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Tag: Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)

  • Super Falcons Squad Announced for 2024 Olympics

    Super Falcons Squad Announced for 2024 Olympics

    By  Milcah  Tanimu

    Randy Waldrum, head coach of Nigeria’s Super Falcons, has unveiled the squad of 18 players set to represent the country in football at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris. The squad includes top talents such as Rasheedat Ajibade from Atletico Madrid, Asisat Oshoala of FC Bay, and Chiamaka Nnadozie, the goalkeeper from Paris FC. These stars are joined by midfielders Deborah Abiodun, Halimatu Ayinde, Christy Ucheibe, and Toni Payne, as well as forwards Esther Okoronkwo, Chinwendu Ihezuo, and Uchenna Kanu. Defenders Oluwatosin Demehin and Michelle Alozie complete the lineup.

    Preparations are in full swing as the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has arranged for the Super Falcons to embark on a two-week training tour in Sevilla, Spain, starting Thursday. They will then proceed to France on July 18 for the Olympic football event.

  • Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Provides Update on Randy Waldrum’s Contract Renewal

    Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Provides Update on Randy Waldrum’s Contract Renewal

    After a series of negotiations, the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has reached an agreement on a new contract with Super Falcons coach, Randy Waldrum.

    NFF President, Ibrahim Gusau, shared the announcement on Tuesday, providing insight into the progress of discussions between the football body and Waldrum.

    Waldrum’s initial contract with the NFF expired on October 31, 2023, leaving the American coach without a contract for nearly three months. His initial association with the football body began in 2020.

    Under Waldrum’s guidance, the Super Falcons achieved notable successes, reaching the WAFCON semifinals in Morocco in 2022 and the Women’s World Cup round of 16 in Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

    Amid speculations regarding the renewal of Waldrum’s contract, particularly with his assistant Justin Madugu leading the team well on an interim basis, Gusau clarified that both the coach and the federation decided to continue their collaboration after extended negotiations.

    Gusau revealed that the negotiations were prolonged due to Waldrum’s insistence on bringing his assistant and requesting an increase in allowances. The NFF president anticipated that the finalized deal would be signed on Thursday, just before the federation’s delegation departs for the 2023 AFCON in Ivory Coast.

    He stated, “We had extensive discussions with Waldrum, and I think he has agreed to a new contract. We faced issues before the World Cup regarding his preferred choices for the team, but the existing contract between NFF and Waldrum does not specify his right to bring an assistant.”

    Gusau further addressed Waldrum’s request for the inclusion of a female staff member, emphasizing the federation’s stance on the matter. He also mentioned that the coach sought an increase in allowances, a proposal that was declined by the NFF due to the team not surpassing their previous highest level of performance at the World Cup.

    Concluding his statement, Gusau expressed optimism that the deal would be finalized before the AFCON departure, ensuring continuity in Waldrum’s role as the Super Falcons coach.

  • Verbal Spat Erupts Between NFF and FIFPro Over Unpaid Super Falcons’ Bonuses

    Verbal Spat Erupts Between NFF and FIFPro Over Unpaid Super Falcons’ Bonuses

    By Daniel Edu

    A dispute has arisen between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the International Federation of Professional Footballers (FIFPro) regarding the unpaid bonuses and allowances owed to the Super Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s national football team. The backlog of unpaid dues dates back to 2021.

    This verbal exchange follows the Super Falcons’ elimination from the ongoing 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. FIFPro issued a statement on Tuesday acknowledging that the players had raised concerns about their outstanding payments to the federation.

    FIFPro emphasized that the players were committed to receiving their rightful compensation without resorting to boycotting any matches during the World Cup. The statement revealed the frustration felt by the players, urging the Nigeria Football Federation to fulfill its financial commitments and settle the owed amounts.

    The NFF swiftly responded, dismissing FIFPro’s involvement as an overblown matter. The NFF clarified that once FIFA disburses the funds for the World Cup, the players will receive compensation for friendly games, qualifying matches, appearance fees, and bonuses.

    The NFF recalled that initial agreements had been made with the players, but FIFA’s revised package offered better terms that were accepted by the players. The NFF emphasized that the players’ potential earnings could have been significantly higher had the Super Falcons progressed further in the tournament.

    This exchange underscores the ongoing tension between player associations and football governing bodies over issues of compensation and financial transparency.

  • The Nigerian House of Representatives takes action to prevent the Falcon from boycotting the Women’s World Cup.

    The Nigerian House of Representatives takes action to prevent the Falcon from boycotting the Women’s World Cup.

    Yesterday, the Nigerian House of Representatives intervened to prevent the Super Falcons from boycotting the Women’s World Cup tournament.During the plenary session chaired by Speaker Tajudeen Abass, the House of Representatives responded to a motion raised by Mr. Olumide Osoba by establishing an Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the ongoing dispute between the Super Falcons and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF).

