Amusan who won gold and broke records in 100m hurdles at this year’s World Championship and Commonwealth Games was among outstanding Nigerian sports men and women that were honoured for various categories of the Sheroes awards.

Edo State First Lady Mrs Betsy Obaseki picked up Sheroes Trailblazer of the year award.

Board member of the Nigeria Football Federation, Rt. Hon. Margaret Icheen earned the Sheroes Lifetime Achievement award while Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Mrs Nneka Onyeali-Ikpe bagged Sheroes Capital Achievement award.

Nigeria U17 women’s Manager, Bankole Olowookere was presented with the Sheroes Sports Icon of the year.

Coach Olowokere led the Flamingoes who recently beat all odds to win bronze at the just concluded FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, a feat that Nigeria was unable to attain in the past at the competition.

Other awardees were Super Falcons player Monday Gift (Sheroes Women Football Rising Star of the year), Coach Emmanuel Osahon (Sheroes Women Football Talent Developer of the year, Ruqayyah Adeboye (Sheroes Humanitarian of the year), Nelly Orisakwe (Sheroes Women Football Grassroots Coach of the year) and Ayisat Yusuf-Aromire (Sheroes Girl-Child Advocate of the year).

There was also posthumous award for late Alhaji Tewogboye Oyewole as Sheroes Pioneer of Women’s Football in Nigeria.

Of the 36 states in Nigeria, Lagos State Football Association was decorated as Sheroes Most Outstanding Women’s Football Development FA of the year.

The NFF polls are scheduled to be held on September 30th in the ancient city of Benin, Edo State.

Bayo Olanlege, the egg-head of the Ekiti State FA made their position known on Tuesday via a virtual meeting with some football friends and selected sports journalists, saying it was better to come out straight than promise others what he will not do.

“Without taking anything away from the so many great individuals in the race for the country’s apex football body leadership, one of the reasons why we have pitched tents with 1st Vice President of NFF Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi is because he has the pedigree, competence, and of course the most qualified.

“When we talk about the most qualified, it has absolutely nothing to do with which part of the country the person is from, it has to do with what the person has to offer”

“We are completely convinced that of all the good men that have come out to contest for this position, the best person right now for all of us is Akinwunmi.

“So many wonderful men that I love so much that I want to keep a very good relationship with after September 30th are contesting for this position but I will not want to sit and be lying to them wasting their time talking to me and trying to convince me.”

Olanlege further highlighted Barr. Seyi Akinwunmi’s contribution to the growth of football in the country, his grassroots development programs, his contribution to women’s football and above all, his passion for Nigerian football.

“Akinwunmi has some principles, values and characters that give him an edge over others and the Ekiti State FA is aware that there are a large number of NFF Board membership aspirants who share these traits as his, they are the ones we would be backing in the election so that a formidable NFF EXCO could evolve”

Two of the respected stakeholders in Nigeria football have made their opinions known as to who become the next President of Nigeria Football Federation, NFF for the next four years.

Former Chairman of Sokoto State Football Association, Mallam Danladi Bako and President of Remo Stars Sports Club, Honorable Kunle Soname did not minced words when they openly declared that the current Vice President of the federation and Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi is the best man to lead the federation for another dispensation.

The great men in Nigerian football were parts of the creme De la creme of the countries football that graced the official declaration of Barrister Akinwunmi for the NFF top seat held in Abuja recently.

Mallam Bako in his remark at the reception said “I’m from the North and I have endorsed Seyi. NFF affairs have never been an issue or politics of where anyone comes from. It’s about competence and my conscience tells me that Seyi is eminently an outstanding personality that can take Nigerian football to where we all all desire.”

Mallam Bako pulled no punches in explaining why he feels BSA is the right man to succeed Amaju Pinnick, and take Nigeria football to greater heights with a holistic approach and professional execution.

“Seyi is one man we respect so much,” he continued. “That is why the who is who in Nigerian football came to grace his declaration. Those who decide our fate in Nigerian football, the congressmen are present here. They have a choice to make whenever the time comes as to who they endorse but by me being present here, it has given support to Seyi.”

Mallam Bako further made the point to underline the spirit in which football unifies Nigeria, and what support of BSA means. “If I and those of us who don’t want to bring politics of region and ethnicity into the elections are supporting him, what else? What goes around will come around. Once upon a time you had Alhaji Galadima, followed by Sani Lulu followed by Aminu Maigari. One stretch of three chairmen from the North, so why didn’t you complain at that time? So if you follow my drift I am looking for the merit and the best material.”

As the date for election of NFF President, Vice Presidents and other executive committee members on 30th September draws near, most football stakeholders and observers seem to consider BSA the front runner and almost certain of the top job in Nigerian football – if the outcome were based solely on merit.

