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POWER STRUGGLE EXPLODES: The High-Stakes Battle Rocking The FIFA Presidential Race!.

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3 months ago

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The race to lead FIFA for another four years is beginning to take shape, with Gianni Infantino expected to seek re-election despite questions over the number of terms he has already served.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Under FIFA statutes, a president can serve a maximum of three four-year terms. On the surface, that would prevent Infantino from contesting the election scheduled for March 2027. However, his first spell in office, which began after he replaced Sepp Blatter in 2016, lasted only three years.

Infantino successfully argued that the initial three-year period should not count as a full term under FIFA rules. That interpretation allowed him to stand again and secure re-election unopposed in both 2019 and 2023. Before the recent FIFA Football Enterprise (FFE) controversy, many expected the same outcome in 2027.

Attention has now shifted to whether UEFA and other critics can unite behind a rival candidate.

Any challenger must be nominated by 18 November and submit at least five letters of support from FIFA member associations.

The election will take place by secret ballot during the 77th FIFA Congress in Rabat, Morocco, on 18 March, 2027.

If only two candidates contest the election, the winner will need a simple majority from FIFA’s 211 member associations. If three or more candidates enter the race, any contender must first secure 75 per cent of the votes to win outright.

Should no candidate reach that mark, the individual with the fewest votes will be eliminated and another round held. Once only two candidates remain, the election is decided by a simple majority.

Despite growing opposition from parts of world football, Infantino is still viewed as the favourite to retain the presidency.

One of his long-standing strategies has been frequent international visits to strengthen relationships with national football associations. During his successful campaign in 2016, Infantino revealed that UEFA provided him with a budget of €500,000 (£430,000) “to fund flights, mainly flights, around the world” as he lobbied member associations for support.

His global engagements have continued. After attending a FIFA management board meeting in Rabat on Wednesday, Infantino travelled to South America for the inauguration of Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella.

Another major factor is FIFA’s financial support for its member associations.

Through the FIFA Forward programme, national football associations have received significant funding to develop the game, particularly in countries that lack the resources to finance football projects independently.

The current scheme, FIFA Forward 3.0, runs until December and has provided each association with up to $8 million (£5.94 million) during the latest four-year cycle, representing a 30 per cent increase from the previous programme.

A further increase is widely expected when FIFA unveils Forward 4.0, a move that could strengthen Infantino’s support even further outside Europe.

Across the six continental confederations, backing for the FIFA president varies.

UEFA’s 55 member associations remain his strongest critics, although there is speculation that not every nation may vote as a united bloc.

Africa’s 54 members have reaffirmed unanimous support for Infantino.

Asia’s 46-member confederation joined UEFA in criticising the FFE issue but did not release another statement after the proposal was abandoned. So far, Jordan is the only Asian nation to publicly state it will not support Infantino, having opposed him previously.

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Federal High Court Declares Christmas Break, Names Judges To Handle Cases – Full List.

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November 9, 2026

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The Federal High Court has announced that its 2026 Christmas vacation will begin on Monday, December 21, and end on Tuesday, January 5, 2027.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

The court is expected to resume regular sittings on Wednesday, January 6, 2027.

The announcement was contained in a statement issued on Monday by the Director of Information of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Dr Catherine Oby Christopher.

According to the statement, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, approved the vacation arrangement and the appointment of judges who will handle cases during the period.

Christopher explained that only designated judicial divisions would remain operational throughout the vacation to provide essential judicial services.

She added that the vacation judges would handle only matters involving the enforcement of fundamental human rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other issues of urgent national importance, including the trial of pre-election cases.

The statement read:

“Pursuant to the provisions of Order 46, Rule 4(c) of the Federal High Court (Civil) Procedure Rules, 2019, the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court of Nigeria, Hon. Justice John Terhemba Tsoho, KSS, OFR, FCIArb. (UK), has approved the Christmas Vacation of the Court for the year 2026 and the roster of Judges designated to sit during the vacation period.

“The Christmas Vacation shall commence on Monday, 21st December 2026, and end on Tuesday, 5th January, 2027.

“Regular court sittings shall resume on Wednesday, 6th January 2027.

“During the vacation period, only the designated Judicial Divisions shall remain operational to provide judicial services to the litigating public.

“It is important to note that, during the vacation period, the Vacation Judges shall entertain only matters relating to the enforcement of fundamental rights, the arrest or release of vessels, and other matters of urgent national importance such as trial of pre-election cases.”

Full List Of Federal High Court Vacation Judges

The judges designated to handle cases during the Christmas vacation are as follows:

Abuja Judicial Division

  1. Justice I. E. Ekwo

  2. Justice O. A. Egwuatu

Lagos Judicial Division

  1. Justice Akintayo Aluko

  2. Justice Ogazi F. Nkemakonam

Port Harcourt Judicial Division

  1. Justice P. M. Ayua

  2. Justice A. T. Mohammed

Enugu Judicial Division

  1. Justice F. O. G. Ogunbanjo

  2. Justice M. T. Segun-Bello

The statement added that the Chief Judge extended Christmas and New Year greetings to all judges and members of the court.

