NFF appoints New Media Officer's For The Male/Female Senior Teams

 NFF appoints Brila FM's star OAP Mr Babaraji Femi popularly called Topstriker as new Media Officer for the Super Eagles. 

He replaces Toyin Ibitoye who indeed has been amazing.has been in the post for five-and-half years.

The TopMost Striker is, presently the Group Manager, Programmes and Contents at Brila Media.

The Super Falcons was not left out as The Nigeria Football Federation announced the appointment of Mrs Oluchi Tobe-Chukwu as the Media Officer of the Senior Women National Team.

She’s a former footballer herself, having played for clubs like Hamza Queens, Flamming Flamingos and Ibom Angels before pursuing her education further.
She takes over from Miss Jane Onyinye Nweze. 

Al Jazira secure Nigeria’s Imoh Ezekiel Ahead 2020/2021 Season

Al Jazira Club has signed Olympic Bronze medalist Imoh Ezekiel, the Nigerian international forward joining the club ahead of the 2020-21 Arabian Gulf League campaign, reports Emirates News Agency.

The 26-year old arrives in the Abu Dhabi club following a career that has seen him play across European top-flight leagues, as well as having experience of football in the Middle East.

Ezekiel, who can play in a number of attacking positions, began his career in Belgium with a successful stint at Standard Liege, as well as playing for European giants, Anderlecht.

 

He has also enjoyed spells in Spain and spent three years of his early career in the Middle East between 2014-2017. Speaking of Ezekiel’s arrival at Al Jazira Club, Sporting Director Mads Davidsen commented: “Imoh’s experience of the region and across Europe is a huge boost for Marcel and the team, with him playing for top clubs and against tough opposition.

“His style of play offers a new dimension to the way in which coach Marcel wants the team play and Ezekiel can play in a number of positions. In a football team you need different skills and we have a lot of good combination players and Imoh is a clever deep runner and can really help us adding this dimension to the offensive part of our game.”

Getty

Ezekiel, who will wear the number 39 shirt, added, “To join a club of Al Jazira’s statue is something which really excites me. When I was speaking with Mads and the head coach, they told me their ambition for the club and I can’t wait to get excited for the season, as soon as I arrived at the stadium, I see the Pride of Abu Dhabi, so it is special to be part of this.

While addressing the media, Ezekiel said; “I know the league well and have watched a lot of football in the Middle East so it is great to be part of this club and in a region that is so passionate about football.”

Born in Lagos, Nigeria, Ezekiel has represented his country at Under-23 level and made his senior debut for the Super Eagles in 2014.

By: Adotse Michae

Dele Ajiboye To Start A New Chapter With Plateau United

 

Dele Ajiboye a member of the Nigeria 2007 under 17 world cup winning team, has played for the Nigeria national team at the Olympic and all African games qualifiers and as dressed three times for the super eagles of Nigeria.

The Super Eagles goalkeeper has penned a one year contract with plateau united for the 2020/2021 season in the Nigeria Professional Football League.
Plateau United ended the season with 1.90 coefficient after the League Management Company (LMC) used the Point Per Game to determine the positions of the 20 NPFL clubs.
Dele Ajiboye who was with the team last season as they top the Nigeria Premier table after it was decided by point per game (PPG) said he want to win the league properly with plateau united these season and also do Nigeria proud by winning the CAF champions cup with plateau united.
The former Golden Eaglets goalkeeper as played for several teams in the Nigeria league, he started with Prime FC of Oshogbo,  before become the first highest paid goalkeeper in the Nigeria League.
Plateau United goalkeeper Dele Ajiboye has expressed confidence that Nigeria’s representative in the CAF Champions League will surpass its previous outing in the continent when the season begins.

Playing at the CAF Champions League is the dream of every player and I can tell you authoritatively that the players have resolved to make the Plateau State Government and Nigeria proud when the competition gets underway.

RS Berkane crowned Confederation Cup Champions for the first time

 

Mohssine Iajour scored the lone goal as RS Berkane floored Egyptian debutants Pyramids by a solitary goal to clinch their first ever Total CAF Confederation Cup title, in their second consecutive final.

The ball ricocheted off the striker’s foot in the 15th minute, but it didn’t matter at all as it proved to be the golden goal, and perhaps the most important yet in Berkane’s history.

The Moroccans lost last year’s final on penalties to another Egyptian side, Zamalek SC, but they were in no mood of lighting striking on the same spot again as they ensured victory on home soil, seeing the atch played at Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.

