Maduka Okoye Saves Sparta From Relegation On Final Day Of The Season

It ended in Joy for Super Eagles goalkeeper Maduka Okoye as a season of turbulence finally ended in total excitement for Sparta Rotterdam as the Red and White secured a 3-1 win over Heracles to escape relegation on the final day of season.

With the result Sparta finished 14th with 35 points, a point above the relegation waters.

Super Eagles goalkeeper was a prominent feature for the team, making 30 league appearances. He also made 97 saves in the league.

Maduka’s stay with Sparta comes to an end, as he is expected to link up with Watford, with whom he signed a deal in the winter window.

NFF confirms Peseiro as Super Eagles coach and Finidi George new 1st assistant coach

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Sunday announced the appointment of José Santos Peseiro as the new Head Coach of the Senior Men National Team, Super Eagles.

The appointment is with immediate effect, subject to the signing of agreed terms between the NFF and Peseiro, according to an official statement on Sunday evening by the NFF.

According to the country’s football body, “62 year old José Vitor dos Santos Peseiro, is a Portuguese who played as a striker in his days and has wide and varied experience coaching top Clubs and National Teams across four different continents, namely Europe, Asia, Africa and South America.

“An educationist with a degree in physical education/sports sciences, Peseiro has top-level coaching qualifications/training, and has coached at Sporting Lisbon, FC Porto, Panathinaikos, Rapid Bucharest, Sporting Braga, Victoria Gumaraes, Al-Hilal, Al-Wahda, Al-Ahly Cairo, Sharjah FC and Real Madrid (assistant coach during the Galacticos era), as well as serving as Head Coach of the Saudi Arabian and Venezuelan National Teams.

“Peseiro is expected to lead out the Super Eagles for the first time during the upcoming tour of the United States of America, during which the three –time African champions will slug it out with Mexico and Ecuador ‘A’ Teams in prestige friendlies.

“The Eagles will clash with the El Tri at the AT & T Stadium in Dallas, State of Texas on Saturday, 28th May before flying to New Jersey to confront Ecuador at the Red Bull Arena in Harrison on Thursday, 2nd June.

“The NFF also announced that former Nigeria international forward, Finidi George will now be 1st Assistant to Peseiro, with Salisu Yusuf now to be 2nd Assistant as well as Head Coach of the CHAN and U23 National Teams. 

“Usman Abdallah is 3rd Assistant while Eboboritse Uwejamomere will be the Match Analyst and another former Nigeria international, Ike Shorounmu will be the Goalkeepers’ Trainer.” 

Breaking! Liverpool is The Current FA Cup Champion

Liverpool is officially 2022 FA Cup Champions after defeating Chelsea in a penalty shootout. 

This is Liverpool’s second trophy and their second victory over Chelsea, as Jurgen Klopp’s pursuit of the quadruple continues.

This also mark the first time Klopp has lifted the FA Cup as Liverpool manager as his side emerged victorious at Wembley Stadium on Saturday afternoon after a 6-5 win over Chelsea on penalties in what was an entertaining contest. 

The Reds remain in with a chance of sealing a historic quadruple if they can win the Premier League and Champions League.

Putin Warns FinLand Joining Nato Would Be a Mistake

Putin Warns FinLand Joining Nato Would Be a Mistake

Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned his Finnish counterpart that joining Nato and abandoning Finland’s neutral status would be a “mistake”.

He told Sauli Niinistö there was no threat to Finland’s security.

The exchange came during a phone call made by the Finnish president, ahead of a formal request which Finland is expected to announce very soon.

Sweden has also indicated its intention to join the Western alliance, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Finland shares a 1,300-km (810-mile) border with Russia. Until now, it has stayed out of Nato to avoid antagonising its eastern neighbour.

Mr Putin did not make a specific threat of retaliation over Finland’s move, but the Russian foreign ministry has indicated there will be retaliation.

Russia’s decision to suspended electricity supplies to Finland is being seen as an early sign, however.
Russia’s decision to suspended electricity supplies to Finland is being seen as an early sign, however.

In its statement, Russian energy supplier RAO Nordic mentioned problems with payments.

Finland national grid executive Reima Paivinen told the BBC the Russian suspension had not caused any problems.
He said Russian imports accounted for around 10% of national supply, adding that they could be replaced from alternative sources.
Following the phone call between Mr Niinistö and Mr Putin on Saturday, the Kremlin said the Russian leader had stressed the “end of the traditional policy of military neutrality would be a mistake since there is no threat to Finland’s security”.

It added: “Such a change in the country’s political orientation can have a negative impact on Russian-Finnish relations developed over years in a spirit of good neighbourliness and co-operation between partners.”

Mr Niinistö said he had told Mr Putin how recent moves by Russia, along with the invasion of Ukraine, “have altered the security environment of Finland”.

“The conversation was direct and straight-forward and it was conducted without aggravations. Avoiding tensions was considered important,” he said.

Nato, a Western military alliance, was founded in part to ward off threat from the Soviet Union in 1949.

