Finidi George is New Coach of the Super Eagles
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has appointed former Super Eagles winger Finidi George as the new head coach of the nation’s senior men’s national team. The decision was announced in a statement released on Monday, following approval from the NFF Board. Finidi George, a 52-year-old former Ajax Amsterdam and Real Betis forward, emerged as the preferred choice after the NFF’s Technical and Development Committee recommended his appointment. He had served as an assistant to outgoing coach José Santos Peseiro for 20 months before taking over as interim coach. During his interim tenure, George led the team in two friendly matches in Morocco, where they secured a historic victory against Ghana, ending an 18-year winless streak, before succumbing to a defeat against Mali. Describing George as a member of the ‘Golden Generation’ that triumphed in the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations and shone at the FIFA World Cup finals in the same year, the NFF highlighted his distinguished playing career. “With 62 caps for Nigeria, including appearances in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup finals, George brings a wealth of experience to his new role,” the NFF noted. His immediate task will be to steer the Super Eagles to victory in crucial 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against South Africa and the Benin Republic. With the team trailing in third place in Group C of the African campaign, the matches are deemed must-win encounters.
Tinubu Rewards Super Eagles With National Awards, Flats, Lands
President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday honoured the Super Eagles of Nigeria with the national award of Member of the Order of the Niger (MON), presenting them with flats in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and parcels of land. The announcement was made during a reception for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) delegation, led by the Minister of Sports Development, Senator John Owan Enoh, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja. The president praised the team, coach, crew, and management for their dedication and perseverance throughout the Africa Cup of Nations, where they secured the runner-up position. Tinubu encouraged Nigerians to stay positive, highlighting the team’s remarkable journey and calling for unity and continued effort towards national success. “Let this passing event not dispirit us but bring us together to work harder. We are a great nation bound as one by the green-white-green banner of resilience, joy, hope, duty, and untiring love. “To those cherished Nigerian youths expressing their gifts in communities, drawing lines in the sand as they play football in their humble rectangles of play, you can be our heroes tomorrow, do not relent in your pursuit. My administration is here to make dreams come true,” the president said.
Kenyan Wins Lagos City Marathon
Bernard Sang, a Kenyan athlete, claimed victory in the 2024 Access Bank Lagos City Marathon with a time of 02:16:49. The 32-year-old defeated about 80 others in the 9th edition of the race on Saturday to win the 42km race and clinch the $50,000 prize money. The East Africans dominated the race as two other Kenyans, Simon Cheprot and Edwin Kiptoo, came second and third, with cash prizes of $40,000 and $30,000 respectively. The Kenyans won the marathon in 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2021. More so, 25-year-old Ethiopian, Kebene Chala, was the first woman to cross the finish line. Shehu Muazu was the first Nigerian to cross the finish line and will be going home with a N1 million cash prize. The 42km race, which was scheduled between 5 a.m. and 2 p.m. began at the National Stadium in Surulere and ended at the Eko Atlantic City in Victoria Island. The Lagos State Government, through the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Oluwaseun Osiyemi, on Friday, issued a traffic advisory ahead of the yearly Access Bank Lagos City Marathon
Youths and Social Devpt Minister calls for Staff Welfare
Dr Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, Youth Development Minister has appealed to the Permanent Secretary and the top management of the ministry to prioritize the welfare of the staff, ensure that all allowances are paid on time and ensure that workers are enabled to work at optimal level. The minister made the call this Monday, Abuja, while conducting the ministry’s first top management monthly statutory meeting. She said the ministry is one family working together for a common goal, which is to ensure that the interest of the Nigerian Youths are protected and their needs provided. Speaking further, she said, “One philosopher said that if you want to go far, you go together, but if you want to go fast, then you go alone. “We understand the importance of teamwork, and we want to foster the spirit of it here in our ministry,” she admonished. Speaking further, she said, “We are expecting a periodic update from all the departments on progress of their activities, while at that we should always know that our day to day actions here will determine the fate and future of this country”. Earlier, the Minister of State for Youth Development, Mr Ayojide Olawale, expressed his appreciation to the staff for their co-oporation so far and prayed that their efforts shall be crowned with resounding success. He enjoined them to always try as much as possible and, to the best of their ability, do the right thing at the right time. Dr Dunoma Ahmed Umar, the Permanent Secretary at the ministry explained that the reason for the management monthly statutory meeting is to bring together the implementors of the ministry’s policies to synergize in ways to achieve success. He stated further that the purpose of the meeting is to review ministry’s activities, keep track of the programs that it is implementing, rate staff members’ performances and ensure that they undertake the programs of government, especially the inline with the government’s vision especially the renewed hope agenda. He said “we have competent and experienced staff who are always available to undertake and implement the programs of this administration and with the direction and support of our honourable minister and minister of state we are going to deliver. “We are going to ensure that we pursue our policies in line with the Federal Civil Service implementation plan 2025, focusing on its six pillars and synchronized them with the nation’s National Development plan. ” Among the the six pillars are capabilities building and talent management, we are going to train and retrain our staff to achieve high performance. We will also use performance management system to access our staff’s day to day activities to ensure quality performance. We will pursue paperless office as well as enhancing the welfare of our staff” he said.