NFF, LABBADIA DEAL CRASH, EGUAVOEN NOW TO LEAD EAGLES AGAINST BENIN REPUBLIC, RWANDA

Coach Augustine Eguavoen will now lead the Super Eagles for their upcoming 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Benin Republic and Rwanda. 

This decision follows the collapse of contract negotiations between the Nigeria Football Federation and German tactician, Bruno Labbadia, who was initially announced as the new Super Eagles coach earlier this week.

In a statement released this evening, the NFF explained that stringent regulations from German tax authorities had derailed the agreement with Labbadia. 

The Federation cited the tax issue as a significant obstacle, noting that it would be required to cover an additional 32% to 40% of Labbadia’s salary on top of the agreed monthly wage.

NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Gusau clarified that the tax details were not part of the original discussions and that he had personally agreed to all other terms before the tax issue emerged.

The Super Eagles are set to face Benin Republic at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on 7th September and Rwanda in Kigali on 10th September.

AKWA IBOM FA CHARGES IBOM ANGELS ON PROMOTION ... SETS TO SEND DELEGATION TO SUPPORT, CHEER THEM TO VICTORIES

Akwa Ibom State Football Association has charged Ibom Angels to be good ambassadors of the state in the 2024 Nigeria Women's football league championship kicking off tomorrow in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.

The State Chairman of the Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh gave the charged while tasking Ibom Angels players to replicate what they have been trained to do by ensuring that they clinch one of the two slots available for promotion to the premier women's football league from the Calabar centre of the championship.

Hinting that the Football Association in the state has made arrangements to send a delegation to support and cheer them to victories in the competition, Umoh added that it has been the desire of his led board to support as many teams as possible to be playing in top leagues in the country and the women league is very dear to them as it falls in line with the vision of Football Association in Akwa Ibom State.

The Akwa Ibom State Football Association boss expressed confidence in coach Edwin Okon's technical abilities to use the players available in Ibom Angels squad to make football lovers and fans of Ibom Angels to enjoy Premier Women's Football League again in Uyo after being relegated last two years.

" For us as football Association in Akwa Ibom State, we have been working hard to ensure that football is at its best in the state where there will be competitions at all levels and women's football is very dear to us. We have been with Ibom Angels all throughout their trainings in preparation for this championship and we will do more now that the championship is kicking off tomorrow 31 August 2024 in Calabar.

" Akwa State Football Association will as usual send a delegation to support and cheer them to victories in the championship because we want football lovers to enjoy premier women's football league in Akwa Ibom State. Being with them all through their trainings, we are confident in the level of discipline, tactics and the team work amongst the officials and the players "

Ibom Angels young squad arrived Calabar the Capital of Cross River State yesterday 29th August 2024 and will be competing in the 19 teams championship for the two slots available for promotion to Premiere Women's Football League in the centre.

The 2024 Nigeria Women's Football League Championship will be kick off  Saturday, 31 August, 2024 and will run through Sunday, 8th September, 2024 in Calabar.

NDDC DONATES 300 TREATED MOSQUITO NETS TO MARK WORLD MALARIA DAY IN AKWA IBOM STATE

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), on Friday, 16th August 2024, marked the World Malaria Day in Akwa Ibom State with a donation of 300 treated mosquito nets .

The event which took place at the OBA laison office, Ewet Housing Estate, Uyo, had in attendance people across the 31 Local Government Areas of Akwa Ibom State.

Declaring the event open, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, said the event was to commensurate with other multinational agencies to mark the 2024 World Malaria Day.

He said malaria is a global sickness and that the event was to create awareness on how to eradicate the sickness from the State. The NDDC boss disclosed one of the factors that causes malaria which is an unclean environment.

The NDDC MD/CEO who was represented by the Akwa Ibom State Representative in the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Apostle Abasiandikan Nkono, said the NDDC is an intervention agency, hence the Commission decided collaborated with other agencies to fight malaria parasite in the State.

He noted that though the event had globally took place earlier in the year, with the theme “accelerating the fight against malaria for a more equitable world”, NDDC is determined to hold the event annually and will ensure people of the State lives a healthy life.

According to him, "we are here to create awareness on malaria parasite. We are urging you all to always keep your environment clean so that mosquitoes will be far away from your houses. Let us come together to eradicate the parasite."

In his speech, the Director in the Akwa Ibom State NDDC office, Engr. Evong Evong, said the NDDC is committed to doing more in the health sector.

Engr. Evong Evong while stressing the need to live a healthy life, maintained that malaria is dangerous just as other sickness, adding that clean environment will help to eradicate the parasite from the State.

The event featured awareness talk by the resource person, Dr. Idara Isong who is from the Community Medicine Department, University of Uyo. Dr. Isong enlightened the participants on the need to keep environment clean and to ensure proper treatment each time the observed malaria symptoms.

During a chat, one of the participants, Mrs. Grace Okon, thanked the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for the one day event and promised to make good use of information gathered at the event.

Highpoints of the event was the presentation of mosquito nets and cash to over 300 people as well as conduction of malaria test by the medical team.

AKSFA Donates To Enugu Rangers, Promises Level Playing Ground for CAF Teams.

Inline with its avowed commitment to support all football clubs and teams plying their trades in the State, the Akwa Ibom State Football Association has donated packs of water to Enugu Rangers International ahead of their first leg CAF Champions League clash against Zilimadjou  FC of Comoros slated for Sunday 18th August, 2024 in Uyo.

The Football Association commended and congratulated  Rangers International for emerging champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League and vowed to support the Country's champions who's home ground is the Godswill Akpabio International stadium.

