Nigeria Content Online

As the election date into the board of the Nigeria Football
Federation draws near (three days to go), one of the contestants in the
election into the board of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Segun Odegbami on
Tuesday sent a petition to FIFA President Sepp Blatter on the illegality of the
election and why it must not hold.

Odegbami wants Blatter to ask the Electoral Committee to request
for and collate evidence from all proposed voting delegates to the elections
and ensure that they are first duly elected in their states and ensure that
their tenures since their last elections have not expired.

Secondly, Odegbami is asking Blatter to prevail on the Electoral
Committee to publish the list of old delegates and that any one that voted four
years ago cannot vote again without evidence of having being re-elected or
re-appointed.

The statutes must be
followed

He is also asking that the Electoral Committee must insist that
the 2010 Statutes of the NFF must be followed.

“The 2008 decision of the Congress in Makurdi is faulty and is,
therefore, not binding on the state FAs,” he said, adding that “the dates of
elections into the various boards of the members cannot be dictated by the NFF
congress but by the congress of the different bodies and that they all are free
to go back and conduct their elections in accordance to their statutes”.

Odegbami continued his petition, saying “In consideration of the
above, that the present situation of discontent amongst those participating in
the present elections, the national elections be delayed for a short period to
allow the State FAs and other members with a similar situation, to conduct
their own elections.”

Blatter has to step in

The former Eagles captain reminded Blatter that the NFF ignored
his suggested amendments to the statutes sent for his approval.

“Once again I draw your particular attention to Articles 19, 20,
21, 22, 23 and 24 in the draft statutes. In the new statutes they have all been
correctly and completely removed from the statutes. The local football councils
are not even directly affiliated to the NFF and should not have been in the NFF
Statutes. They are members of the state FAs. The state FAs and the Leagues are
just two members out of many that constitute the NFF. All the members of the
NFF are independent bodies with their own constitutions or statutes and whose
affairs must not be interfered with by any external bodies including the NFF.

These are your words in your letter of November 2, 2009, to the
NFF: “Art 10 par 4 of the NFF Statutes interferes in the organisation of the
members of the NFF which should organise themselves without any external entity
including the NFF”.

Odegbami concluded by saying only three of the 37 members of the
present NFF have not exceeded their 4-years tenure by July 2010.

“I can specifically confirm that Ogun State, to which I belong,
conducted its election into its present board in the year 2005. Lagos State
conducted theirs in 2004. Most others are like that.

All the States would have, on their own, conducted their various elections
at the times when their tenures expired but for the NFF Congress decision taken
in the year 2008 in Makurdi that directed all States to hold their elections in
November/December 2010. This it did not have the power to do.”

The crisis that engulfed the French Football Federation (FFF)
has been settled with French striker, Nicolas Anelka, being banned from playing
at international level for 18 games after an argument at the World Cup which
led to the team going on strike.

The Chelsea striker launched a verbal tirade at former French
coach Raymond Domenech at half-time during the 2-0 defeat by Mexico in South
Africa. Domenech the sent the player, more famous for sulking than his silky
skills, home.

After Les Bleus were disgraced out of the World, the FFF set up
a committee to establish the truth behind what happend, and to learn lessons
for the future. Consequently, on Tuesday the disciplinary commission handed out
the decision which effectively brings Anelka’s international career to an end.

In a career that spanned 13 years, Anelka earned 69 caps and
scored just 14 goals. He won the 2000 European Cup and the 2001 Confederations
Cup with France.

Face saving move

It was the decision to send Nicolas Anelka home after his rant
at Domenech that led to the player’s strike, and disharmony in the squad.

Patrice Evra, as national skipper, bore the brunt of the
criticism, but the Manchester United full-back claims he did his best to keep
the calm.

Anelka said all the players were united in the action to boycott
training to protest Domenech’s apparent high-handedness.

“If there were some players who wanted to train – when the squad
went on strike, they should speak now. If I had not started it, it would have
been somebody else. The situation was explosive.”

The FFF was further infuriated as Anelka refused the pleas of
President Jean-Pierre Escalettes to apologise to Domenech.

This may however just be a saving face technique as even before
the face-off with their coach; performances on the field had proved a major
source of disappointment to fans which was not helped by the players’ off-pitch
misdemeanours.

Other players who earned penalties for their roles in the strike
received lesser punishment. Patrice Evra was banned for five matches for
leading the boycott. The FFF also banned Bayern Munich’s Franck Ribery for
three games and Lyon’s Jeremy Toulalan for one.

