian Football
No more bench-warmers in the Super Eagles, says Finidi George
New man on the managerial saddle of the Super Eagles, Finidi George has stated that he will invite for international assignments, only players who feature regularly at their clubs either in Nigeria or in the diaspora, and promised that the Super Eagles will remain even more competitive in the years ahead.
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