Ahmed Fresh made the unpopular statement, which is against popular opinion by few football stakeholders, during the 2022 edition of the NLO Super 8 Championship in Lagos, held at the Legacy pitch, last Sunday.

Before now there has been a popular saying in the Nigeria Football circle, that the second tier league in Nigeria – Nigeria National League (NNL) is the most important, but the Chairman of Chairmen disagrees.

“Well for me NLO is the most important League in Nigeria, people say NNL but I disagree with that fact, because this is where you catch them young,’’ the former Referees Appointment Committee Chairman told newsmen.

He stressed further stating why the third tier league is crucial to the development of the round lethal game in Nigeria.

“You can see the two finalists look at the display of fantastic football they are giving us this evening.

“Most interestingly, the pitch panels. I’m happy with the branding.

“Yes it’s on TV for live streaming is good for our game is good for the league and this is exactly what we are asking for.

“To be sincere with you NLO are getting it right and I’m happy with the organization,”Fresh concluded.

Madiba FC of Lagos emerged Champions of the Super 8, after they defeated Mailantarki Care FC 1-0 in the final of the 2022 NLO Championship.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Executive Member and Chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ has debunked the untrue story being circulated by an online media outlet, InsideGlassHouse that; he has capitulated to supporting the third term ambition of the NFF President, Mr. Amaju Pinnick.

According to the said inaccurate report; “The LMC Chairman Shehu Dikko and NFF Executive Committee Member Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ have finally given up their ambition to lead Nigeria Football and have instead gone ahead to tell some members of the NFF Congress they will now support Amaju Pinnick’s bid for a third term in office.”

The Niger State Football Association Chairman has called the news unhealthy and urged the public to discard the inaccurate news report published by the online organization on July 31st.

“It is unhealthy to spread the rumor of pledge or support to the incumbent and perhaps, any of the NFF Presidential aspirants, which is not even known to me. We are not even at this stage yet and I didn’t meet with any group to pledge my support to any individual. We have been focused on various projects with the National Teams and the task on the Technical Committee desk makes it difficult to think about Football politics right now; We just want to continue working and to keep our football pedigree at the Top.

“To set the record straight without being perfidious but in a statutory way, the entire NFF congress members are the people who have the right to vote in or for any of the NFF Presidential aspirants and Executive Members and not Yusuf Fresh or Mallam Dikko as inaccurately reported in the media publication.

“The decision to vote whoever wants to be NFF President would be decided on the floor of the NFF Elective Congress. This is statutory process and it has been like that from time immemorial, and no one would bypass what is enshrined, and established in the constitution, which is also backed by the NFF Statute.

“It’s actually nauseating and unthinkable to ascribe the ‘Inalienable rights’ of over 40 people to me, Dikko, Ibrahim Gusau or any of the Executive Members as the influencers of who becomes the NFF President at the expense of other congress men Will or Right to Vote; This, I believe would be a way of paying less regard to their Importance in the Electoral process.

“I urge the general public, especially the entire Football stakeholders in Nigeria to filter away the said news, as we focus on the task ahead systematically,” said Yusuf.

SIGNED: Olaoluwa Aro;
Senior Special Adviser to Ahmed Yusuf ‘Fresh’ on Media and Publicity.

The 2021 AMAPRO Football Championship final will be decided on Sunday between surprise package AbraySports and NNL All Stars.

The Ladi Ojokojo led NNL All Star team edged Da Faria 4-3 on penalties after regulation was 1-1, while Abraysports humbled William Falla 3-1.

Samson Isiaka put the Lagos based team ahead with a cool finish in the 3rd minute of the game.

All Stars came from behind to cancel Da Faria lead as Sodiq Alamoyo slotted into the bottom corner on 25 minutes.

The second half was even for both teams as they displayed best of football artistry to the amusement of the Ilorin fans.

NNL All Stars shot stopper, Muyiwa Majolagbe turned hero of the afternoon as he stopped two spot kicks from Da Faria as his team scored four of their spot kicks.

Coach of NNL All Stars Ladi Ojokojo was full of praise to his boys who whethered the storm against the dangerous Da Faria side.

“We knew how talented the opposition were. Our plan was to score first and try to consolidate. But it was the other way round,” he explained.

“The fighting spirit showed by my boys really made me proud. We can’t afford to celebrate for now because a bigger task awaits us.

In the other semi-final game, William Falla got the first goal with a fine finish from Ramon Azeez.

A rejuvenated NNL All Stars showed class as they scored an equalizer in the 20th minute as Victor Atteh curled home a sweet free kick.

Obadun Abdulrasheed powered home a delicious header at the near post as Abraysports went in front.

Obalowu Nofiu made the game safe for the Ilorin based side with the third goal at the dying embers.

Head coach of Abraysports Bolade Ezekiel admitted that his wards relied on counter attacks to defeat William Falla and promised to upset NNL All Stars in the final.

“It was more of a tactical game but we dealt with the pressure from William Falla. We relied on counter attacks to punish them,” Kolade enthused.

“The game against NNL All Stars will be technical because they are more matured. With our tactical gift we will be victorious.

The final will be held on Sunday at the main bowl of the Kwara Stadium Complex, Ilorin. Kickoff is 4pm.

Fresh, Ahlan, Gusau, Alkali storm Ilorin for Amapro Football Championship final

NFF top shots grace Amapro Football Championship final

Ahlan, Fresh, Gusau, Alkali set to add colour to Amapro Football Championship grand finale

The prestigious Amapro Football Championship final is set as expected as arrangements have been concluded ahead of what would be a glamorous event.