Ribery did not appear before the commission as his club, Bayern
Munich, refused to release him. Anelka also did not show up.

The fallout from the incident saw Domenech face the French parliament
and the country’s new coach, Laurent Blanc, drop all 23 of the World Cup squad
members for last week’s friendly match with Norway.

France lost 2-1.

Eric Abidal however, escaped without sanction despite refusing to play in
Les Bleus’ last group match against hosts South Africa, which the French lost
2-1. France – winners in 1998 and finalists in 2006 – lost two games and drew
one in South Africa.

Former Super Falcons goalkeeper, Ann Chiejine, has advised
against herding members of Nigeria’s U-20, the Falconets into the senior
national team.

She noted that even though the Falconets need to be celebrated,
care should be taken in pushing them into the Super Falcons as the women’s game
is a bit different from that of the men.

“Women’s football is not the same with the men’s version. In
female football, women mature much later in their football careers. I was
national goalkeeper for close to 15 years and I can say that I was the best
when I was nearing retirement. I have been to three World Cups and two
Olympics, if we graduate these players (Falconets) hastily, we will not get the
desired results. At most, five to seven of the Germany team will be promoted
and that is the truth.

Graduation to the senior
team

“Yes, they performed very well, but they cannot all graduate to
the senior team. Whoever amongst them makes the mark will definitely be given
an equal chance to fight for a shirt in camp but I am sure that not all of them
will make it.”

The Falconets were awarded scholarship gifts and observers
believe that as the U-17s go to Trinidad, they could be worried about these and
undermine their performances.

Chiejine said the gifts are acceptable and she that more will be
done for the girls.

“I know that other things will follow. When you pass an
examination, you usually get more than biscuits and soft drinks… The issue of
awarding scholarship is a very good one.

“We have more competitions coming and these girls need to be celebrated in
cash and kind. We all know how Nigeria is. If our women are supported much
more, we will achieve much more. The ultimate goal is to lift the World Cup or
get the gold medal at the Olympics but that will only be possible if we
celebrate our girls properly.”

It is believed that Newcastle coach, Chris Hughton, is looking
for a striker to add to his squad before the transfer window closes on August
31. And Nigerian international and Everton striker, Victor Anichebe has been
picked out to be the ideal player to score the goals and keep Newcastle United
in the Premier League.

The Magpies have made an enquiry for the 22-year-old, posing the
Toffees a dilemma over whether to cash in on a player whose contract is due to
expire next summer. An offer of £1.5m is on the table for the man who has been
described as a ‘traditional’ centre forward.

Anichebe, who has been in Everton since 2003 has said he is
happy at Everton and willing to stay put, but he may have to change his mind
very soon, as the club’s preference for Louis Saha, the arrival of Jermaine
Beckford and the likelihood that Yakubu Aiyegbeni will stay make his chances
very slim.

As things stand, Anichebe, who missed the Toffees’ season opener
at Blackburn on Sunday due to knee injury, will be free to talk to other clubs
from January and leave on a free transfer at the end of the season.

Versatile player

Newcastle, who are seeking extra attacking firepower, can offer
him the chance to forge a partnership with Andy Carroll at St James’ Park.
Although his goal scoring record is modest at best, his versatility – being
able to play as a striker, an attacking midfielder and a right winger at
Everton – is another attraction for Newcastle’s gaffer. Newcastle’s policy of
playing Carroll as a lone striker away from home could be adapted to
accommodate Anichebe cutting in from the right wing in a 4-3-3 formation.

Anichebe made his debut for Nigeria on March 26, 2008 in an
Olympic games qualifying match against South Africa. He came off the bench to
score the final goal in a 3-0 victory for Nigeria. He made his first start for
Nigeria alongside fellow Everton player Yakubu in a friendly against Austria on
27 May 2008 being replaced at half time.

In other transfer stories, Belgian side Club Brugge are rumoured
to be contemplating signing 2007 U-17 World champion, Rabiu Ibrahim after his
transfer VVV Venlo in the Netherlands collapsed, due to disagreements over
personal terms.

Nigeria’s captain to the 2010 World Cup, Joseph Yobo could also be switching
clubs as he is now fifth choice centre back behind Sylvain Distin, Phil
Jagielka, John Heitinga and Tony Hibbert.

The Nigeria
Football Federation will today decide conditions and emoluments for a
new coach for the Super Eagle when the board meets in Abuja to discuss
issues regarding the federation elections, which are enmeshed in
controversies.