The Chairman of the Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh gave the commendation while addressing the Management, Technical Crew and players of the Enugu based side in their hotel in Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State and charged the team to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria by convincingly winning the preliminary matches.

" You are welcome to your home, Akwa Ibom State and by extension, the Godswill Akpabio International stadium where we as football stakeholders have agreed  that this will be your fortress as far as CAF champions League is concerned. We are ready to support you to succeed in your desire to winning the continent's top clubs honors.

"Akwa Ibom State is known for supporting any football team playing in Akwa Ibom State whether national or club side and Rangers case will not be different".

Mr Umoh who was flanked by the Association's board members further promised to provide comfortable environment for the visitors before, during and after the match, promising a level playing ground for all the CAF teams as host FA.

Receiving the gesture of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association led by Mr. Samuel Umoh, on behalf of the Technical Crew,  Coach Fidelis Ilechuku, while in happiness said this is the first time in his career playing in the continent that they have witnessed an historic reception by the host ahead of a match and promised to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria in the CAF champion league.

Responding, the Captain of the champions of the Nigeria Premier Football League, Ugwueze Chinemerem hailed the Football Association for providing them  enabling environment to be good representative of Nigeria.

The Captain pledged on behalf of the team to win their matches and progress in the competition and make Nigerians proud of their representation.

A'Ibom FA Parleys Past Leaders, Seeks Collaboration For Optimal Results

The Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Football Association Board, Mr. Samuel Umoh, says his Board will continue to work with past Chairmen and Secretaries of the Association for the betterment of football in the state.

Mr. Umoh made the board's decision public during a dinner organized by the Association at the VIP LOUNGE of the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital where he said the current Football Association in the state desire to tap from their wealth of experience as past leaders in the state.

The Chairman who was accompanied by the Vice Chairman, Coach Raymond Essien, other Board members, Comrade Felix Udoh, Akparawa Anthony Kelvin, Mr Obot Udoka, Sir, Orok Orok, the Secretary and the Assistant Secretary of the Association, Comrade Kufre Etukudo and Mr Dominic Akpan appealed to past Chairmen and Secretaries to let go the negative past and unite to build a brighter future for the teaming talented Akwa Ibomimits at home and in the diaspora by correcting the mistakes of the past and develop football together.

"I am not just recognizing you as past leaders of football in the state but we want us to unite and build a formidable football strategic plan for our dear state. I believe that with your wealth of experience, we can let the negative past be bygone and change for the betterment of football"

Responding, the  past Chairmen led by Barr. Aniefiok Ukpe, poured encomium on the Samuel umoh led board for the successes recorded since their elections on the 26 of April 2024.

Ukpe was flanked by Professor Ignatius Udouk, Elder Enobong Etukudo and Rt.Hon. Effiong Johnson, expressed optimism that the current Football Association in Akwa Ibom State will leave land mark achievements that will be difficult for any set to break because the board according to them has started on the right footing.

Also, past Secretaries like, Carmichael Ukpabio, Matthew Peters and Elder Joseph Eberefe who where appreciative of the recognition  by the current football Association board in the said football development needs experience and that they are ready to work with the Samuel Umoh's led board to achieve his developmental programmes for the good of all Akwa Ibom sons and daughters and all Nigerians.

A'IBOM FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION PLEDGES TO PROMOTE BEACH SOCCER, FUTSAL IN AKWA IBOM

Akwa Ibom State Football Association has assured Akwa Ibom State Beach soccer and FUTSAL  Committee of positive collaboration and support for the promotion and development of the games in Akwa Ibom State.

The State Chairman of Football Association, Mr. Samuel Umoh gave the assurance today when members of Beach Soccer and FUTSAL Committees paid a courtesy visit on the Board at the Association's office, Idongesit Nkanga Secretariat in Uyo .

Umoh, while stating that Beach Soccer and FUTSAL games have the capacity to encourage the youths to shun antisocial activities and reduce crime, charged Beach Soccer and FUTSAL Committee to embark on more developmental programmes to create awareness of the sports in the state especially amongst school children,  whom he said will help keep the future of the games alive.

" Let me appreciate you the committee members for the passion you have to develop the sports in Akwa Ibom State.You have been doing all by yourself, but going forward, the Football Association under my leadership will support you to organize competitions that will help the state to have a good team for the national league and international competitions"

" I want to encourage you to do everything inline with the laws guiding the games and embark on developmental programmes that can help our youths and reduce crime".

The Chairman was flanked by his Vice, Coach Raymond Essien, Secretary, Comrade Kufre Etukudo, Assistant Secretary, Dominic Akpan, Board members, Comrade Felix Udoh, Akparawa. Anthony Kevin, Mr. Obot Boniface, and Sir Orok Orok.

Speaking earlier the chairman of Akwa Ibom State Beach soccer and FUTSAL Committee captain Victor Ndueso, who came with his Coordinator, Coach Otobong Ekaneme, Organizing secretary, Akanimo King, Assistant Head of Technical, Coach Ekaette Ekpe, Welfare Officer, Comrade John Ekpenyoung, and the Public Relation Officer, Comrade Emmanuel Akpan, said the  committee is pleased with the developmental policies of the current football Association Board and had to come to seek the football Association's help in developing the game in Akwa Ibom State.

Ndueso hinted that despite having a natural beach in Ibeno, the Committee is seeking the help of the football association in Akwa Ibom as the parent body to identify and developed more beach soccer and FUTSAL stadia in the state even as they are set to host inter state competitions in the state