    The House expressed its commitment to proposing necessary reforms to prevent the planned protest and boycott by the Nigerian female football team at the Women’s World Cup, as well as to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

    The lawmakers called on the NFF to promptly pay the outstanding match bonuses and allowances owed to the Super Falcons. They also summoned the NFF and relevant stakeholders to appear before the Ad-hoc Committee and provide a comprehensive report on the steps taken to resolve the dispute, ensuring the seamless participation of the Super Falcons in the 2023 Women’s World Cup.

    Osoba emphasized the House’s intervention as the potential boycott would not only be embarrassing but also have a detrimental impact on Nigeria’s reputation. He highlighted the distressing neglect and mistreatment of athletes, which undermines their morale and tarnishes the nation’s image.

  • NFF unveils new kit for Super Eagles and Super Falcons for 2020-2022 (photos)

    NFF unveils new kit for Super Eagles and Super Falcons for 2020-2022 (photos)

    The Nigeria Football Federation has unveiled new kit for Super Eagles and Super Falcons that will be used from 2020 to 2022. 


    NFF made the announcement on Sunday September 20, via Twitter with pictures of some of the team players including Samuel Chukwueze,  William Ekong-Troost, Wilfred Ndidi, Asisat Oshoala, and many others rocking the new jerseys. 

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  • NFF calls for prayers against deaths, kidnappings of players

    NFF calls for prayers against deaths, kidnappings of players

    The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday called on all members of the country’s football family including stakeholders to pray hard against death and kidnapping of players.

    This, it said, was in view of recent deaths and kidnappings of football players, which had caused serious concern in the sector.

    Three footballers died in a horrendous auto crash along Benin-Agbor Road on Sunday, among them Rangers International FC star forward Ifeanyi George.

    Also, Enyimba FC’s Dayo Ojo and Abia Comets’ Benjamin Iluyomade in Ondo State were kidnapped some hours later.

    A statement by Ademola Olajire, NFF’s Director of Communication, on Monday quoted President of the Federation, Amaju Pinnick as saying that the deaths and kidnappings were huge causes for concern in Nigeria’s football firmament.

    “These sorrowful incidents are becoming too much for us to bear. We must seek spiritual solace and seek help from Almighty God.

    “I am short of words following these deaths and kidnappings. We must all get involved in prayers to stop this type of grief and sorrow in our football sector.

    “I am heartbroken. Not long ago, we lost Tiamiyu Kazeem of Remo Stars Football Club and Chineme Martins of Nasarawa United in different circumstances.

    “We need to call on God to show us mercy and stop these unfortunate happenings,” he said.

    George, a former Home-based Eagles star who featured for Nigeria at the 5th African Nations Championship in Morocco early in 2018, died in a car crash alongside Emmanuel Ogbu, a player of Rangers International Feeder team and Eteka Gabriel, also a football player.

    All were in a car that ran under a stationary trailer on the Benin-Agbor Road.

    Some hours later, in Ondo State, Enyimba FC of Aba’s Dayo Ojo and Abia Comets’ player Benjamin Iluyomade were reported kidnapped in the Owo area of Ondo State.

    Pinnick appealed for the release of the players by their captors, adding that the NFF was going through a lot of difficulties already.

    “We also earnestly appeal to the kidnappers of Dayo and Benjamin to release them unhurt to their families.

    “We are going through too much difficulties at the same time, with the coronavirus pandemic also around.

    “We need serious prayers from everyone in the football family,” Pinnick pleaded. (NAN)

  • Minister wants NFF to fast track relocation to new office complex

    Minister wants NFF to fast track relocation to new office complex

    Sunday Dare, Youth and Sports Development Minister, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to fast track the process of relocating to its new office complex.

    The minister said this on Thursday when he paid a working visit to the Sunday Dankaro House, NFF’s new office complex at the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    N337 million office complex was inaugurated in July, 2013 by former Vice- President, Namadi Sambo.

    The complex has however remained abandoned following the NFF’s continued usage of its current office, popularly known as the Glass House.

    Dare expressed satisfaction at the state of the complex, named after Late Sunday Dankaro, a businessman and sports administrator, who was also NFA Chairman between 1974 and 1980.

    He said:“this visit is important, it gives us a first-hand assessment of what delays operations here.”

    The minister said it was long overdue for the building to be put into use by the NFF  to enhance its operations.

    “It is a working visit for me, my first time of inspecting Sunday Dankaro Building, I feel it is important to see what is going on with the building.

    “This is a befitting building, I am impressed with what I have seen so far, this building should be functional in two weeks, it befits the NFF,” he said.

    Sunday Dankaro House comprises of 27 rooms with six board rooms, a penthouse and a 120-car parking space. (NAN)