Tag: FIFA

FIFA urges all member nations to name one stadium after Pele

Aminu Imam

The Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) has urged all its 172 member nations to name one of their stadiums after the Late Brazilian football icon, Pele. Gianni Infantino, FIFA president made the appeal at a 24-hour public wake for Pele which began on Monday at the Santos’ Urbano Caldeira Stadium. Speaking at the procession, the FiFA President said the best way to immortalise Pele and his impact on football was to make sure his name appear in stadiums in all countries. “We’re going to ask every country in the…

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FIFA extends four-year ban on Orji Okwonkwo to worldwide

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

Former Nigeria junior international Orji Okonkwo has had his four-year ban for doping violation by the Italian National Anti-Doping Tribunal extended worldwide by world football governing body, FIFA. A statement by Ademola Olajire, Director of Communications at the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Saturday said FIFA’s verdict was contained in its ruling on the case for worldwide extension of the ban, brought before it by Italian NADO. “Chairperson of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, Jorge Ivan Palacio affirmed that the player had been cited properly, he has had the opportunity to…

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Nigeria rises in latest FIFA rankings, now third in Africa

Aminu Imam

…As FIFA clears ex-England U-20 striker, Lookman, to play for Nigeria The Super Eagles of Nigeria have climbed up four places in the latest FIFA rankings, notwithstanding exiting the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations, (AFCON), at the first knockout round. Nigeria, now up to 32nd in the world, climbed above hosts Cameroon, finalists Egypt, and Tunisia who ended Nigeria’s run at the AFCON. Newly crowned African champions, Senegal, remain the highest-ranked African side and 18th in the world. The Atlas Lions of Morocco are second in Africa and 24th…

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Boost for girl-child as FIFA, CAF president arrive Nigeria for A’isha Buhari Cup

Aminu Imam

President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and FIFA Council Member, Amaju Melvin Pinnick, says the presence of FIFA president, Gianni Infantino and CAF President, Patrice Motsepe, at the opening ceremony of the maiden edition of the A’isha Buhari Invitational Tournament, also known as A’isha Buhari Cup, in Lagos on Wednesday, is a boost to push for more attention to the challenges confronting the girl-child in Nigeria and the African continent. Infantino and billionaire businessman, Motsepe, who took leadership of the African football –ruling body six months ago, landed in…

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FIFA postpones 2022 World Cup qualifiers

Aminu Imam

The International Federation governing association football, FIFA has confirmed that the 2022 World Cup qualifiers scheduled for Africa during June have been postponed to September due to the Covid-19 pandemic and stadiums not meeting international standards. In the announcement today, FIFA disclosed that there will now be double match days in September, October and November with the 10 group winners advancing to the final round next March. Africa has been allocated five places at the 32-nation tournament in Qatar, which has been moved from its traditional mid-year setting to November…

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Latest FIFA ranking for African countries

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

The following is the latest ranking for African countries as published on Thursday by FIFA from its headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. 1. Senegal2. Tunisia3. Algeria4. Nigeria5. Morocco6. Egypt7. Cameroon8. Ghana9. Mali10 Burkina Faso11 DR Congo12 Côte d’Ivoire13 South Africa14 Guinea15 Uganda16 Cabo Verde17 Benin18 Gabon19 Zambia20 Congo21 Madagascar22 Mauritania23 Kenya24 Mozambique25 Zimbabwe26 Libya27 Niger28 Central African Republic29 Sierra Leone30 Namibia31 Guinea-Bissau32 Malawi33 Angola34 Sudan35 Togo36 Comoros37 Rwanda38 Equatorial Guinea39 Tanzania40 Burundi41 Lesotho42 Botswana43 Ethiopia44 Liberia45 Eswatini46 Gambia47 South Sudan48 Mauritius49 Chad50 Djibouti51 São Tomé and Príncipe52 Somalia53 Seychelles54 Eritrea

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FIFA condemns Swiss probe, says Infantino remains president

Ishaku Yohanna

Gianni Infantino can remain FIFA president and should not be forced from power while under criminal investigation, world soccer’s governing body told The Associated Press. A Swiss special prosecutor opened a criminal case into Infantino’s conduct on Thursday over his meetings with the country’s attorney general who has been leading a sprawling investigation into football corruption. “There is nothing preventing the president from performing his duties,” FIFA said in a statement to the AP. “He will continue to fully assume his functions within FIFA.” The FIFA ethics committee faced calls…

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