THE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) says it has put Super Eagles’ 2013 AFCON victory behind it to focus on preparations for the team’s quest to qualify for the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup. To ensure that it meets its goal, the federation Thursday disclosed that it has queried and approved the World Cup qualifiers’ programme submitted to it by Coach Stephen Keshi on arrival from South Africa. The federation also insists it has no rift or issues with the Eagles’ chief coach, adding that whatever happened

CONTRARY to the position of the Senate, President Goodluck Jonathan does not support the failure of the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team, Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, to appear before the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly for an investigation over an alleged N195 billion pensions fraud, according to the Presidency. The Presidency said that all issues concerning Maina should be allowed to be decided along laid-down civil service rules.The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati

A SEA of cheering residents and fans thronged the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, to receive the victorious Super Eagles who returned Tuesday from South Africa where they were crowned at the weekend as continental football kings. The Eagles had on Sunday night defeated Burkina Faso by a lone goal to become the African Champions for the third time. Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Bala Mohammed, who led other top officials of the administration to receive the   Eagles

THE Dana Air crash, which left over 153 persons dead last year in Lagos, may have been caused by the pilot’s failure to turn on certain fuel pumps or valves, according to the Associated Press (AP). The McDonnell Douglas MD-83, operated by Nigeria’s Dana Air, lost power from both engines while approaching the airport in Lagos last June and slammed into an apartment building, killing at least six more people on the ground. A United States (U.S.)-Nigerian preliminary investigation is said to fault the pilots.

SUPER Eagles’ Coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, who led Nigeria to its third triumph in the African Nations Cup on Sunday, reportedly resigned his appointment as the chief coach of the national team Monday. The Super Eagles on Sunday defeated Burkina Faso 1-0 to win the Nations Cup trophy for the first time in 19 years, a feat that makes Keshi the second person to win the trophy both as a player and a coach. Although The Guardian could not confirm the story direct from the Eagles coach,

THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Monday re-arraigned a former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, before a Federal High Court, Lagos, over alleged money laundering. Fani-Kayode, who is facing a 47-count charge bordering essentially on money laundering and misappropriation of fund, had earlier pleaded not guilty. When the case came up for hearing yesterday before Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, he also pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) members in the House of Representatives at the weekend cautioned their colleagues in the opposition parties against playing politics with the current disagreement between the Executive and Legislature on the 2013 budget Bill. The lawmakers, who spoke under the umbrella of PDP Renaissance Group, noted that making offensive statements at a time the leadership of the National Assembly and the Presidency were meeting to resolve their differences in the budget bill could spell doom

SUPER Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, says he would keep aside his love and feelings for the people of Mali until the end of today’s semifinal clash between his side, Super Eagles, and his former team, the Eagles of Mali.The stage is set for the battle of Durban this (Wednesday) afternoon and Keshi, who was head coach of the Malian national team for two years, leading them to the 2010 Nations Cup in Angola, declared Tuesday in a press conference at the Moses Mabhida Stadium that he would do everything to stop the Malians in Wednesday’s semifinal tie and re-unite with them later.

Amnesty International in its latest report, released Tuesday, has condemned the poor investigation of violent deaths in Nigeria which has left many families of such victims more traumatised than the grief of their losses.In a report titled: “Nigeria: No Justice for the Dead,” the international rights monitoring body said there are hundreds of killings by the Nigerian police which end up never investigated or poorly investigated in such a way that neither the dead nor their living relations get justice at the end of the day.

FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo Sunday visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja. The visit was an obvious rapprochement between President Goodluck Jonathan and Obasanjo, who has repeatedly not been happy with the President’s handling of state affairs. Obasanjo was in the State House Aso Rock Chapel on Sunday morning in company of oil magnate, Femi Otedola. The former President was also accompanied by two of his daughters and another person.