Amapro Football Championship final will be decided on Sunday 29th August at the Kwara Stadium Complex, with NNL All Stars facing Abraysports. Kickoff is at 4pm Nigerian time.

Distinguished football administrators, coaches, club owners and top media personnel will grace the finals among who are NFF Technical Committee Chairman Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, NFF Chairman of Chairmen Ibrahim Musa Gusau, NFF Referee Committee Chairman Inuwa Shariff Ahlan and NLO Chairman Mohammed Alkali.

Others are Kwara State Sports Commission Chairman Bola Mogaji, Former Kwara United Chairman Thompson Oladimeji aka Henry George and Director of Football ABS FC High Chief Alloy Chukwuemeka.

Organizers of #Amapro21 have offered assurances of a memorable experience to the finalists, fans and top football administrators that will be in the Kwara capital for the finals of the sixth edition of the competition.

Partners of the 2021 Amapro Football Championship are Kwara State Government, Kwara State Sports Commission, Kwara State Football Association, Phreestyle Sports, Sports Pro, Kwara State Referee Counsil, Sports Lens, Onward News 24, Sports Retina, FutbalgaloreMedia, Waniko Table Water, Diamond Sports Management, TSTV, Scout4Star, Cyteck Engineering, Afribased Projects Limited, Konami Prints, Harlex Graphix Design, Twinstech Universal Builder and H4 Foundation.

The Management of Nigeria Professional Football League Club, Akwa United have congratulated the Chairman of the Club Elder Paul Bassey on his recent appointment as a member of the Technical and Development Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation.

Elder Bassey was on Tuesday appointed into a Nine-man Technical and Development Committee of the NFF which is led by Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh as Chairman.

Reacting to Elder Bassey’s appointment, the Team Manager of the club Sir Emmanuel Udoh described the appointment as well deserved and added that Elder Paul Bassey is a round peg in a round hole.

“The appointment of our Chairman, Elder Paul Bassey into a viable committee in the NFF was long overdue. Elder Bassey is a veteran journalist and a seasoned administrator who has single-handedly transformed Akwa United FC within a very short time.

“Elder Paul Bassey’s appointment into the Technical and Development Committee of the NFF is a big plus to the growth of Nigeria Football. We trust that his wealth of knowledge of the game at FIFA and CAF level as Match Commissioner, Instructor and General Coordinator will add in no small measure to the development of football in Nigeria.

“We wish to sincerely express our gratitude to the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation led by Mr Amaju Melvin Pinnick for recognising and appointing Elder Paul Bassey as a member of the Technical and Development Committee.

“On behalf of the Management, players and staff of Akwa United FC, I heartily congratulate our amiable Chairman on his appointment and wish him well throughout his stay in office”.

Elder Paul Bassey who is also the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Udom Emmanuel on Sports will work in the committee alongside the Chairman Alhaji Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Vice-Chairman of the committee and chairman of Enyimba International Chief Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the chairman of Nasarawa United, Barr. Isaac Danladi, ex-internationals Victor Ikpeba, Mutiu Adepoju and Austin Eguavoen who is the Secretary of the Committee

Another feather to the cap of the Nationwide League One (NLO) after it unveiled the Haggai Zebra as its official match ball for the 2020/2021 season.

Designed by it’s kit partner Haggai, Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice President and Chairman Football Committee and Youth Football Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi took the honour to unveil the match ball alongside NFF Executive Committee Members, Comrade Ahmed Yusuf Fresh, Alhaji Sharu Ahlan,  Mohammed Alkali, and NLO Chief Operating Officer (COO) Olushola Ogunnowo and other top brass of the nation’s third-tier domestic league at the NLO Secretariat in Abuja.

The epoch making event also saw the official kits for NLO ground staff and other officials at the various centres unveiled.

Haggai donated the Zebra match balls and kits as part of its fulfilment of his partnership with NLO.

Poised to esure the safety of all players, coaches and officials and to help curb the spread of the novel virus pandemic, the NLO Board who’ll adhere to the guideline set by Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and NFF, also made public the thermometers and hand sanitisers it procured.

The thermometers will be used to check body temperatures of every participant at the match centres while hand sanitizer will be used by players and officials before and after matches at the venues.

The 2020/21 NLO season kicks off on March 7 across the six Geo-Political Zones in Nigeria.

The First Vice President Nigeria Football Federation, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has assured the Nationwide League One (NLO) of massive support from the country’s apex football body.

Akinwunmi gave the hint on Thursday in Abuja after he commissioned the newly renovated administrative office of the NLO.

According to the renowned Football Administrator as well as a Sports lawyer said, “This is a sign of seriousness, it shows the NLO Board is serious as regards providing an enabling environment for its staff to function optimally and this is to our aspirations. 

“We also need to celebrate any small feat and am proud to celebrate with them. We all pray that from here, they will move to the building that belongs o them. NLO is a serious business and am glad they are taking things seriously.”

The Lagos Football Association boss also reiterated NFF stance towards the nation’s third-tier league as its poised to get massive support from the Amaju Pinnick Board.

“Certainly, even as at Monday when we had our meetings with all the league bodies, we did discuss and we particularly assured the NLO of our massive support. They have got our back and for me as Chairman of the NFF Football Committee and Youth Committee, grassroot football is my thing, am really interested in it and they have got my support.”

Akinwumi further assured that the Nationwide League One can become the best in the continent and among the best in the world.

“What the NLO does, is it creates a platform for those who venture into such business. They are not business men but run a league and ensure of its success. So it can be about a particular or number of players, in my opinion a wrong target. 

“The NLO is to ensure that its league reaches same standard of any youth development league in the world. It can be the best in Africa and among the best in the world.”