SPORTS NEWS IN BRIEF

Amaju Pinnick (43), has been elected the new President of the Nigeria Football Federation on Tuesday. He received 32 votes out of the 44 which was available in the second phase voting. The former Nigeria international Dominic Iorfa was second with 8 votes while the former NFF Secretary-General, Taiwo Ogunjobi received 4 votes. Pinnick who is the chaiman of the Delta State Football Association will replace the incumbent, Aminu Maigari for a four year tenure. By conducting this election today, Nigeria avoided Fifa ban from international football, which could have lasted until next Fifa congress meeting in May 2015.

Isaa Hayatou of CAF

The Ajax Amsterdam midfielder, Thulani Serero has been recalled to the South African national team - Bafana Bafana for the October double African Cup of Nations qualification games of 10th and 15th. Serero was not invited in the first two matches this month against Sudan and Nigeria. The coach, Ephraim 'Shakes' Mashaba wants the very talented and energetic midfielder to help them prosecute the next two games.

The two years ban on international football placed on The Gambia has been lifted on Tuesday, by the Confederation of African Football (CAF). The Executive Committee of the African football governing body had promised to lift the ban if the country could conduct a free and fair election in their football federation. The Gambia Football Federation elected the former sports minister Modou Kabba Bajo as their new President on Saturday. CAF banned the country from international football after it was discovered that the GFF intentionally falsified the ages of their under - 20 players in April. Fifa sacked the administration of the GFF in July.

Issa Hayatou, the President of CAF has been made the new senior Vice - President of Fifa. The President of Fifa, Sepp Blatter, announced Hayatou's new position in the last Fifa Executive Committee meeting. Hayatou replaced the Argentine, Julio Grondona who died in July. The Cameroonian is now the second in command to the office of the presidency and will take over the leadership of Fifa if Blatter unfortunately becomes incapacitated.

The Egyptian club Al Ahly has booked their spot in the final of the Confederation Cup, by beating the Cameroon club, Coton Sport 2 - 1 in the second leg of the semi - final encounter in Cairo. Ahly defeated Coton 1 - 0 in the first leg game. They will now meet the Ivorian club Sewe Sport in the final. Read also,Melvinsports.blogspot.com