Sports

NCF Unveils Steve Tikolo From Kenya As New Head Coach and Performance Manager

Published

3 years ago

October 23, 2022

Joel Ajayi
The Nigeria Cricket Federation is pleased to announce Steve Tikolo from Kenya as the new Head Coach and High Performance Manager. Tikolo who was unveiled at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval in Lagos was received by the President of the Federation Mr. Uyi Akpata.
In a Press statement issued by Public Relations Officer of NCF Musa Ehizoje Bodie on Sunday in Abuja.

Following the re-structuring of the coaching department in the Federation, Tikolo will head the Senior Men’s team to be assisted by our National Coach Mr. Uthe Clive Ogbimi, while other coaching structures will remain the same. Steve, who was also in a meeting with the General Manager of the Federation Mr. Emeka Igwilo, will meet with other indigenous coaches and the Technical Director as he continues to familiarize with his new environment. His initial contract will run for 2 years with his first opportunity to meet with the senior team players when they resume camp on the 31st of October 2022.

Invited Players to the camp include, Sylvester Okpe, Isaac Okpe, Sesan Adedeji, Peter Aho, Prosper Useni, Akhere Isesele, Joshua Asia, Onwuzilike Chimezie, Ademola Onikoyi.

Other are Ajekun Daniel, Ifeanyi Uboh, Ridwan Abdulkareem, Ashmit Sherestha, Vincent Adewoye, Chiemelie Udekwe, Eghosa Aghedo, Sulaimon Runsewe, Samuel Mba, Abdulmumuni Mohammedand Boniface Oche.

The camp has been called in preparation for ICC T20 World Cup Africa Sub Regional Qualifier slated for Rwanda in November 2022. Nigeria has been drawn in Group B’ alongside Eswatini, Ghana, Mozambique, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and The Gambia.

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Sports

FIFA MA Course: Gusau, FIFA instructors harp on hard work, integrity and fraternity

Published

19 hours ago

June 19, 2025

The Gleamer

The two-week FIFA Member Associations Course for physical and technical instructors, and Young Talents came to a close in Abuja on Thursday with FIFA Technical Instructor Ali Mohamed Ahmed publicly declaring his confidence in the ability of Nigeria’s budding arbiters to reach unprecedented heights in the vocation globally.

The physical and technical instructors’ course was activated between 9^th – 13^thJune, while the Young Talents programme lasted between Sunday, 15^th – Thursday, 19^th June 2025.

President of NFF, Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau (MON), who also doubles as President of WAFU B, told the young talents to endeavour to put all they have learnt during the course into practice, as the Federation is in the process of elevating more of the young talents to take on higher responsibilities, such as handling matches of the Nigeria Premier Football League.

“I am happy that now, we have a total of 86 young talents in our refereeing pool. This deeply gladdens my heart. Last year, we had 40 people undertake this course, and this year, we have 46. Let me reveal to you that 10 of those young talents from last year have been elevated to the NPFL, and none of them was found wanting throughout the season.

“Their record of performance gives great hope to yourselves, and also shows that the NFF is right in our commitment to the young talents. However, in order to keep improving, I charge you to always find ways to fraternize, collaborate in all aspects, and bond together to jointly and severally enhance your capacities.”

Mohamed, who is from Somalia, said: “I am very satisfied with the group that we worked with over the past one week – the young talents. Their level of assimilation is very high and I see them going places in the work of refereeing. Please always have integrity at the back of your mind in whatever you do.

“We know Nigeria is everywhere, qualifying for all major tournaments and winning trophies and putting up podium performances here and there. But it will also be good to have Nigerian referees not only in the AFCON but also at the FIFA World Cup. Having worked with these young ones for the past one week, I can tell you with assurance that the future of Nigerian refereeing is in very good hands.”

President of NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu thanked FIFA and the NFF for the success of the programme, and asserted that the growing confidence in Nigerian referees at home and abroad can be traced to the support that the referees continue to get from the NFF for their capacity-enhancing programmes, and the intentionality of the NFF President.

FIFA Fitness Instructor Boubaker Hanachi from Tunisia was also present at the closing ceremony, as well as Nigerian instructors Felicia Okwugba, Peter Edibe, Cecilia Ugbuji, Emmanuel Imiere, Stella Emoji and Promise Uwaeme.

There were also President of the NRA, Hon. Sani Zubairu; Chairman of the NFF Referees Committee, Madam Faith Irabor; deputy chairman Rafiu Umar Gusau; members of the committee, Kabiyesi James Odeniran, Calistus Chukwudi Chukwujekwu, Dr Bello Mohammed, Abraham Zakowi, Waziri Abba Gawe and secretary, Mohammed Ameenu; NFF’s Director of Communications, Dr Ademola Olajire and; Chairman of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, Isah Ladan Bosso.

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