The Libyan Football Federation has filed an appeal against the recent decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to award Nigeria three points and three goals following a disrupted Africa Cup of Nations qualifier initially scheduled for October 15 in Benina, Libya.

The verdict also imposed a $50,000 fine on Libya, citing breaches of CAF regulations in handling the Nigerian team’s arrival and conditions.

According to reports from Libyan outlet alwasat.ly, Libya has enlisted Tunisian lawyer Ali Abbas to defend its appeal, which challenges the CAF decision as “unfair,”

The Nigerian Football Federation’s complaint led to an investigation by CAF’s disciplinary committee after the Super Eagles endured a reported 20-hour ordeal involving a diverted flight, a lengthy wait at Labraq Airport—300 kilometers from the intended destination in Benghazi—and inadequate facilities, including a lack of food and water. Nigeria’s contingent was eventually forced to abandon the match and return home.

CAF’s disciplinary committee, chaired by Ousmane Kane, ruled in favor of Nigeria, citing violations of Article 31 of the Africa Cup of Nations Regulations and Articles 82 and 151 of the CAF Disciplinary Code. Libya was deemed to have lost the match by forfeit with a 3-0 score awarded to Nigeria.

The ruling, if upheld, places Nigeria within reach of qualification for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations finals in Morocco, while leaving Libya out of contention with only one point in Group D.

Olayemi Cardoso, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says consultations are ongoing “at the highest levels” for the country to exit the “grey list” – an anti-money laundering watchlist of the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF).

The development comes 24 hours after the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit (NFIU) announced that FATF had approved the country’s fourth progress report since Nigeria was placed under watch.

The FATF had included Nigeria and South Africa on its grey list on February 24, 2024.

Countries on the list are often subjected to increased monitoring and need to intensify efforts to tackle money laundering and terrorism financing, according to the task force.

The FATF said the inclusion of a jurisdiction to its grey list means that the country has committed to resolve identified strategic deficiencies within agreed timeframes swiftly.

The organisation is an intergovernmental policy-making body that seeks to combat money laundering and the financing of terrorism.

Speaking to journalists in Washington DC on Saturday, Cardoso, said removing Nigeria from the grey list has been critical in his engagement during the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.

“I would like to emphasise that we are consulting at the highest levels to remove Nigeria from FAFT grey lists, a key topic in our recent engagement,” he said.

‘WE’VE ACHIEVED INCREASED TRANSPARENCY, IMPROVED FX SUPPLY’

Speaking on ongoing monetary policy efforts, Cardoso said since his team assumed office a year ago, there has been a focus on addressing inflation, restoring investor confidence in the financial markets, and stabilising the exchange rate.

He said the apex bank also focused on enhancing financial systems provision, fostering financial inclusion, and enhancing transparency “in our monetary policy decisions and communications”.

“We embarked upon bold and necessary reforms to return to the path of monetary policy orthodoxy, as well as remove observed distortions in the foreign exchange market,” the CBN governor said.

“Our efforts have yielded significant progress as volatility in the foreign exchange market has abated immeasurably, and remittances have also increased significantly.

“We have achieved increased transparency and improved overall supply in the foreign exchange market, leading to reduced arbitrage and speculative activities and eliminated the fund loading of foreign exchange demand.”

On October 8, the CBN reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining a stablefinancial system while ensuring the safety of depositors’ funds.

The bank also announced the introduction of an electronic foreign exchange matching system (EFEMS) to reduce speculative activities, eliminate market distortions and “give the CBN improved oversight capabilities to effectively regulate the market”.

The system is expected to be implemented on December 1.

The New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) has won all 44 chairperson seats in the LGA election held in Kano state on Saturday.

Sani Malumfashi, chairman of the Kano Independent Electoral Commission (KANSIEC), announced the results at the state capital.

“We are pleased to announce that the NNPP has won all the chairmanship and councillorship seats across the 44 local government areas,” he said.

“The election was conducted in a transparent and orderly manner and we did not receive any reports of violence.”

The process leading to the local government election was fraught with litigations.

On October 22, a federal high court in Kano restrained Malumfashi from conducting the October 26 LG polls.

In his ruling, Simon Amobede, the presiding judge, said Malumfashi was “unqualified” to conduct the elections because “he is a card-carrying member of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP)”.

The case was filed by Aminu Tiga, a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tiga had told the court that Malumfashi; Kabir Zakirai, secretary of the commission; and other members of KANSIEC; were members of the NNPP and do not meet civil service grade requirements for their appointments.

On Friday, a Kano state high court delivered a counter ruling, ordering KANSIEC to proceed with the conduct of the local government poll.

Sunusi Ado-Ma’aji, the presiding judge, ruled that the constitution empowers KANSIEC to conduct and supervise elections in the LGAs of Kano state.

The judgment was delivered following an ex parte application filed by the commission.