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Eric Chelle Makes Surprise Exit From Nigeria U-23 Camp Ahead Of Tanzania Clash.

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3 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle has departed Nigeria’s U-23 team camp to concentrate on the senior national team’s 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying fixtures against Tanzania.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Chelle, who also supervises the Olympic Eagles, will be unavailable for Nigeria’s two-legged U-23 AFCON qualifying tie against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) because both teams have matches scheduled during the same international window.

The Olympic Eagles are scheduled to travel to Lubumbashi for the first leg against DR Congo on Friday, November 13. The encounter will take place on the same day the Super Eagles host Tanzania at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.

The return leg is slated for Tuesday, November 17, in Ikenne, coinciding with Nigeria’s second meeting with Tanzania.

In Chelle’s absence, assistant coach Deniran Ortega will oversee the Olympic Eagles, working alongside Ikorodu City head coach Bright Ozebagbe.

Ortega reportedly conducted most of the team’s training sessions on Thursday and led the technical crew during their friendly victory over Grassrunners on Friday, ahead of the squad’s departure for the first leg.

Meanwhile, Chelle has selected 23 players for the Super Eagles’ AFCON qualifying matches against Tanzania. Among the notable inclusions are Brighton forward Zadok Yohanna and Molde FC midfielder Daniel Daga.

Goalkeeper Michael Atata and junior international Abdulmuiz Adeleke have also earned places in the squad. Atata will compete for the goalkeeping position alongside Samuel James of SJK FC and Clinton Andy.

Other notable selections include defenders Victory Akpe, Vince Osuji and Emmanuel Ochobi, as well as midfielders Chibuzor Nwoko and Aderemi Adeoye.

The attacking options also feature Peter Edokpolor and Umar Abubakar.

The seven home-based players in the squad are expected to depart Nigeria on Tuesday for the Olympic Eagles’ first-leg encounter against DR Congo at the Stade TP Mazembe in Lubumbashi.

Full Nigeria U-23 Squad

Goalkeepers: Samuel James (SJK FC, Finland); Clinton Andy (Rivers United); Michael Atata (Ikorodu City).

Defenders: Christian Akpan (Genk FC, Belgium); Victory Akpe (FC Basel, Switzerland); Vince Osuji (Tromsø IL FC, Norway); Emmanuel Godwin (Pardubice FC, Czechia); Odinaka Alfred (Nasarawa United); Emmanuel Ochobi (Rivers United); Aliu Sugau (Barau FC).

Midfielders: John Otomewo (Reims FC, France); Daniel Daga (Molde FC, Norway); Wilfred George (Kristiansund FC, Norway); Chibuzor Nwoko (Fulham FC, England); Aderemi Adeoye (Ikorodu City); Sadiq Saleh (FC Metta, Latvia); Victor Samuel (Pardubice FC, Czechia).

Forwards: Peter Edokpolor (SL Benfica, Portugal); Sulaiman Sani (Al-Qadsiah FC, Saudi Arabia); Umar Abubakar (FC Famalicao, Portugal); Zadok Yohanna (Brighton FC, England); Abdullahi Umar (Hradec Kralove, Czechia); Abdulmuiz Adeleke (Sporting Supreme).

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“Behave Yourself!” – Seyi Tinubu Fires Back At Isaac Fayose Over Port Harcourt ‘City Boy’ Walk.

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3 hours ago

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November 9, 2026

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Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, has criticised political commentator Isaac Fayose over his remarks about the City Boy movement’s walk in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Fayose had taken to social media to question the gathering, describing it as a waste of time and expressing doubts about the number of people who attended the event.

Responding in the comment section of the post, Seyi urged the businessman to conduct himself properly instead of criticising the group’s activities.

He defended the Port Harcourt walk, describing it as a successful and peaceful gathering organised by young Nigerians in support of President Tinubu and his administration.

Seyi wrote: “My content creator Egbon e behave ara yin o. You and I both know that those gallant men and women were there for the city boy walk in PH, which was a success by the way. Vote APC.”

In a related development, Fayose has alleged that he is being targeted with false accusations because of his support for the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

The younger brother of former Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, made the allegation in a video shared on his verified Facebook page on Sunday.

He was reacting to a post by an unnamed blogger linking him to a rape allegation, which he denied, describing it as a fabrication intended to damage his reputation because of his refusal to withdraw support for Obi.

Fayose further alleged that individuals who turn down offers from the All Progressives Congress (APC) are often subjected to smear campaigns.

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