President Putin has mentioned Ukraine’s intention to join the alliance as one of the reasons for the invasion of its neighbour
Source: BBC

Nigeria Sports Ministry Approves Jose Peseiro For Super Eagles Job*

The Ministry of Youth and Sports Development has approved the appointment of Jose Peseiro as the new head coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

The Super Eagles have been without a full time head coach since December, following the sacking of Gernot Rohr.

Rohr was fired by the NFF in December 2021, just weeks before the start of the AFCON in Cameroon.

The sports ministry has now approved Peseiro’s appointment after NFF president Amaju Pinnick met with the sports minister, Sunday Dare on Monday.
Rohr was fired by the NFF in December 2021, just weeks before the start of the AFCON in Cameroon.

The sports ministry has now approved Peseiro’s appointment after NFF president Amaju Pinnick met with the sports minister, Sunday Dare on Monday.

World cup winning coach, Laurent Blanc, former Barcelona manager Ernesto Valverde and erstwhile Netherlands defender Philip Cocu were also linked with the post.

Details of Peseiro’s contract including paperworks are almost done and official

announcement would be made soon.

The Portuguese was first announced by the NFF to take over the Super Eagles after the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Peseiro eventually did not take up the job, after Augustine Eguavoen was appointed as the interim technical adviser of the Super Eagles.

FG Suspends Basketball In Nigeria For Two Years

President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years with immediate effect.

Sunday Dare, the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, disclosed this while briefing newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.

Dare, represented by Ismaila Abubakar, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, said a committee would be set up to oversee basketball leagues in the country.

“Following the unending crisis which have plagued and nearly crippled the development of basketball in Nigeria, President Buhari has approved the withdrawal of Nigeria from all international basketball competitions for a period of two years.

“This is with immediate effect,” he said.

The minister added that the withdrawal of Nigeria is in order to concentrate efforts by government towards revamping the sport from the grassroots as well as domestic leagues which have become moribund.

“This will also allow for the setting up of an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the management and development of the domestic basketball leagues in Nigeria,” he said.

Dare also said this will further address other related issues around the development and advancement of the game in Nigeria.

He then called on stakeholders to help sustain and stabilize the game.

“In issuing the order, the Federal Government reiterates its interest and commitment to the development of the sport of basketball in Nigeria as well as huge talents of our youth domestically in an atmosphere free of rancour and squabbles.

“Government, therefore, calls on players, officials, fans, and other stakeholders of the sport to remain calm as it embarks on far-reaching initiatives to reposition, sustain and stabilize the game of basketball.

“This will aid in the growth and success of the sport in the long-term interest of the country,” the minister said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the basketball sport has been engulfed in leadership crisis in the last five years.

Two parallel national federation board elections were held in 2017 (in Kano and Abuja) and 2022 (in Benin and Abuja), leading to the emergence of separate governing bodies.

Justice Mary Odili Bows Out Of Supreme Court at 70

Justice Mary Odili Bows Out Of Supreme Court at 70

Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter-Odili, on Thursday, bowed out of the Supreme Court of Nigeria following her retirement from public service, having attained 70 years on May 12, 2022.

Justice Mary is the wife of Dr Peter Odili, who served as Governor of Rivers State between 1999 to 2007.

Born on 12 May 1952, in Amudi Obizi, Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria, Justice Odili attended the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Enugu Campus where she studied law between 1972 and 1976.

In her second year at the university, she bagged the university scholarship for maintaining the second class upper division league with higher scores.
She was rated the best student in the department of commercial and property law in 1976. She passed through the Nigerian Law School between 1976-1977 and was called to the bar in July 1977. Thereafter, she served in Abeokuta and Benin.

She attended various Primary Schools including St Benedict’’s Primary School, Obizi Ezinihitte, St Michael’s Primary School, Umuahia, St Agnes Primary School, Maryland, Lagos and Our Lady of Apostles Primary School, Yaba, Lagos between 1959 and 1965.

She also attended various Secondary Schools including Our Lady of Apostles Secondary School, Yaba, Owerri Girls Secondary School, Owerri, Mbaise Girls Secondary School, Mbaise and the Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha between 1965 and 1972.

She later proceeded to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (Enugu Campus) and obtained her Bachelor’’s Degree in Law (LL.B (Hons)) in 1976. She attended the Nigerian Law School in 1977 for her B.L certificate.

Her previous professional appointments/positions includes:

Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Abeokuta, Ogun State (1977 – 1978)

Pupil State Counsel, Ministry of Justice, Benin, Bendel State (1978)

Magistrate Grade III, Benin, Bendel State (1978 -1979)

Chairman, Juvenile Court, Benin, Bendel State (1978 – 1979)

Magistrate Grade II, Rivers State(1979 – 1981)

Chairman, Juvenile Court, Rivers State (1979 – 1981)

Magistrate Grade I, Chief Magistrate Grade I (1981 – 1992)

Judge, High Court of Rivers State (1992 – 2004)

Justice, Court of Appeal, Abuja Judicial Division (2004 – 2010)

Presiding Justice, Court of Appeal, Kaduna Division (2010 – 2011)

Hon. Justice Mary Ukaego Peter Odili was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (JSC) on 23 June, 2011.