Abba Yusuf, governor of Kano state, had said the election would be held despite the court ruling prohibiting the process.

“We have satisfied all the conditions laid down by the law and we have completed all necessary preparations for the conduct of the elections on Saturday. As such, the polls must take place as planned,” Yusuf said.

The governor said “enemies of the state” were plotting to “truncate this election”.

Former Real Madrid, Manchester City and Arsenal star Emmanuel Adebayor has described former Nigerian international Nwankwo Kanu as his big brother and best friend.

Adebayor, who wore the No. 25 jersey at Arsenal, during his time said that the Atalanta Olympic gold medalist played a big role in his decision to join the Gunners.

“My idol was Nwankwo Kanu, so signing for Arsenal, wearing his number 25 jersey, and using the same locker as him was, for me, a huge accomplishment,” Adebayor said to BBC.

“Today, he is my big brother and best friend; he advises me if I’m doing right or wrong.”

 

“In 2008, I was unplayable. To be recognised as Africa’s best player was huge – it’s something I’ll never forget.” he added.

Super Eagles forward Ademola Lookman has emerged as the overwhelming favourite for the 2024 CAF Player of the Year award following his historic and remarkable Europa League exploits with Atalanta and a Ballon d’Or nomination, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

The Atalanta star, who made history as the first player to score a hat-trick in a European club competition final during his club’s triumph over Bayer Leverkusen last season, has been getting massive backing from fans on social media since CAF announced the names of the ten nominees on Thursday night.

“Being the first player in history to score three goals in a European final makes Ademola Lookman a favourite among football fans worldwide for the African Player of the Year award,” Bala_The_Game_Changer wrote on X.

The 27-year-old’s nomination comes as no surprise following an exceptional year that also saw him score 11 goals and rendered seven assists in 31 Serie A games for Atalanta and became the only African player nominated for the 2024 Ballon d’Or.

“I thought it was crazy when I saw my name in the 30 candidates for the Ballon d’Or. Being the only African player on the list makes it even more special,” Lookman told France Football recently.

Some fans believe the award should be handed to him without ceremony, with @jujupunte stating, “All these are not necessary. They’re supposed to take the award straight to Lookman in his sitting room.”

The Nigeria international faces competition from compatriot William Troost-Ekong and eight other nominees, including Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi and Algeria’s Amine Gouiri.

“This award is undisputed for Ademola Lookman… Even the other nine know this,” Maximus Dex wrote on X.

However, the exclusion of in-form striker Victor Boniface and current holder Victor Osimhen from the shortlist has sparked a debate among fans.

“Must be a joke. How did Boniface not make this list? Ademola Lookman will win, though, but Boniface has to be on the list. What is the criteria?” MSN questioned on X.

The winner will be announced at the upcoming CAF Awards 2024, where Lookman hopes to succeed Osimhen as Africa’s top player.

About 42.3 million litres of imported Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, are expected in the country next week, oil marketers stated on Friday, urging local refiners to ramp up production.

Dealers said petrol imports would continue until the production of the commodity in the country was enough to meet domestic demand.

They insisted that the local production of refined products from modular refineries and the multi-billion dollar Dangote Petroleum Refinery was insufficient, stressing that this was why diesel and petrol importation had continued.

On September 3, 2024, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority disclosed that the Dangote refinery would supply 25 million litres of petrol to the Nigerian market daily starting from September.

It added that this would rise to 30 million litres from September. In a short statement, the NMDPRA said it met with NNPC to agree on local crude supply to the refinery.

“At the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja, NNPC reached an agreement to commence crude oil sales and supply the Dangote refinery with local currency.

“The refinery is now poised to supply an initial 25 million litres of PMS into the domestic market this September and will subsequently increase this amount to 30 million litres daily from October 2024,” the NMDPRA stated on its X page at the time.

But oil marketers stated on Friday that the $25bn Lekki-based refinery was not producing up to that volume, which was why dealers had to import petrol to augment local production.

“Some of our consignments of PMS imports came into the country last week, and we expect the remaining ones to arrive by next week. About 32,000 metric tonnes of PMS will be arriving next week,” a major marketer who spoke in confidence due to lack of authorisation to speak on the subject, stated.

About 1322.76 litres of petrol weighs one metric tonne. This implies that the 32,000 metric tonnes being expected next week would mean 42.3m litres of imported petrol by the dealers.

It was gathered that two major marketers were jointly importing this volume of PMS, as other dealers had earlier brought in products into the country.

“The consignments are jointly owned and are being imported into the country by major marketers. This does not mean that we will not buy from the Dangote refinery. But the fact is that since the market has been deregulated, everyone is now competing.

“So, it is up to you to decide on where to get the product that will enable you to compete effectively. Nobody is disputing that. So, the importation of PMS and other products is not against the fair business practice,” the marketer stated.