Akinwunmi, the incumbent Lagos State Football Association (LSFA) Chairman, has a reputation for focusing on grassroots and schools football, with his Seyi Akinwunmi Charity Foundation offering scholarships to indigent kids – as well as running LSFA increasingly as a commercial enterprise.

His tenure has seen LSFA introduce Nigerian football as a key part of the global football business in the 21st century. In 2012, the LSFA organized Soccerex West Africa, the first time the sports business forum came to this part of the world outside South Africa

Akinwunmi also led a rebrand of football in Lagos by creating a commercial brand for LSFA, ekoFootball, an entity that drove corporate partnerships through active stakeholder engagement, sound business propositions, and solid governance.

What makes BSA the standout candidate – and demonstrates him walking the walk of his Football First vision – is his record in schools football and youth development at LSFA.

The Lagos State Youth Football League remains the most vibrant across the country. As NFF 1st Vice President, Akinwunmi led the Zenith Bank under-13 national team project; while also steering through the adoption of the Channels Kids Cup by the NFF as a protected tournament.

Most informed observers seem to be of the view that the scope, depth and innovation of BSA at the helm of LSFA make him a very strong merit based contender.

As a long standing corporate lawyer with over 30 years of experience, Akinwunmi would also bring integrity to the office, along with the analytical mind to cut through to the most important issues. He is a man who gets things done in football.

Add to this his quiet but impactful work in his area of responsibility in the outgoing executive team – youth development; and it is easy to see why Akinwunmi is widely believed to be the most competent man for the job.

His colourful declaration event was graced by FA Chairmen from all the geo-political zones, other NFF Congress members, retired internationals, football administrators, representatives of corporate Nigeria, and a myriad of members of the Nigerian football family who BSA has helped over the years.

The audience composition, glowing endorsements, and reception to his well articulated strategy for Nigerian football all point to his early lead.

Certainly this reflects a general desire in football circles to restore the dignity of real Nigerian football culture. This is in line with the Federal Government’s recently published position on how Nigerians want their number one sport to be managed and projected.

Mallam Bako, who has a long standing exposure to and experience of football and its administration in Nigeria explained the characteristics we need at the apex of the NFF.

“I want a President that will use our money judiciously and is accountable. I want a President that will take care of all national teams without giving excuses of no money.

“I want a President who will not only attract sponsorship or engage coaches, but disclose the terms and any contract contents to Nigerians. I want a President who will reengineer Nigerian football from grassroots.

“Whoever wins this election, I beg everyone to support him… I’m very much confident that Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi will win based on his track record. Anyone who can effectively manage Lagos FA, a Lagos with over 20 million population, a population of another African country, can do very well as President of NFF. So Seyi has a lot to offer.”

Barrister Akinwunmi, is his declaration speech, made the following commitment to the Nigeria football family. “I guarantee you that as much as I love football, as much as I love my friends, one thing that is paramount in my mind is football. As much as I love and cherish the camaraderie that we share and that is football, and that must come first. Nigeria football can change, only if we put football first.”

BSA introduced his anchor four-point agenda: Infrastructure, Development, Business and Technology.

Responding to Akinwunmi’s vision for Nigerian football, Remo Stars Chairman and sports betting billionaire, Mr Kunle Soname remarked that, “football anywhere in the world has gone beyond mere rhetorics to strategic business model which is capable of engaging everyone interested, especially young people and give them meaningful life.”

He continued, “so redirecting the focus of Nigerian football is paramount if we must achieve the desired goal.”

A shortlist of candidates will be released by the NFF Election Committee on Monday, 12th September.

The election into the executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation has been fixed for the 30th of September, 2023 by the electoral committee and the Lagos State FA Chairman is seeking to succeed his principal and incumbent president of NFF, Amaju Melvic Pinnick, whose second term in office ends in September 2022.

Speaking during the declaration ceremony which took place inside the Lagos hall of the prestigous Transcop Hilton, Abuja with FA chairmen, serving and past executive committee members of NFF, club owners, players, sports journalists and other stakeholders in attendance, Akinwunmi promised to make Nigeria’s football great again if given the opportunity to govern the country’s football.

Akinwunmi, who listed his plans for Nigeria football, if elected NFF president, said he is in the race to reset the country’s football and transform Nigeria into an epitome of football development using meritocracy, professionalism, technology, creativity, transparency and education.

“My administration will create an inclusive, vibrant and efficient football ecosystem beginning with the grassroots to develop a sustainable national football culture, provide pathways to success and exploit the Nigerian entrepreneurial spirit.

“I intend to achieve my vision and action plans for Nigeria’s football upliftment through four key growth drivers – development, business of football , infrastructure and technology.”