She was conferred with National Honour Commander Federal Republic (CFR)

She is happily married with children.

2023 Election: Buhari’s Media Aide, Bashir Ahmad Resigns

2023 Election: Buhari’s Media Aide, Bashir Ahmad Resigns

Abuja – The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital and New Media, Bashir Ahmad has resigned his appointment.

His resignation is not unconnected with the president’s directive on Wednesday that members of his cabinet and political appointees seeking any elective position must resign.

The President had ordered that the ministers and other political appointees should submit their letters of resignation on or before Monday, May 16, 2022.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, made the disclosure in a chat with State House correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday.

A check on Ahmad’s Twitter account on Wednesday afternoon revealed that he has removed “Personal Assistant on New Media to @MBuhari, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria” from his profile.

The former presidential aide now claims to be a ‘Digital Communication enthusiast’.

It was gathered that Ahmad resigned because he is seeking to represent Gaya, Ajingi and Albasu Federal Constituency of Kano State in the House of Representatives on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The former presidential aide is to challenge the current lawmaker, Mahmoud Abdullahi Gaya, who is also of the ruling APC.

Peionews recalls that President Muhammadu Buhari had yesterday during the Federal Executive Council meeting asked appointed aids with political ambition to turn in their resignation.

Senate urges FG, states to rehabilitate erosion sites 

Senate urges FG, states to rehabilitate erosion sites 

Abuja – The Senate has urged the Federal Government and State Governments to, as a matter of urgency, direct the Ecological Fund Office and other relevant agencies to assist in the control and rehabilitation of erosion sites in the various states of the country.
The call was contained in resolutions reached by the chamber sequel to the consideration of a motion during plenary on Wednesday.
The motion entitled, “The menace of gully erosion in Afashio and Afowa communities of Edo North”, was sponsored by Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North).
Alimikhena, in his presentation, underscored the need for the preservation, restoration and maintenance of the ecological environment of local communities.
According to the lawmaker, doing so would ensure the safe movement of citizens, easy transportation of goods, services, as well as guarantee peace, security and well-being of Nigerians.
He noted that the ecological environment of two communities in Edo North Senatorial District – Afashio Secondary School Road and Mr. J.A. Obotse Road – have been facing serious menace of gully erosion partly due to increased rainfall that exacerbated flooding and threatens the livelihood and existence of both communities.
He disclosed that a recent massive gully erosion that affected the two roads has prevented students from accessing their school and affected the entire people of the communities. 
“The erosion has hindered access to crucial farmlands and also limit the evacuation of food crops.
“Concerned also that this erosion tragedy at this time, has the capacity of collapsing the entire rural agricultural economy of a thriving food basket areas of Edo North, especially the communities of Afashio and Afowa – with the consequent loss of valuable agricultural products and property, and with the attendant results of food insecurity both locally and beyond the state”, he said.
He observed that Rehabilitation, Culverting and Asphalting of the road as a result of the Gully was captured in the 2020 budget of the NDDC which has not been awarded.
The Senate, accordingly, urged the Nigerian Ecological Fund and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to urgently seek a permanent solution to the endemic gully erosion.
It also urged the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to ensure prompt award of the contract for the rehabilitation, culverting and asphalting of the Afashio Secondary School Road as captured in the 2020 budget of the Commission.
The chamber urged the Ecological Fund office and all other agencies of Federal Government, Local and States Governments to assist in the control and rehabilitation of gully erosion sites in the various states of the country.

Why CAF awarded league  hosting rights to Morocco

According to reports by BBC Sport Africa, CAF awarded the hosting rights of the CAF Champions League to Morocco as the country was the only one that submitted bid.

With the North African nation having hosted last year’s final, Caf encouraged other countries to stage the match but, despite expressions of interest from Nigeria, Senegal and South Africa, only Morocco remained when it came to decision time.

With its brand new 50,000-capacity stadium in Diamniadio, Senegal had been considered a serious candidate to win the bid but they withdrew last week.

A Caf source told BBC Sport Africa it costs “a significant amount” to host the final and “if it was easy, we’d be discussing candidacies from 10 countries or so”.

The African Champions League final was previously decided via a two-legged (home and away) tie, but the format was changed to a one-off match in 2020.

In a possible sign of the difficulties in finding a host nation willing to invest funds in hosting the final, Caf also announced on Monday that talks are underway to revert to a two-legged final.

Casablanca’s Mohammed V Stadium also hosted the African Champions League final in 2021.

In a separate development, Caf has announced the Nigerian city of Uyo will stage this year’s Confederation Cup final on Friday, 20 May.

Clubs from DR Congo, Libya, Morocco and South Africa remain in Africa’s second-tier continental competition.