On Monday, it was reported that no fewer than four vessels carrying petrol arrived at seaports along the nation’s borders between Friday, October 18, and Sunday, October 20, 2024.

The report cited a document obtained from the Nigerian Port Authority, revealing that about 123.4 million litres of PMS were berthed at two seaports to improve fuel supply nationwide.

The development confirmed an exclusive report by The PUNCH, which disclosed that oil dealers intended to import the commodity to supplement the supply from the $20bn Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

The dealers had stated that the supply from the Lekki-based plant was currently insufficient to meet domestic demand.

Also speaking on the issue on Friday, another dealer stated that a lot of marketers were gearing up to bring in more products, adding that some others who could not import refined products were already buying from the Dangote refinery.

“The market is free now. It is a deregulated market, so everybody can source their products from wherever is best for them. Also, our local refineries are not producing enough to meet domestic demand.

“That is why I laughed when it was revealed that an indeginous refiner went to court to sue marketers to stop importing products. That can’t work in a deregulated market. Everyone who can import now is currently doing so. Even NNPC is importing.

“The last consignment we got was from the imported PMS of NNPC, which we took about six days ago and which we finished selling before our own came in. Oil and refined petroleum products are the life-wire of the economy. If anything happens to them, every sector of the economy will be affected,” the marketer stated.

The National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, earlier confirmed that though IPMAN members had yet to start importing PMS, the market had been liberalised and anyone with the capacity to import was free to do so.

Former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo has decried the size of debt being owned by the country, years after he left office in 2007.

Obasanjo recalled he left the nation with about $70 billion, including a $45 billion reserve and $25 billion in a designated “excess crude” account.

The former President spoke on Thursday in an exclusive interview with Kayode Akintemi of News Central Television.

Obasanjo, who lamented the poor quality of leadership in the country, said his government met a debt overhang of close to $36 billion but reduced it to about $3.5 to $3.6 billion before leaving office in 2007.

His words: “I came in 1999 and met $3.7 billion in the reserve. And I have told you, we were spending $3.5 billion to service the debts. That’s what we had.

“By the time we left eight years later, with debt relief, when I came in, we had a debt overhang of close to $36 billion. By the time I left, with the debt relief and clearing what we had to clear, the quantum of debt that I left was about $3.5 to $3.6 billion from over or around $36 billion.

“At the same time, the reserve that was $3.7 billion when I came in went to $45 billion. At the same time, we had what we called “Excess crude”, which is what is in excess of what we budget and what we actually sell the crude. Normally, we are conservative in budgeting, we call it “Excess crude”. So, we had in it about $25 billion. When you add that to the reserve, we are talking about $70 billion.

“Now, the point is that I left in 2007. Today between 2007 and 2024, all that amount of money has gone; all of it. Not only that, but all the money they made all that period had gone. And today, we owe more than we owe when we came to government in 1999.”

The Senate, on Thursday, approved 15 per cent from the Consolidated Revenue Fund as source of funding for the newly created zonal development commissions by member-states.

The approval followed consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Special Duties on the bills establishing the commissions.

Earlier, the lawmakers were divided over the source of funding for the newly created zonal development commissions.

The disagreement emerged during the clause-by-clause consideration of the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, which serves as the structural template for other zonal commissions.

Central to the debate was the Senate Committee on Special Duties’ recommendation that 15 per cent of statutory allocations from member states be directed towards funding these commissions.

Several lawmakers, including Yahaya Abdullahi (PDP, Kebbi North), Wasiu Eshinlokun (APC, Lagos East), and Seriake Dickson (PDP, Bayelsa West), voiced concerns over the proposed funding model.

Abdullahi warned that the provision could lead to legal challenges from state governments, as no state would willingly allow its statutory allocation to be reduced.

“Mr. President, distinguished colleagues, the 15 per cent of statutory allocations of member states recommended for funding their zonal development commissions would be litigated against by some state governments,” Abdullahi said.

Seeking to clarify the matter, the Deputy President of the Senate, Barau Jibrin, quickly intervened.

He explained that the 15 per cent allocation would not involve a direct deduction from the states’ funds.

He said, “Mr President, distinguished colleagues, the 15 per cent of statutory allocation of member states, recommended for funding of zonal development commissions by the Federal Government, is not about deduction at all.

“What is recommended as contained in the report presented to us by the committee on special duties and being considered by the Senate now is that 15 per cent of statutory allocation of member states in a zonal development commission would, by way of calculation by the Federal Government, used to fund the commission from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

“Each state has a monthly statutory allocation, 15 per cent of which, as contained in this report being considered, will be calculated by the Federal Government and removed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for funding of their development commission.”

Despite Barau’s explanation, several senators remained unconvinced and expressed their desire to contribute to the debate.

However, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, stepped in, asserting that the provision was constitutionally sound.

