Sports
Amaju Pinnick speaks about his FIFA board appointment
In an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Pinnick, a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, expressed humility and pride at the opportunity to serve in one of FIFA’s most strategic committees.
• Amaju Pinnick
The Deputy Chair of the FIFA Men’s National Teams Competitions Committee, Amaju Pinnick, has described his appointment as a recognition of Nigeria’s growing influence in global sports governance.
In an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Pinnick, a former President of the Nigeria Football Federation, expressed humility and pride at the opportunity to serve in one of FIFA’s most strategic committees.
“The importance of this is a recognition of Nigeria, as well as global sports. First, I’m saying that I’m humbled by the opportunity for me.
The Committee for Competitions is the most important committee, because FIFA is all about competitions, organising competitions, which also includes the World Cup, the U-20 and the U-17, even up to the Club World Cup,” he said.
Explaining the committee’s mandate, Pinnick noted that it plays a central role in managing and supervising FIFA’s global tournaments and the participation of national teams.
It’s a committee that has a responsibility. It has to be seen with national teams, with national team players, to be allowed to play in any of those competitions,” he stated.
Pinnick also highlighted the calibre of individuals serving alongside him, noting that the committee reflects the international breadth of football administration.
“A lot of people in the committee, even Danny Jordaan from South Africa, is a member of the committee. Danny Jordaan was chairman of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. So, we are very, very happy,” he said.
Sports
World Cup 2026 kicks off today June 11
Who will end Matchday 1 with the upper hand in Group A?
• Image credit: FIFA
The FIFA World Cup 2026, kicked off today 11 June in Mexico city stadium by 20.00 local time.
Mexico and South Africa in Group A are opening the match, the team they faced at the same stage of the tournament in 2010.
The focus will then shift to Guadalajara, where Asia and Europe are represented as Korea Republic do battle with a Czechia side still on a high from their success in the UEFA play-offs.
Who will end Matchday 1 with the upper hand in Group A?
Details later.
Sports
Davido uses W’Cup stage to demand action for abducted Nigerian pupils
Using his platform as a global cultural ambassador, the artiste drew international attention to Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
•Photo: 5iveAliveWT/X
Afrobeats superstar Davido transformed his performance at the 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown concert into a powerful plea for justice.
Taking the stage in the United States on Wednesday, the singer wore a custom outfit designed to honour the students and teachers recently abducted in Oyo State’s Oriire Local Government Area.
Using his platform as a global cultural ambassador, the artiste drew international attention to Nigeria’s ongoing security challenges.
The Vanguard reported that a viral backstage video revealed the striking details of his attire. Davido wore a white T-shirt reading “NIGERIA” beneath a black leather jacket.
The jacket featured the message “BRING THEM HOME” boldly printed across the back and was decorated with green circular buttons on the front.
Each button bore the name of a kidnapped victim. To differentiate their faces, the names of those still in captivity were written in white, while the names of those who lost their lives were inscribed in red.
Sports
Olympic qualifier: Comoros to face Super Falcons following 30-0 victory over Sudan
They progressed 30–0 on aggregate and will now face a significantly tougher challenge against Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Africa’s most successful women’s national team, in the next round.
Comoros have booked a date with African champions, the Super Falcons of Nigeria, after a 30–0 aggregate victory over Sudan in the first round of the qualifiers for the 2028 Olympic Games.
The Coelacanths won the first leg 17–0 on June 3 before following it up with a 13–0 triumph five days later to complete a dominant aggregate win.
In the first leg, Comoros opened the scoring after eight minutes before producing a relentless attacking display that overwhelmed Sudan throughout the encounter.
Nine different players got on the scoresheet in a performance that highlighted the depth and attacking quality of the Comorian side.
In the second leg on Monday, Comoros scored three goals in the first half and added 10 more after the break to seal a 13–0 victory.
They progressed 30–0 on aggregate and will now face a significantly tougher challenge against Nigeria’s Super Falcons, Africa’s most successful women’s national team, in the next round.
The Super Falcons are expected to go into the tie as strong favourites.
Credit: PUNCH
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