Sports
Why I Want To Vie For NFF Board Ticket – Falode
Chairperson of the Nigerian Women Football League (NWFL), Aisha Falode, has said that she decided to vie for position in the Nigeria Football Federation’s (NFF) executive committee, because she wants to implement the changes needed for the growth of the NWFL.
Falode, who was appointed by the outgoing board to lead the country’s women football league, said being an elected member would give her the clout to defend the league and shoo away those with inclinations detrimental to the growth of the game. The idea behind her aspiration, she added, is to ensure that Nigerian football professional existence is not shut down.
Speaking in Lagos at the weekend, Falode said: “I want to have the power, the authority to air my thoughts, opinions and ideas as of right.
“I want to be part of that authority that takes initiatives and run those ideas of taking the country’s football to another level. I want to have the opportunity as a member of the NFF Executive Committee that will be enabled to push for a professionally run NFF. It’s better to contest and win a seat on the Executive Committee, and get on board to ensure the gains made in women’s football are not watered down.”
The NWFL chairperson disclosed that she picked the form for the election last week, adding that if she wins the race to the board, she would push to consolidate on the gains of the NWFL. She also believes that getting into the board, as an elected member, will give her enough room to search for partnerships that will impact positively on the game.
Falode, who is aspiring for NFF exco seat from the Edo State Football Association, noted that, “Football is big business and there are so many opportunities in it.
“When I become a board member, I will help the federation to exploit all these opportunities to Nigeria’s advantage,” she said.
Vice president of the Nigeria Olympics Committee (NOC), Chief Solomon Ogba, foremost Sports Marketer and founder of Okpekpe Road Race, Mike Itemuagbor and top Sports Journalist and Media Strategist, Mitchel Obi have lent their voices in support of the Niger Delta Sports Festival (NDSF).
The personalities with backgrounds in sports administration, marketing and media spoke separately in commendation of the festival, an initiative of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) with Dunamis Icon as consultants.
“This is a positive addition to the evolving sports business ecosystem because it is not just a springboard for identifying talents, it also offers a platform to truly hone the skills of those already discovered”, remarked Obi, who served as Special Advisor to a former Sports Minister, late Anthony Ikhazabor.
He said the festival will be a flagship event in the region that would trigger interest in sports among the youths and people of the region.
Edo State-born Itemuagbor commended the NDDC for the decision to add sports in the list of their intervention projects in the region, adding that: “This speaks directly to the problem of youth restiveness which is of great concern to our people.”
Raphael Onyedika has now emerged as a major doubt for the Super Eagles’ must-win 2026 World Cup qualifiers against Rwanda and Zimbabwe later this month.
The midfielder was forced out early from last week’s league game against Standard Liege.
He has not recovered from the injury and so will miss today’s league match against Gent and may also miss a UEFA Champions League Round of 16 clash against Aston Villa yesterday.
The Super Eagles take on Rwanda in Kigali on March 21, before they face Zimbabwe in Uyo four days later in crucial World Cup qualifiers.
Nigeria’s Super Eagles and Al-Khalood defender, William Troost-Ekong, has shared his experience on the difficulties of winning the prestigious Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) while describing it a must win trophy.
The former Watford FC defender has competed in the tournament three times but has yet to lift the trophy.
“I’ve been there three times now, bronze medal, silver medal, but I haven’t had the chance to win it. That remains my ultimate goal,” he told Tidesports source.
“It means so much to me and all the kids growing up in Africa and Nigeria.”