“We don’t need to debate whether 15 per cent of statutory allocations from member states in a commission would be deducted,” Akpabio said, citing Section 162(4) of the 1999 Constitution, which grants the National Assembly the authority to appropriate funds from either the Consolidated Revenue Fund or the Federation Account.

“Fifteen per cent of the statutory allocation has been recommended by the Senate and, by extension, the National Assembly, for funding these zonal development commissions. Anyone who wishes to challenge that in court is free to do so,” he added.

Akpabio then called for a voice vote, and the majority voted in favour of the provision.

In his remarks following the passage of the consolidated bills, Akpabio expressed gratitude to the senators for their efforts in finalising the zonal development commissions.

He noted that these commissions would provide a foundation for the newly created Ministry of Regional Development.

The bills passed include the South-South Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024, the North West Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024, and the South-East Development Commission Act (Amendment) Bill 2024.

The South West Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 and North Central Development Commission Establishment Bill 2024 were previously passed.

The Confederation of African Football, CAF, has published the list of nominees for the 2024 awards.

The event will be held December 16, 2024, in Marrakech, Morocco.

In a statement from CAF, the period under review is January 2024 and October 2024.

There are 10 players nominated in each category.

South Africa goalkeeper, Ronwen Williams is nominated in all three categories: Player of the Year, CAF Goalkeeper of the Year and CAF Interclub Player of the Year.

The winners will be determined through votes from a diverse panel, which includes the CAF Technical Committee, media professionals, and the Head Coaches and Captains of Member Associations, as well as clubs participating in the group stages of interclub competitions.

The list of nominees for the women’s categories will be announced shortly.

Full List of Nominees:

PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Amine Gouiri (Algeria / Rennes)

Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso / Bayer Leverkusen)

Simon Adingra (Cote d’Ivoire / Brighton & Hove Albion)

Chancel Mbemba (DR Congo / Olympique Marseille)

Serhou Guirassy (Guinea / Borussia Dortmund)

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco / Paris Saint-Germain)

Soufiane Rahimi (Morocco / Al Ain)

Ademola Lookman (Nigeria / Atalanta)

William Troost Ekong (Nigeria / Al Kholood)

Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

GOALKEEPER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Oussama Benbot (Algeria / USM Alger)

Andre Onana (Cameroon / Manchester United)

Yahia Fofana (Cote d’Ivoire / Angers SCO)

Lionel Mpasi (DR Congo / Rodez AF)

Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt / Al Ahly)

Djigui Diarra (Mali / Young Africans)

Munir El Kajoui (Morocco / RS Berkane)

Stanley Nwabali (Nigeria / Chippa United)

Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)

INTERCLUB PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Oussama Benbot (Algeria / USM Alger)

Issoufou Dayo (Burkina Faso / RS Berkane)

Ahmed Sayed ‘Zizo’ (Egypt / Zamalek)

Hussein El Shahat (Egypt / Al Ahly)

Mostafa Shobeir (Egypt / Al Ahly)

Abdul Aziz Issah (Ghana / Dreams FC)

John Antwi (Ghana / Dreams FC)

Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)

Yassine Merriah (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)

Ronwen Williams (South Africa / Mamelodi Sundowns)

COACH OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Pedro Goncalves (Angola)

Brahima Traore (Burkina Faso)

Emerse Fae (Cote d’Ivoire)

Sebastien Desabre (DR Congo)

Jose Gomes (Zamalek)

Marcel Koller (Al Ahly)

Chiquinho Conde (Mozambique)

Hugo Broos (South Africa)

Florent Ibenge (Al Hilal)

Kwesi Appiah (Sudan)

YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Carlos Baleba (Cameroon / Brighton & Hove Albion)

Karim Konate (Cote d’Ivoire / Salzburg)

Oumar Diakite (Cote d’Ivoire / Reims)

Yankuba Minteh (Gambia / Brighton & Hove Albion)

Abdul Aziz Issah (Ghana / Dreams FC / Barcelona)

Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco / Leicester City)

Eliesse Ben Seghir (Morocco / AS Monaco)

El Hadji Malick Diouf (Senegal / Slavia Prague)

Lamine Camara (Senegal / AS Monaco)

Amanallah Memmiche (Tunisia / Esperance Sportive de Tunis)

CLUB OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Petro Atletico (Angola)

TP Mazembe (DR Congo)

Al Ahly (Egypt)

Zamalek (Egypt)

Dreams FC (Ghana)

RS Berkane (Morocco)

Mamelodi Sundowns (South Africa)

Simba (Tanzania)

Young Africans (Tanzania)

Esperance Sportive de Tunis (Tunisia)

NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR (MEN)

Angola

Burkina Faso

Cote d’Ivoire

DR Congo

Morocco

Mozambique

Nigeria

South Africa

Sudan

Uganda.