Oliseh- Eagles won't look down on any team

Coach Sunday Oliseh at his presentation by the NFF last week

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Super Eagles Head Coach, Sunday Oliseh is happy with outcome of the 2018 FIFA World Cup preliminary draw held in St.Petersburg, Russia on Saturday.

Drawn bye from the first round of the African qualifiers, Nigeria begins her campaign for a place at the 2018 finals in Russia in November 2015, away to the winner of the Djibouti vs Swaziland first round playoff.

While appealing for caution, the Super Eagles handler told thenff.com that there are a number of reasons for him to be happy.

"Of course,I am happy with the draw,"Oliseh stated.

"We are not playing the first round, which is a preliminary round and which we knew before the draw. We will also be playing the first leg of the second round away which means we have an advantage of playing the more crucial return leg at home, in front of our fans".

The coach also warned against complacency, revealing that there are a lot of dangerous teams around that could hurt if taken for granted.

"Djibouti and Swaziland need to be given the respect that they deserve and either of them that we face in the second round will not be underrated. We respect every team and we will battle anyone that emerges with our full strength.

"With the draw now concluded,we can safely say that the race to Russia has officially started. I am optimistic we will run this race very well. We will give it our very best and pray it will be good enough to get us one of the five slots available for Africa," Oliseh concluded.

Adamu and others Makes CAF Return

Former FIFA executive committee member, Dr Amos Adamu, is back on official football duty after years of being out.

Source :Complete Sports

Adamu was suspended by FIFA from all football activities for three years in 2010 after being fingered in a bribery scandal.

Although the ban expired in 2013, Adamu kept a low profile, until he resurfaced on Monday.

The former Director-General of the National Sports Commission has been named as a member of CAF's Nations Cup Organizing Committee, a key committee overseeing the organization of Africa's most important football competition.

Adamu was once one of the most powerful men in Nigerian, African and even world football before a Sunday Times investigation implicated him in a corruption case.

He was once tipped to take over as CAF President at the end of Issah Hayatou's tenure before the ban put paid to that ambition.

Other Nigerians involved in new CAF appointments are Gbenga Elegbeleye and Dominic Oneya, who are in committees, while Emeka Inyama and Chris Green have been dropped.

Nigeria Football Federation President Amaju Pinnick, former President Aminu Maigari and Aisha Falode are among Nigerians who retained their CAF positions. 

Blatter Re-elected as FIFA President once again

Sepp Blatter has been announced as the President of the Federation of International Football Association FIFA for the fifth consecutive time.

Google Image: Sepp Blatter

After the first round of voting , HRH Prince Ali Bin Alhussein polled 73 votes while Sepp Blatter got 133 votes but the winner would require 2/3 of the majority which is 140. 

Second round was to be conducted but Prince Ali decided to step down.

International Friendly: Nigeria vs Ghana match Cancelled

Fans of Super Eagles in the diaspora which would have been hoping to watch their team playing against Ghana in London may now be disappointed as FIFA says no.
          
According to football Governing body, the schedule clash is against their regulations which which stipulate that no country should play two games across two continent in three days.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as earlier announced the Super Eagles will take on Bolivia on March 26 in Uyo, and go ahead on Black Stars of Ghana on 29 March in London.

The Eagles were seeking to use the march against Black Stars, to kick off their Preparations for the 2017 Nations Cup qualifiers campaign.

However, as the friendly has been cancelled by FIFA, the Ghana Football Association can now consider proposals from other nations who are interested in playing the Black Star on said date.

Ghana has the option to play all two matches during the FIFA free window in April either in Europe or Asia .

NFF President Pinnick meets with Nigerian's young footballers in London

NFF President Amaju Pinnick has met with parents of some ravemaking Nigeria youngsters across the top rank in England.
                         
According to THE NNF.COM reports, On his way to an official meeting with FIFA President, Mr. Sepp Blatter at the Home of FIFA on Wednesday morning, the NFF stooped over in the England capital and watched Sunday's FA Cup fifth round match between Arsenal and Middlesbrough at the Emirates.

"I was able to see Kenneth Omeruo and Chuba Akpom at the match. I am meeting the parents of a number of these youngsters this time and have plans to meet all of them and also their parents in due course.

"You see, some of them might have represented England at junior level, but they are willing to represent Nigeria at senior level, and that is what we are looking at. We are looking at strengthening our teams at all levels and these players are willing, once we can convince them that there is a new set-up in Nigeria football."

Pinnick's diary has noted 18-year-old attacking midfielder Alex Iwobi of Arsenal, who has joind up with the country's Olympic Team ahead of their departure for an 11th All-Africa Games qualifying match against Gabon in Libreville on Saturday, as well as former Chelsea centre back Joshua Debayo, also 18, now on the books of another Premiership team, Southampton. He is also an England U-18 international.

There are also Fejiri Okenabirhie, 19-year-old former Arsenal winger, now with Stevenage; 19-year-old Brighton FC striker Chike Kandi, formerly with Chelsea FC and; Chelsea and England U-19 defender Ola Aina, 18.

Mayowa Balogun, 18, is a versatile defender with Wigan Athletic FC while Arsenal defender Semi Ajayi is getting better by the day.

West Ham fine £71,000 by FIFA over Diafra Sakho Withdrew from Senegal Squad

West Ham United have been fined and reprimanded by FIFA after they played Diafara Sakho in an FA Cup win, he withdrew from Senegal's Africa Cup of Nations squad.

Source Google Image: Sakho

Sakho scored the only goal and secure them a 1-0 victory at Ashto Gate but the World football governing body (FIFA) opened an investigation to see if they had breached rules over international duty.

The Hammers denied any wrong doing but could have faced expulsion from the FA Cup if they were found guilty.

FIFA rules say a player cannnot appear for a club if he was meant to be on international duty and they released a statement on Wednesday confirming the fine.

It stated and i quote: ' The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has found the club and player to have violated art. 5 of Annexe 1 of the Regulations in relation to the match played by Sakho on 25 January 2015. The club has been fined CHF 100,000 in accordance with art. 10 c) and art. 15 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC) and issued with a reprimand, while the player has been sanctioned with reprimand in accordance with art. 10 b) and art. 14 of the FDC.

West Ham insisted the player had a back injury that prevented him from flying and claim he was driven to Ashton Gate in limousine for the FA Cup tie. They requested FIFA dismiss the case.

Bristol City have now release a statement over the £71,000 FIFA fine to the Hammers for including Shkho in the match.

The League one club feels disappointed, and they have this to say about the lenient fine to West Ham. The statement on their website state's: "Bristol City FC notes FIFA's decision with regards to the Disciplinary Committee's case against West Ham United and their player Diafra Sakho.

"The club is disappointed with the penalty handed down by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee and is considering its options. " The club will be marking no further comment at this time."

The reports also said that, the Hammers (West Ham) has also issued a brief statement following FIFA's decision.
'The club and the player have received the decision and will now be focusing their concentration on the game against Manchester United on Sunday,' it read.