Berkane had to finish the game with 10 men, just like in last year’s final, when Bakre El Helali was sent off for a dangerous tackle with two minutes left on the clock.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, they just but managed to stay afloat.

Debutants Pyramids had come into the final with enviable pedigree, having gone all the way to the last game of the campaign in their first ever season with only two losses from their last 15 matches in the competition. They had also won all their eight away matches this season, prior to the final.

But, they could not finish the job as the experienced Moroccan side held on for valuable victory.

In a feisty opening half, Berkane opened the scoring after quarter of an hour when a shot from inside the box after a goalmouth scramble came off Iajour’s knee and into the net.

It was a rewarding start to RS Berkane as they had shown intent and hunger from the word go.

After just 14 seconds, they had knocked on the door with Iajour’s header off an Omar Namsaoui cross went wide.

The experienced forward had come close again in the seventh minute when he did well to protect the ball inside the box, but his shot was well saved by Pyramids keeper Mahdi Soliman.

But as the game wore on, so did the Egyptian debutants slowly begin to pile the pressure and pin Berkane in their own half. They did well to camp in the opponent’s side and had their first real go at goal in the 24th minute.

Some good build up play with swift short passing released a cross to Omar Gaber who in turn teed the ball up nicely for Mohamed Farouk, but his shot was just wide.

The forward asked the questions again with three minutes left to the break when he dribbled inside the box, but his eventual shot once again failed to trouble the keeper.

In the second half, Berkane started with as much gusto as they did the first and just two minutes in missed a golden chance. Off a good sprint on the right, Bakre El Helali cut back the ball for Iajour, but the forward skied the ball over.

Sensing that they needed to fix themselves quick, Pyramids made a change in the 56th minute, bringing in Ibrahim Hassan for Ayman Mansour. Hassan was part of the Zamalek squad that beat Berkane to the title last season and Pyramids hoped he would work the same magic.

Pyramids kept the pressure and had another opportunity in the 62nd minute, but Farouk’s nifty touch off an Abdalla Mohamed freekick but the effort hit the side netting. They made another change, John Antwi coming on for Ahmed Hassan.

The Ghanaian almost made an immediate impact with an angled header off a Farouk cross, but it went just wide.

On the other end, Berkane had a chance to finish off the game when Hamdi Laachir was picked out with a precise through pass, but he blasted the ball over.

Pyramids piled in the pressure as they sought to get just one to get themselves back into play.

They were handed a numerical advantage when El Helali was sent off for a dangerous tackle on Gaber. However, despite all last ditch efforts, they couldn’t rescue anything from the game.

Nigeria Footballers Share Their Painful experience In The Hands of SARS

Many citizens and Footballers  shared their bitter experience in the hand of SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad)

If there ever was a time for our voices to be heard collectively, it is now. Now that we are united against a common enemy – the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The #EndSARS movement is one that is without tribe or religion or class or gender. It touches us all.

More footballers are coming out to share their ordeal in the hands of officials of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a unit in the Nigeria Police Force, and also joining in the agitations to end the unit immediately.

The latest is former Shooting Stars and Kano Pillars’ attacking midfielder, Tony Edjomariegwe.

Edjomariegwe, who currently plays in Morocco with Moghreb Tétouan, claimed in a Instagram post that SARS officials demanded $1,000 when he was in the country last year for the holidays.

 

https://www.instagram.com/p/CGLl-q8AOcx/

In the past days, there have been widespread protests across the country as many have expressed their reservations particularly against the activities of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS).

Among other things, SARS officials have been accused of harassment of citizens, intimidation and extra-judicial killings in the discharge of their duties across Nigeria.

Football players, who are often flamboyant in their lifestyle with many enjoy wearing dreadlocks, dying their hair in different colours and the likes, have been wrongly profiled and harassed by SARS officials on many occasions.

Meanwhile, football superstars Wilfred Ndidi and Asisat Oshoala have added their voices to the #EndSARS campaign.

#EndSARS for the safety of Nigerians… we are scared to visit home because the people who are meant to protect us are killing us. Looking good with dreads is not a crime..

— Ndidi Wilfred (@Ndidi25) October 10, 2020

Nigeria youths are very happy and delight about how Footballers  keep sharing their experience in the hand of SARS. This has help in fueling the campaign

Samson Olaleye Holds Vietnam Close To His Heart

 

If Hoang Vu Samson didn’t pursue a football career he wouldn’t have too many concerns in life, as he comes from a well-to-do family in Nigeria. But his love for football ended up bringing him to Vietnam.

