Ahmed Musa on target

Ahmed Musa was on target as CSKA Moscow whitewashed FC Ufa 5-0 in the Russia Premier League Saturday.
Musa scored the fifth goal in the win after Ivorien, Seydou Doumbia had scored the fourth.
It was Musa's 6th goal of the season.

Nigeria is one of 12 Countries to prersent 2 Teams in CAF Club competitions

Nigeria is one of the 12 Countries that will parade two Teams in each of the CAF Club competitions namely, CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation cup in 2015.

The performance of Enyimba FC in reaching the semi final in 2011 and Kano Pillars Fc and Heartland Fc earlier in 2009 getting to the Semi final and Final respectively made sure Nigeria garnered enough points place 5th among the 12 Countries presenting 2 teams in each competition.

Here is the full story and rankngs from cafonline.com

The 2014 ranking for CAF Club Competitions has been determined based on the performance of the representatives of the National Associations in the Orange CAF Champions League and Orange CAF Confederation Cup covering the 2009 to the 2013 seasons.

The ranking serves the criteria for the 2015 CAF Club competitions, with the top 12 countries entitled to enter two representatives each in the two competitions.

This means that the League champions and the runner-ups are eligible to participate in the CAF Champions League, whilst the winner of the domestic cup (FA Cup) and the third-place team in the national championship are entitled for the CAF Confederation Cup.

The notable observation for the 2014 ranking is the presence of South Africa in the top 12, whilst Ghana has dropped to the 14th place, largely due to the performance of Orlando Pirates, which reached the final in the 2012 edition of the CAF Champions League.

The ranking is achieved based on the scale below with points awarded to the stage reached by a participating club;

	CAF Champions League	CAF Confederation Cup
Winner	5	4
Runner-up	4	3
Semi-finalists	3	2
3rd in the group	2	1
4th in the group	1	1

The number of points is then multiplied by a co-efficient assigned to each edition (year) with the highest for the most recent edition (year). In this case, the co-efficient is 5 for 2013, 4 for 2012, 3 for 2011, 2 for 2010 and 1 for 2009.

                                      2014 Ranking

#	Country	2013	2012	2011	2010	2009	Points
1	Tunisia	50	16	24	14	2	106
2	Egypt	35	24	6	12	3	80
3	DR Congo	15	12	3	10	6	46
4	Morocco	5	4	27	8	0	44
5	Nigeria	0	12	18	2	9	41
6	Sudan	0	20	9	4	4	37
7	Algeria	5	8	6	10	3	32
8	Mali	10	16	0	2	4	32
9	Cameroon	15	0	6	0	0	21
10	Congo	5	16	0	0	0	21
11	South Africa	20	0	0	0	0	20
12	Angola	5	4	6	0	2	17
13	Côte D'Ivoire	10	0	3	0	0	13
14	Ghana	0	8	0	0	0	8
15	Ethiopia	5	0	0	0	0	5
16	Libya	0	0	0	4	0	4
17	Zambia	0	0	0	2	2	4
18	Zimbabwe	0	0	0	2	1	3
19	Niger	0	0	0	2	0	2

I met and posed with GPL star, Mfon Udoh

posed with Glo Premier league record breaking top scorer, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba Int'l FC.

Udoh scored 23 league goals to erase the record of 20 goals set by Jude Oluchukwu Aneke in the colours of Kaduna United in 2011/2012 season. Jude Aneke currently plays for Spartak Semey of Kazakhstan.

Udoh has been consistent after hitting 15 goals last season with Akwa Utd, he banged 26 goals in all competitions this season after joining Cup Champions, Enyimba FC.

Udoh started his career at Diamond Stars Academy before moving to Calabar Rovers. He scored 8 goals for Rovers in the lower division in the 2011-2012 season. He then joined Akwa United in 2012 and became an instant hit.

It will take a miracle for the 'hotter than July' attacker to continue plying his trade in the Glo Premier League next season.

Improved pay for referees soon

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) President, Pinnick Amaju has said that Referees in the Country will be well remunerated in the new dispensation.

"We are not only aiming to enhance the capacity of the Referees, we intend to enhance their remuneration as well. In England referees indemnities are paid by one Company, we will try and do the same. we are already talking to some corporate organizations with a view helping with payment of referees' indemnities." 

Amaju summated with a warning, "After
the above steps are taken to improve the lot of referees any of them caught in shady business will not only be blacklisted, he or she will also be prosecuted."

Ebikagboro appointed Dream Team media officer

Broadcast Sports Journalist and former media officer of Warri Wolves FC, Timi Ebikagboro is the new media officer of the U-23 National Team, The Dream Team.

The hardworking Delta State born Journalist's appointment was announced Tuesday in Abuja.

Ebikagboro who works with Delta State Broadcasting Service in Warri takes over from Arafat Aliu of Cool FM, Abuja. Congratulations from Yours sincerely Timi.

Nigerian Referees set for capacity enhancing in London

A select eleven Nigeria elite referees will depart for London on Sunday for a two week capacity enhancing programme.

