NSC, NFF To Meet Over Eagles Coach

The lingering impasse in the selection of a substantive coach for the Super Eagles has forced a scheduled meeting between the National Sports Commission and the Nigeria Football Federation.

The national team has been without a coach since the contract of Stephen Keshi ran out with the 2014 World Cup held in Brazil and the negotiation between the coach and his employers has dragged on.

The PUNCH can confirm that the meeting has been fixed for Monday in Abuja. The original date for the meeting was Wednesday (today) but had to be moved to Monday because the Minister of Sports Dr. Tammy Danagogo travelled out of Abuja.

A top official of the ministry, who spoke with our correspondent on Monday, said the meeting had become necessary as they could no longer watch and wait for the media war between the NFF and Keshi to last through the year without any good result.

He said, “They (NFF) have scheduled a match for the Eagles against Bolivia on the 26th of this month and there’s still no coach for Nigeria. As a matter of fact we have been without a coach since last year. But how long are we going to continue like this?

“The friendly is even a minor issue if we compare it to the fact that the qualifiers for the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations will soon start while we are still groping. We have watched from the sidelines but if an intervention is necessary for us to move forward, then it has to be. If they want Keshi, then let them settle with him and let’s move on. Whichever way, we have to move forward now.”

Further checks by our correspondent suggested that the NSC officials may press the NFF members to settle their differences with Keshi and sign him on. Even though the NFF members have handed the coach contract papers to sign, the former Eagles captain has deferred putting down his signature . Instead, he described the document as a “slavery contract.”

Close watchers of the scenario believe the officials of the NFF are indirectly asking Keshi to move on so that they can search for a manager they truly desire. Keshi had been asked to go but was recalled midway into the AFCON 2015 qualifiers reportedly on presidential fiat.

“But since they have now said they want him, they should straighten things out with him and sign him,” an official of the sports ministry told The PUNCH.

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South Africa Denies Agreeing Friendly With Nigeria

The South African Football Association has denied all reports linking the Bafana Bafana with a friendly match to be played with Nigeria on March 29.

Reports making the rounds on Tuesday suggests that South Africa FA have agreed to a friendly match to be played with the Super Eagles of Nigeria after the Nigeria Fottball Federation saw the match to be played with Ghana in London canceled by FIFA.

Nigeria will however still encounter Bolivia at the Uyo Township Stadium, Akwa Ibom has initially slated for March 26, but still need to fill the empty space of March 29 left by Ghana due to new FIFA rules.

However, SAFA’s communications manager Dominic Chimhavi said there has never been talks between the two associations over the reported friendly match.

“No, there’s nothing like that in place,” Chimhavi told Goal.

Dodan Warriors Final Screening On Saturday

Basketball club based in Lagos state, DODAN WARRIORS Basketball Team, will have their final screening to recruit new players on Saturday, 7th March 2015 at the Ilupeju Basketball Court, Lagos.

All talents all over the country are invited for the try-outs.

The screening is scheduled as follows:

Saturday/Sunday: ARRIVAL.
Monday: SCREENING.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday: EXERCISE AND TEAM TRAINING.
Friday: "JUMP BALL"

Dodan Warriors Basketball Team was established in 1994, at Dodan Barracks Lagos, as a socially oriented outfit to engage youths in basketball.

Emordi: Kano Pillars Have Nothing To Celebrate Yet

Kano Pillars head coach, Okey Emordi, has talked down on any form of celebrations on the recent good performance by the Nigerian Premier League champions in the CAF Champions League by both fans and players of his team.

Emordi believes that the Sai Masu Gida could have done better against Al-Malakia in the preliminary round of CAF Champion League in both legs.

"I thought we could have gotten more goals because in the first half we were lacking seriously most especially in goal scoring. We had opportunity to have scored about 2-3 goals in the first half," Emordi told media.
"The team is not a push over, they tried their best. They are just new intakes into this competition. This is their second appearance in the competition. I know as time goes on they will do better."

Emordi insist that Pillars have a long way to go to get into the group stages of the biggest club football competition on the continent. “Not yet uhuru” he insists.

"No, it is not yet uhuru until it is uhuru. You see we have a long way to go, not until we get to the group stage before we say we are going to do something. We still have one or two preliminary games to go. So, it is not yet uhuru," he said.

Meanwhile, spies have been sent to Morocco to watch their next opponents Moghreb Tetouan play and the coach is awaiting reports..

Warri Wolves Name Interim Coach

Warri Wolves have named Sam Okpodu as interim coach following the departure of Coach Paul Aigbogun to the United Kingdom for the NFF organised Capacity enhancing  programme.

The responsibility of preparing Warri Wolves for the League cracker against newly promoted Ifeanyi Ubah FC and the first leg of the CAF Confederation Cup match against Dedebit  FC of Ethiopia on the 15th of March now rest on Okpodu.

Okpodu who once featured for the then Green Eagles and known for his knack for goals, will work with the other assistants, Coach Anosike and Coach Atune Jolomi in what is regarded as an uphill task but surmountable.

In a release made available to the press by the Media Manager of the Club, Etu Moses, Coach Aigbogun officially handed over to the assistant Coaches led by Okpodu, with an advice to do their best by winning those two matches.

Speaking on the issue, Coach Okpodu said they are happy that the Technical Adviser is going to acquire more knowledge which will help the Club to move forward and they hope to gain from him when he comes back.

Okpodu further assured all stakeholders that they will do a good job and will not disappoint Coach Aigbogun and wish him the best and a safe trip to the United Kingdom and back home.

Meanwhile, Warri Wolves has resumed preparation immediately for the league opener against Ifeanyi Ubah who just won the NNL Super 4 in Ilorin.

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Cooreman Is New Coach Of Ikorodu FC

Former Enyimba International coach, Maurice Cooreman has signed for Nigeria National League side, Ikorodu FC of Lagos State.

The veteran coach has won the Nigeria Professional Football League twice with Ocean Boys and Enyimba FC, and the Federation Cup with Kaduna United FC in 2010.

His latest run was at Gombe United but did not end well before Austin Eguavoen was signed by the club but they still got relegated to the second division.

Newcastle, Hull, West Brom In Race For Ighalo

Watford striker, Odion Ighalo is reportedly on Newcastle United’s radar with his present rich run of goal scoring form at the Championship side.

Reports from The Sunday People have it that other clubs like Hull City and West Bromwich Albion are also in need of the Nigerian-born player’s services.

Five million pounds is the asking price according to a British newspaper. Watford are hoping to cash in big on their star man.

He is believed to be in the possession of an Italian passport, and will not count as a non European Union citizen if his move to the Premier League materializes.

Chelsea To Be Without Mikel Until April

Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel will be out of action until April after undergoing minor knee surgery.

The Nigeria international has been absent for Chelsea's past four matches, including Sunday's 2-0 victory over Tottenham in the League Cup final.

Manager Jose Mourinho has subsequently confirmed that Mikel has had an operation to correct the issue and expects him to be absent until April.

"Mikel had a little surgery on his meniscus," he told the press.

"We are expecting him to be out for about a month - one week is already gone. There is not too much optimism or pessimism.

"I would say [he will return] first week of April."

Mikel is now likely to miss the Premier League matches against West Ham, Southampton and Hull City as well as the home leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against Paris Saint-Germain.

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