Frowning at the gross mismanagement of public funds he promised to run a transparent administration accountable to people, adding that he will ensure funds are appropriated and channeled for the right use.

The renowned lawyer and sports administrator vowed to devolutionalise football administration in the country by empowering the state football associations (FA) and local government football councils to address the steady downfall of football at the grassroots level while the NFF will focus on national football politics.

Akinwunmi said he wants to be president because he believes the next president of NFF should be a person that will invest in grassroots football and ensure a viable football ecosystem for schools and private sector grassroots leagues in each state and zone to grow the game from bottom to up.

He added that he will use his experience as the vice president of the NFF in the last eight years to enthrone an all-inclusive administration that ushers a new era for the game.

“I am coming to restore those glorious days when Nigeria used to be respected in the comity of football playing nations in Africa and the world.

“I will give priority to grassroots development so as to find replacement for the aging players so that no gap will be left in the process of growing the sport again,” he said.

He also said he will focus on a good marketing drive to support the various national teams and club sides both for local and international competitions.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) 1st Vice President Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has assured that the Ogunjobi Football House will be completed soon.

The project which started in 2018 was among the football houses built by the Amaju Malvin Pinnick led NFF Board.

Akinwunmi, the Lagos State Football Association boss and other Southwest State Football Associations chairmen of Otunba Sunday Dele-Ajayi (Ondo), Bayo Olanlege (Ekiti), Gani Majekodunmi (Ogun), James Adeniran (Oyo) and Alhaji Mustapha Abulrasaq (Osun) came under the agies of the Western Nigeria Football Forum (WNFF) to host the maiden Taiwo Ogunjobi Memorial Under-15 Tournament.

Speaking during the award night of WNFF/Taiwo Ogunjobi U-15 Tourney in Osogbo last weekend, Akinwunmi said: “Apart from honouring Taiwo Ogunjobi, we will also help the host Football Association, Osun, complete the Ogunjobi Football House.

“We have raised some money from among ourselves, but we are also looking for help to complete the Ogunjobi Football house project which houses the Osun FA.

“We hope that next year, we will take the project to another state, which will benefit from the programme until all the states have their own football houses.”

Meanwhile NPFL/La Liga U15 champions Remo Stars were crowned winners of the Ogunjobi Memorial Under-15 Tourney after they pipped Osun State counterparts 1-0 to lift the title.

The first Vice President of the Nigeria Football Federation, NFF and Chairman, Lagos State Football Association, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi has cleared airs on uncertainties surrrounding Football administration in Nigeria in recent times and way forward on the 2022 NFF Election.

The Lagos State Football Association Boss who revealed the decision of the Executive Committee of the NFF in a video presentation on Monday assured total adherence to the supremacy of the congress and called the Stakeholders to put Football first over any ambition

The legal luminary who did not hide his feelings on the situation of things in Nigerian football particularly as expressed at various platforms assured that August 18 has been fixed for the Annual General Assembly scheduled to hold in Lagos.

In his words:

“My dear colleagues, please accept my heartfelt sporting greetings to you and every member of Nigerian football family. In lght of all that has been happening in recent times within the realm of Nigerian football, I have decided to send this message of assurance and give my personal stands on this issue.

As you all aware, there has been a dark cloud of uncertainties surrrounding the administration of our Football in the past few months. We have situation where, first, the issues of court injunction has affected our Football administration

“Many members of NFF Congress have mandated the Executive Committee to call the AGA within the specified time”

“In line with the views of Football fraternity at various fora, Executive Committee must ensure the 2022 NFF elections hold in September 22 withing the life spern of the current Executive Committee”

The plaintiff of Bayelsa State high court has filed for discontinuance of the suite.

In full alignment to the above, I’m aware that NFF Statues is the supreme Law for the administration of Football in Nigeria subject of course to any conflict with the laws of Nigeria

By virtues of NFF Statues, Annual General Assembly as currently constituted is the supreme legislative body for the NFF. In deed, the Executive Committee holds the office at the behest of the congress.

The congress has been informed by the NFF General Secretary that after the botched AGA earlier fixed for 16th August, 2022 in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, has now been fixed 18th of August, 2022 in Lagos”

As Chairman of Lagos State Football Association, I look forward to receiving you at the Centre of Excellence”

In his submission, The proponent of grassroots Football development affirms that: “I wish to make it abundantly clear that I support the total adherence of the NFF Statues, the supremacy of the congress and the commitments that NFF Elections be held on or before 20 September, 2022”.

As a Football family, this is a yet another time when we are called upon to come together and put Football first.

I thank you for your time and I assure you my total commitment and willingness to see to the bright future of Nigerian football. God bless you “