Since last week,
reports have been rife that former U-20 and U-23 coach, Samson Siasia
would be named to replace the Swede, Lars Lagerback as Eagles coach.
Lagerback failed to negotiate a new contract after his deal with
Nigeria lapsed last month.

Meanwhile, a source
within the football federation indicated that the board might decide to
leave the decision of hiring a coach for the country’s national team to
the incoming board of the federation.

“We have the NFF
election to organise and we are doing that to the best of our ability.
For now Siasia’s deal will be sealed by the new NFF board” the source
said.

The Maigari-led
board came into power with the impeachment of erstwhile president Sani
Lulu alongside three other executives of the board on July 4 and have
just a few days to the expiration of its tenure.

“The newly elected
board into the NFF would solely have the responsibility to appoint the
new coach for the Super Eagles” the source continued.

Earlier negotiations

The board had
earlier engaged itself in negotiations with the Beijing Olympics silver
winning coach with the only grey area being the pay packet.

While Siasia tabled
a demand of 15 million naira which he later reduced to 12 million, the
Federation was only willing to part with N2 million alongside a car and
a house.

The expectation of
football fans is that both sides will reach a compromise in which
Siasia could come on board so has to start preparation for the
country’s 2012 Nation’s Cup qualifying match slated for September.

Siasia had earlier
hinted of his willingness to reduce his asking price while also stating
he would not accept peanuts for the job.

“Of course I am not
saying they must pay the 12 million naira; we can negotiate and come to
an agreement but I won’t take peanuts,” he insisted.

Siasia argued that
he needs quality back room staff to complement his efforts and also a
good pay packet to avoid the temptation of being bribed by players.

“When the players
know I am well paid they won’t be coming with five thousand dollars or
whatever to come and bribe me,” he said.

With the deal now
inconclusive, current assistant coach Austin Equavoen is still expected
to pilot the affairs of the team having only recently led the Eagles
against South Korea in a friendly match which Nigeria lost 2-1.
Equavoen was reported to have accepted the offer to coach the country’s
Olympic team.

The last coach of
the Eagles, Lars Lagerback was given 1.5 million dollars for five
months to take charge of the team. And though he was given a semi final
target at the World Cup, the Eagles failed to make it beyond the first
round.

Newly signed
Nigeria striker, Osaze Odemwingie has been tipped by his new boss at
West Bromwich Albiom to help improve the fortunes of the newly promoted
Premier League club.

The manager, Roberto Di Matteo says he is convinced that the arrival of the Super Eagles player will lift spirits at the club.

“I’m pleased he is
joining us because I’m sure he will be able to help us. He has got
great pace. He’s got a great CV and he’s a good player. We need a few
new faces and it lifts everyone when you see a player like him coming
in,” he told reporters in London.

“He is two-footed
and has good experience at a very high level. He’s played as a striker
and a winger in his career. For example, in France he played very much
up front on his own and for Nigeria he’s played wide and sometimes they
play him up front. He scores goals too which is what we want in the
team.”

West Brom are
currently languishing at the bottom of the English Premier League table
after slumping to a 6-0 defeat to Chelsea on the opening day of the new
season.

Sunderland debut

If other necessary
formalities are completed on time, Odemwingie is expected to play his
first game for the club on Saturday, against Sunderland.

“We are still
sorting out his visa so he’s not here yet. Hopefully he’ll join us as
soon as possible. Whether he will play against Sunderland depends on
when he arrives,” Di Matteo said.

He also added that
he expects the former Lokomotiv striker to be fit a week after he
played for Nigeria in a friendly match and also since he was already
playing in the league in Russia.

Apart from
Odemwingie, West Brom are also hoping to bring in Red Bull Salzburg
winger Somen Tchoyi, but they have had a bid rejected for Portsmouth
defender Marc Wilson.

Sacrificial deal

Meanwhile,
Odemwingie has revealed that he chose the West Brom deal in order to
fulfil his long term ambition of playing in England.

“I was given the
opportunity to stay by Lokomotiv and I was prepared to stay for the
sake of the Russian championship and the Europa league. But the club
understands my desire to play in England and we decided not to
procrastinate.

“I am satisfied
with the financial terms of the West Brom offer. But I made some
concessions compared to the contract I had with Lokomotiv.

“For me, the most
important thing is to realise my dream of playing in England with a
full stadium. West Brom have no problems with attendance.”