The programme put together by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) will have the referees getting involved in study group mini workshops, assessing referees operations during an EPL game as well as visiting Wembley and Emirates Stadiums.  They are to be guests at the English FA's High Performance training facility at St' Georges Park on Monday and Tuesday.

The benefiting referees are, Ferdinand Udoh, Ndubuisi Ukah, Shuaibu Abdulahi, Samuel Pwadutakan, Usman Isah and Tope Orowole.
Others are, Egidia Efosa, Peter Ogwu, Musa Dung Devon, Paul Umuago and Olayinka Olayide.

They are to be led on the trip by Chairman of NFF referees Committee, Yusuf Ahmed Fresh and President of Nigeria Referees Association (NRA), Ahmed Maude.

Oshoala and Eduok emerge MVPs

Enyimba disrupts Dolphins' flow

Enyimba Int'l Sunday won the Nigeria Federation cup beating Dolphins of Porthacourt 2-1 in the final played at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

Two second half goals by Mfon Udoh and Chinonso Okonkwo gave the 'people's Elephants' a 2-0 lead before Emem Eduok pulled one back for Dolphins.

It was a game in which two players who were pre match hotshots, Udoh and Eduok lived up to the billing. Udoh earlier set a new all time goals record of 23 goals in the league and Eduok scored 20 goals.

Dolphins had never lost an FA or Fed cup final match previously but Enyimba made sure they disrupted that flow.

Enyimba thus joins Dolphins as four time winners of the Federation Cup.

Dolphins will however represent Nigeria in the 2015 CAF Confederation cup while Enyimba will had already clinched a CAF Champions league place by virtue of being runners up in the Glo Premier League.

NFF President looks forward to Better Tomorrow

NFF President, Pinnick Amaju has said that Nigeria's failure to qualify for the 2015 AFCON in Equatorial Guinea could turn out to be blessing in disguise.

“All things work together for good for those that love God, according to Romans 8:28. This has happened but we believe it will work together for us to toil hard and achieve a renaissance that will take Nigeria football to much higher heights than it has ever been.

“I use this opportunity to thank the Akwa Ibom State Government for all the support they gave the team and the assistance they offered the NFF. This is a dark moment but we will emerge into sunshine shortly.”Amaju said.

Nigeria forced South Africa to a 2-2 draw, a result that was not good enough for Nigeria's qualification.

SAFA President charges Bafana Bafana

SAFA President, Dr Danny Jordaan has urged Bafana Bafana to beat Nigeria in Nigeria. 
“Unfortunately I will not be at that match but I will be watching. No one can overtake you, you are top of the log and that in itself is a tremendous achievement. In every match so far you have proved everybody wrong because for some reason even our own media has given greater odds to teams that play against you, and it is those odds that you turned around in every single match.
“This is the last match, and the odds in terms of the media will be stacked against you but you showed Nigeria in Cape Town,” said Dr. Jordaan.
“We want you to go to Nigeria to confirm not only that you have qualified for AFCON 2015 but also that you are going to be the team to beat at that tournament. You have the ability and we believe in you.
“Confirm your credentials as a team that the whole world and continent must take note of, and this is the opportunity against Nigeria in Nigeria. You don’t get a better opportunity than this one – to beat Nigeria in Nigeria or to beat England in England, to beat Brazil in Brazil, to beat Argentina in Argentina. Those are the big ticks in football and you have an opportunity to make a big tick. Just focus on what you have to do. Congrats for qualifying and all the best for the match.” Jordaan concluded.

courtesy: safa.net

Okemiri looks forward to next season

 

Anthony Okemiri has put behind him the disappointment of not playing enough games at Glo Premier League side, Sharks FC and also returning from a trial in Turkey without getting the desired contract.
Okemiri recently returned from over three Months trial with Turkish Super Lig side, Akhisar Belediyespor.
"It is part of football and I believe the disappointment of not being given a contract despite my good showing will soon become a blessing in disguise"
"I did not play many games for Sharks in the just ended season but I have also put that behind me and am looking forward to next season" Okemiri told ralphcgeorge@blogspot.com.

First career title excites Loute

Kano Pillars defender, Isaac Loute is excited winning his first career title.
"I feel over the moon winning the very first title of my career" The Benin Republic International told ralphcgeorge.blogspot.com.
"I am the happiest of all the players because its my first trophy and I thank Pillars for crowning my career with a trophy"
The former Gateway of Abeokuta striker said Pillars will surprise the continent in next year's CAF Champions League.
Kano Pillars were crowned Glo Premier League champions for the third year running.
Loute joined the Team mid-season.

Record breaker, Udoh to be rewarded

Glo Premier league record goals scorer, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba Fc is to get a cash gift of one million Naira from betting company, NairaBet for setting a new league goals record.
Udoh who scored fifteen goals last season broke the record of twenty goals set by Jude Aneke then of Kaduna with a record 23 goals.
The 21 year old Nigeria international is due to get his reward in Uyo where the Super Eagles will play their AFCON qualifier against Bafana Bafana of South Africa.