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Moroccan Club Appoints Gara Gombe As Consultant

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Former board member of the Nigeria Football Federation and former Chairman of Gombe State FA, Alhaji Ahmed Shuaibu Gara Gombe has been appointed Consultant to Moroccan soccer side, Avadas Club Casablanca.


Gara Gombe received a letter of appointment dated July 4, 2022 from the club’s director, Rachid Nasraoui. The letter stated that the former Gombe United FC chairman will play a huge role in the upcoming International AIN Sebaa Cup tournament holding between November 3 and 7, 2022.


The tournament is for youth within the age bracket of 11 and 12 years. It is for youth development where future world stars and champions will be discovered, nurtured and managed into stardom.


The letter read, “As our consultant, you are mandated to nominate, screen, coordinate and mobilize the participation of a minimum of four (4) teams from across Africa from different countries.


“This is the first time the tournament is going international. Other details and expectationsof the tournament are as discussed during our meeting.The details of your engagementwill be discussed in due course some of which have already been discussed.”


As Consultant Gara Gombe will bring his wealth of experience to bear on the club’s youth development, organization and welfare policy among others during the tournament.

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FCT FA Board Member Urges Grassroots Reform, Hopeful For Super Eagles World Cup Qualification

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Legal Practitioner And Administrator Barr Bucknor Threatens To Petition FCT Minister Over Abandoned Stadiums

Despite Nigeria’s precarious position in the race for a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Barrister Babatunde Burknor, a board member of the FCT Football Association (FA), remains hopeful that the Super Eagles can still secure qualification.

Nigeria currently sits third in their qualification group with 11 points from 8 matches, trailing Benin Republic and South Africa, who both lead with 14 points. Yet Burknor, a seasoned football administrator and grassroots sports advocate, believes all is not lost.

In a recent interview made available to BSN Sports, Burknor said: “Nigeria’s qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup may appear almost impossible, but that doesn’t mean it is out of reach. The situation is tough, yes, but looking at the quality of players in our squad, I still believe we can make it.”

He added that unexpected results from other group rivals could work in Nigeria’s favour.

“Football is unpredictable. There is still a chance that South Africa, Benin Republic, or Rwanda could drop points. If we win our remaining two games, we still stand a chance. Sometimes football reflects life where the strong may fall while the seemingly weak stand tall.”

Calls for Grassroots Reform in the FCT

Beyond national team concerns, Burknor also used the opportunity to address the state of sports development in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), urging the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, to take concrete action to revamp local infrastructure.

“We have deep-rooted problems when it comes to grassroots sports. The major issue is a lack of funding and commitment from those charged with driving development at that level,” he said.

Burknor lamented the disappearance of once-thriving youth competitions like the Chairman’s Cup, Principal’s Cup, and Shell Cup, stating that such events played a crucial role in identifying and nurturing young talent.

“It’s disheartening that these programs are no longer active. Development is impossible without facilities, yet we lack even basic training grounds.”

The legal luminary revealed that he personally upgraded the sports facility at a government secondary school in his area to serve as a makeshift training centre, due to the absence of a functioning local stadium.

He is currently drafting a petition to Minister Wike, over abandoned stadiums in FCT, urging a comprehensive audit of officials responsible for sports development across the six Area Councils of the FCT.

Progress in Gwagwalada Football Development

As Vice Chairman of the Gwagwalada Football Council, Burknor highlighted the success of the Gwagwalada Football League, which has become a model for other Area Councils.

“In just two years, we’ve turned the Gwagwalada Football League into a success story. Several players from the league have already secured contracts in Europe. This shows what can be achieved with vision and consistency.”

Barrister Burknor, emphasized that grassroots football holds the key to Nigeria’s long-term football success and must be taken seriously.

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