Odemwingie joins the legion of Super Eagles players playing in
England. They include Kanu Nwankwo who has also played for West Brom
before; Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Joseph Yobo and Victor Anichebe who all star
for Everton; Mikel Obi of Chelsea and Dickson Etuhu of Fulham

Nicolas Anelka has
described the French Football Federation (FFF) as a “bunch of clowns”
after they handed the striker an 18-game international ban for his role
in the national team’s World Cup revolt in South Africa.

The 31-year-old was
handed the suspension by an FFF disciplinary commission on Tuesday, a
decision derided by Anelka, who said he never intended to play for
France again anyway.

“For me, that
commission thing is absolute nonsense, an aberration, a farce, an
attempt not to lose face,” Anelka was quoted as saying by daily France
Soir on Wednesday.

“They know that
very well. They didn’t punish anybody… because the Les Bleus chapter
was closed for me on June 19, when I was kicked out of Knysna,” he
added, referring to the town where France had their World Cup training
camp.

Anelka was banished
from the France squad in South Africa for insulting then coach Raymond
Domenech at halftime of a 2-0 defeat by Mexico in Polokwane, his 69th
international appearance.

“They just entertained the public,” Anelka said of the commission hearing.

New era

“They’d better turn
the page because (new France coach) Laurent Blanc needs to work in
peace. These people are clowns. It makes me die of laughter,” he added.

“For me, since the
World Cup in South Africa, the France team is all in the past… I wear
a blue shirt with Chelsea every weekend and that’s far enough for me,”
The striker did not attend the hearing, where World Cup captain Patrice
Evra was banned for five matches for leading a boycott of a training
session in support of Anelka.

The FFF also banned
Franck Ribery for three games and Jeremy Toulalan for one. Eric Abidal
was the only one of five players involved in Tuesday’s hearing to
escape without sanction.

Ribery accepted his ban but felt the players at the hearing had been cast as scapegoats.

“This is a great
disappointment for me,” Ribery told reporters ahead of Bayern Munich’s
Bundesliga opener against VfL Wolfsburg on Friday.

“What happened at
the World Cup happened to all of us. I do not know why only five
players had to go to Paris (for the hearing).” Unlike Anelka, however,
Ribery plans to continue playing for France.

“Of course. There is no question about that,” the 27-year-old added.

Worried by the manner in which the election into the board of
the Nigeria Football Federation is being handled, a group of former
internationals under the aegis of ‘The Diaspora and Nigerian Soccer
Federation’, has written a petition to the world football governing body, FIFA,
and the Sports Minister, Isa Bio.

According to the ex-Eagles spokesperson, Paul Okoku, who is
based in America, former Nigerian internationals based in the USA like most
Nigerians are not happy with the way Nigerian football is being run.

“We have written a letter to the sports minister, which will
soon be submitted to him in Abuja. Part of our request is that a level playing
field that will allow ex-internationals get into the Nigeria Football
Federation (NFF) board must be created. We are not happy with the way things
are done and are determined to change it for good,” Okoku said.

Illegality and politics

Another former Eagles player, Taju Disu, confirmed that the
(Maryland) U.S.-based group had even petitioned FIFA over the way the NFF
Statutes have been tampered with.

“We are worried by the way the NFF people are conducting the
affairs of Nigerian football. So, we have written to FIFA to register our
displeasure – myself and other ex-internationals like Paul Okoku, the Olukanmi
brothers; Femi and Segun, Sam Okpodu, Ikechukwu Ofoje, Totty Okoro Totty,
Thompson Usiyen, Tony Igwe, Humphrey Edobor and others also based in the United
States of America, have resolved to return to Nigeria to present our grievances
to the minister. We have also resolved back to the candidacy of ex-captains
like Christian Chukwu, Segun Odegbami, Austin Okocha and Mutiu Adepoju. We
won’t give up until the right thing is done,” Disu said.

Disu has taken the NFF to court over the upcoming election and
the court will decide tomorrow whether the election will hold or not. Disu is
seeking an injunction over the illegality of the election and is asking the
court to stop the NFF election so that the state elections will hold first
before that into the executive committee of the football body.

“The tenure of the current state football associations’ board members has
expired and therefore they are not eligible to vote. If the election holds as
planned then most credible candidates like Segun Odegbami, Christian Chukwu,
Austin Okocha and Mutiu Adepoju have no chance of winning. This was the reason
I decided against contesting the election. There are too many illegalities and
a lot of politics involved and I do not want to be part of it,” he said.