The NFF Executive Committee has approved the building of a hostel for the various National Teams as well as two new pitches at the FIFA Goal Project Package B of MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.
This followed a proposal by NFF President Ibrahim Gusau and funding for this project will be provided from the FIFA Forward 2.0 and 3-0.
This initiative is expected to cushion the staggering costs of training camps of the National Teams.
The NFF are currently indebted to various hotels in Abuja running into hundreds of Millions of Naira and incurred through camping the National Teams.
The NFF Executives also charged the Super Eagles to win both 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Guinea Bissau next month so as to book their ticket to the competition, which will be hosted by Cote d’Ivoire next year.
The NFF have in addition supported the Super Falcons build-up to this year’s Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand by ensuring they feature at invitational tournaments in Mexico and Turkey.
NFF Board meeting also touched on the preparations of the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and U23s for forthcoming major qualifying tournaments.
COMMUNIQUE AFTER NFF BOARD MEETING IN ABUJA TODAY
The Executive Committee of Nigeria Football Federation met on Monday, 13th February 2023 at the NFF Secretariat, Abuja to deliberate on important issues in Nigeria Football and resolved as follows:
1) The Board thanked the Federal Government for its continued support and encouragement to the various National Teams, and prayed for safety and security, as well as peace and tranquility to rule nationwide during the forthcoming elections into various positions across the land.
2) While expressing satisfaction with the general preparations of the U20 Boys’ National Team, Flying Eagles for the upcoming Africa U20 Cup of Nations in Egypt (during which the team has remained unbeaten in 18 friendly matches), the Board charged the team to go all out for a ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup finals by reaching the semi-finals in Egypt, after which it must now aim determinedly for the trophy. It pledged to provide all necessary support to the team as well as motivate the squad in an extra way to attain its objectives.
3) With commendations for world football -governing body, FIFA for its greater attention, interest and commitment of funds to women’s football, the Executive Committee expressed delight that Nigeria will be participating in the Four-Nation Revelation Cup Tournament holding in Leon, Mexico 15th -21st February 2023. It praised the wisdom behind getting the Super Falcons into the preparatory tourney ahead of the FIFA Women’s World Cup finals in Australia and New Zealand this summer, noting that the other three participating nations, viz Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia are also World Cup-bound. It was also pleased that the Falcons will be participating in another preparatory tournament in Turkey in April.
4) The Board exhorted the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles, to leave no stone unturned in amassing all six points from their upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying quickfire-double against Guinea Bissau next month, while projecting that those six points will make the team unassailable in its group contest for a spot at the AFCON finals, ahead of the final qualifying matches against Sierra Leone and Sao Tome & Principe.
5) Similarly, the Board charged the U23 Boys, Olympic Eagles to go all out and defeat their opponents, Guinea, home and away in their final qualification fixture for the U23 Africa Cup of Nations, at which Africa’s flagbearers for next year’s Olympic Men’s Football Tournament will emerge.
6) The Board expressed satisfaction with the preparations of the U17 Boys, Golden Eaglets for this year’s Africa U17 Cup of Nations scheduled for Algeria 29th April – 19th May, but asserted that the Board and indeed Nigerians from all walks of life expect nothing less than a World Cup ticket from the squad, and in fact the continental title as a matter of course.
7) In affirming that the grand finale of this year’s Federation Cup competition will hold a week before the last matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League season, the Executive Committee stated that this will allow the winner to prepare adequately for the task of flying the country’s flag creditably at the CAF Confederation Cup. It observed that failure to adhere to the calendar/lack of any in the past few years was the principal reason for Nigeria’s recent poor show in continental club competitions.
8) The Board unanimously endorsed a proposal by its President to utilize the residual funds from FIFA Forward 2.0 and the proposed funds from the incipient FIFA Forward 3.0 for the construction of a befitting hostel accommodation for the National Teams, and the construction of two Football Pitches (one natural turf and one synthetic turf) for use by the Teams at the Goal Project section, Package B of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja.
9) With regards to the proposed Guidelines for the establishment of Football Academies in the country, the Executive Committee charged the Football Associations in the 36 States and the FCT to be ready to work assiduously towards enforcing the guidelines in their various jurisdictions.
IN ATTENDANCE: Ibrahim Musa Gusau (President); Felix Anyansi-Agwu (1st Vice President); Yusuf Ahmed (Member); Babagana Kalli (Member); Ganiyu Majekodunmi (Member); Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Member); Nse Essien (Member); Margaret Icheen (Member); Timothy Henman Magaji (Member); Mohammed Sanusi (Secretary).
ABSENT WITH APOLOGY: Sharif Rabiu Inuwa (Member); Aisha Falode (Member).
