SPORTS
FIFA U20 WWC: Ilo Thanks President Buhari, Commends Amaju for Hosting Rights Bid

By Ben Nwachukwu, Abuja
Chairman bid committee for the hosting of FIFA U20 Women World Cup, Mainasara Ilo has expressed thanks to President Muhammadu Buhari for accepting to host the rest of the world in the FIFA U20 Women World Cup billed for 2020.
Ilo a veteran in organizing competitions of this magnitude said the Muhammadu Buhari led administration has displayed its love and care for the youths by endorsing the country’s bid to host the next edition of the competition.
He noted that President Buhari through his indefatigable Vice Professor Yemi Osinbajo gave the world football governing body the reason to award Nigeria the hosting right without a second thought with the express approval and commitment by the federal government when the international body led by Heyral Kaj Jurgen visited the country on inspection of the facilities.
He said, “The Federal Government of Nigeria’s assurance of 100 per cent in support of the bid by the country to host the 10th FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup finals in 2020 by His Excellency, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo declared in Abuja on Thursday was amazing.”
He noted that the Government of Nigeria guaranteed to back the bid 100 per cent given the numerous youths of the country to rejoice.
For the Vice President to say “We are actually excited with the prospect of hosting the FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in 2020; for us, football is a unifying force. Government interest in hosting is beyond commercial; football is a measure of unity and well-being of our people as diverse as we are” is all that FIFA needs from any country bidding to host its competition no matter the level.
He also commended the NFF President Amaju Pinnick for his worthy representation of the country and indeed the African continent in FIFA.
The former Director of Organization in the Abuja 2003 8th All Africa Games noted that the presence of Pinnick at the world body is a blessing for the country.
Ilo organized the very successful 2009 FIFA U17 men world cup hosted in Nigeria where great players like Neymar, Coutinho, Ben Alfa, etc were paraded.
It could be recalled that the Vice President stated that His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari is an ardent football lover and is excited about Nigeria hosting the tournament and is in full support of the bid.
Foreign News
Husband of Slain Kenyan Runner Tirop Seeks Plea Bargain

The husband of slain Kenyan distance runner Agnes Tirop is seeking a plea bargain after initially denying a charge of murder, his lawyer said yesterday.
Tirop, a rising star in the world of athletics, was killed last October in her home in Iten, a high-altitude training hub in western Kenya for top runners.
Emmanuel Ibrahim Rotich was arrested after a dramatic late-night chase the day after Tirop’s body was found with stab wounds, and has been in custody ever since.
The 41-year-old denied a charge of murder at a November court appearance.
But in the latest twist in the legal saga, his lawyer Ngigi Mbugua told the Eldoret High Court that Rotich was willing to plead guilty to a lesser charge in the hope of attracting a more lenient sentence.
The prosecution said it was not against the idea of a plea bargain but wanted Tirop’s family to be involved in the process.
A hearing on Rotich’s request will take place on 22 September.
SPORTS
Ganduje Appoints Galadima Acting Kano Pillars Chair

Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has appointed Ibrahim Galadima as acting Chairman of Kano Pillars Football Club.
The appointment is with immediate effect, the governor said.
Surajo Shuaibu Yahaya who had chaired the club was relieved of the job.
The appointment of Galadima who is Chairman of Kano State Sports Commission to oversee activities of Kano Pillars is part of routine exercise in sports administration of Ganduje, a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Abba Anwar said yesterday.
“As Kano Pillars is facing more competition in National Premier League (NPL) it will be good to have a leadership that will perfectly lead the Club.”
“Ibrahim Galadima, Chairman of Kano State Sports Commission, will now replace the current Chairman of Kano Pillars FC, Surajo Shu’aibu Yahaya.
“Galadima will serve in acting capacity, before the appointment of a substantive Chairman,” Ganduje said.
SPORTS
FIFA Emerges Best Global Sports Federation on Governance Standards

By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
FIFA has been rated among the international sporting federations with the best standards of governance following a review conducted by the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.
FIFA was among seven out of 33 international federations who achieved a score of 175 points or more out of 200 and were placed in the top group, A1, which the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations described as “an exclusive group”.
The federations were divided into five groups according to their score, with the target score, regarded as satisfactory, set at 130 for full members of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations.
It was the fourth such review conducted by by the association, with FIFA also placed among the leading international federations and the previous was in the year 2020.
The aim of the project, led by ASOIF’s Governance Task Force, is to promote and ensure a culture of good governance within the international federations and help drive continuous progress.
The review looked at five aspects of governance – transparency, integrity, democracy, development and control mechanisms – and these were further divided into ten sub-sections, with a score of zero to four awarded for each.
The review began with a self assessment in January and February this year where international federations were asked to complete a questionnaire and determine a score for each question, providing explanatory evidence for their decision. These assessments were then independently moderated by an external sports governance consultancy.
The assessment took place in the context of the ongoing global pandemic, which has severely affected sport, but was conducted before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has caused more uncertainty in the sporting world.