Hoang Vu Samson is the best scorer in the V.League 1 history with 192 goals. – Photo thanhnien.vn

The naturalised 31-year-old striker is the top scorer in V.League 1 history, with 192 goals.

His 13 years in the league include stints at Quang Ninh Coal, Dong Thap, Hanoi, Quang Nam, and now Thanh Hoa.

Samson helped Hanoi triumph in V.League 1 in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019. He spoke with Thanh Nga.

How do you feel about being the top scorer in V.League 1 history?

I feel very happy about it and want to devote myself further to Vietnamese football. I am proud that no one else is near my record.

Apart from natural talent, what other factors do you think are behind your success in Vietnam?

I think determination and hard work with my teammates and coaches are a large part of my success.

What are your thoughts about Vietnamese football?

It’s getting stronger and stronger every season, which encourages more fans to come and watch it live.

You have been around football since you were ten years old. Why did you want to be a professional footballer?

I was born in 1988 in Kaduna, in northern Nigeria. I knew how to play football when I was ten and often played with my friends at school and at home. We loved football so much. I then started to think being a professional was a good idea.

My father is an electrical engineer at Nigeria’s national TV station, and my mother is a university lecturer of technology in Kaduna. At first my mother didn’t want me playing football, and wanted me to study instead. But my father always supported me with football when I was at school.

I played in the Nigerian Professional Football League before coming to Vietnam. 

Hoang Vu Samson (front) seen in a recent match of V.League 1. – Photo sport5.vn

When did you come to Vietnam and why?

I came here in 2007 to show off my talent, and this was the first Asian country I visited.

I initially played for Quang Ninh Coal, in 2008, which was a first division team at the time. I scored 16 of their 25 goals in V.League 2 in 2008 and was one of the top scorers in the league.

I joined Dong Thap in 2009 and played in V.League 1. Together with my foreign teammates Timothy Anjembeor and Ekpe Aniekan Okon, I created a “fever” in Vietnamese football. In my three years at Dong Thap I helped turn it into a competitive team in Vietnam’s top league.

What memories do you cherish after playing at all those clubs? Which one did you enjoy playing for the most?

Wow! That’s an interesting question. All are great clubs and I’ll never forget my time with them. They all played a very important role in my life. So I can truly say I enjoyed them all.

After joining Thanh Hoa early this season, you have scored three goals and the team is in eighth spot. What can you tell us about the club?

Thanh Hoa are a good team with special talent. What I will say is “Watch out, surprises are coming!”

During your time in Vietnam you were invited twice to play for two clubs overseas – Atletico Madrid from Spain in 2011 and Buriram United from Thailand in 2017. What happened with that?

Those opportunities came my way because I deserved it. Both teams are very professional and have great facilities.

Are you sorry not to be playing in Europe?

I don’t feel sorry because everybody has their own destiny. I may still have the chance to play in Europe one day. Nobody knows what the future holds.

Why did you decide to become a Vietnamese citizen?

I decided to become naturalised because I wanted to have the chance to play in the national team and also because I really do love this country.

After more than a decade in Vietnam and having won fame and fortune, is the dream of wearing the Vietnam shirt the only goal left in your career?

I am living a good life as a professional footballer. Playing for the national team would not be the last thing I do, but creating history by playing in the World Cup for Vietnam would be wonderful.

Can you tell us a little bit about your family in Nigeria?

My family in Nigeria pray for me and support me in everything I do. They will come to Vietnam to visit as soon as they can.

How do you feel about Vietnam?

Vietnam is a special country that’s always fun and happy. The people are very friendly. And the food is healthy. Vietnam has won a place in my heart.

Can you run through your career in Vietnam for us?

My playing days with Hanoi FC were the most significant. We won the national league in 2013, 2016, 2018, and 2019, and were runners-up in 2011, 2012, 2014, and 2015.

I also helped Hanoi win the Vietnamese Super Cup in 2018 and 2019 and be runners-up in 2013, 2015, and 2016.

We won the Vietnamese National Cup last year and finished second in 2012, 2015 and 2016. In 2013 and 2014 I was the leading goal scorer in V.League 1.  VNS

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/en/entertainment-sports/v-league-star-samson-holds-vietnam-close-to-his-heart-661372.html