Premier league favors Africans

Mane, Aubameyang, Salah

In the just concluded 2018/2019 Premier league, the fight/glory for who takes the glory of the golden boot was decided and falls greatly on African players as three Great players emerged as highest scorer tie.

Liverpool to battle Barcelona

This week, Liverpool will battle Barcelona in the ongoing UEFA champions league.
The Two great clubs have gone a long way to reach semifinal.

Man U vs Barcelona, 1st leg quarter final

The Manchester United of English Premier league takes on The giant of Laliga, FC Barcelona today 10th April 2019.

Credit: FCNaija

Chelsea trashed Man city to end their "Unbeaten" title.

Chelsea football club this weekend has ended the "unbeaten" title claimed by giant Manchester City as they trash them with 2 goals to nil.

UAM defeats UNICAL to win NUGA

UAM wins UNICAL in HIFL Final in Lagos

UAM TILLERS (Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi) successfully defended the gold prize they won in the NUGA Championship earlier today as the defeated Unical (University of Calabar) 5:4 on penalties after the match ended in a barren draw

Atiku celebrates Nigeria amputee team over first world cup victory.

Special Eagles have finally recorded their first victory at the ongoing tournament.

The Special Eagles defeated their opponents

Eagles faint Aguero as Argentina is battered 4 goals to 2

The Manchester City striker had scored to put his side 2-0 up in the first half, but Arsenal's Alex Iwobi found the net twice as Nigeria came back.

The Argentina FA said the 29-year-old had been taken to hospital to "carry out routine studies as a precaution".

They later confirmed that Aguero had been discharged from hospital.

"He is already in the hotel along with the rest of the team," they tweeted.

After the match Argentina manager Jorge Sampaoli said Aguero had "got dizzy and had to leave".

In a statement City said he had been cleared by doctors to return to Manchester as planned "after suffering a dizzy spell" during the match.

"Sergio never lost consciousness, and was taken to hospital for precautionary medical checks," the club said. "He will be assessed by the club's medical team ahead of this weekend's Premier League trip to Leicester City."

Aguero, who became City's all-time leading goalscorer earlier this month, had recently returned to action after he suffered a rib injury in a car crash in Amsterdam in September. He was injured when a taxi he was travelling in after attending a concert crashed into a lamp post.

In Wednesday's international friendly, Leicester's Kelechi Iheanacho netted with a free-kick and Brian Idowu was also on the scoresheet for the Super Eagles, who had fallen behind to strikes from Aguero and Ever Banega.

Watch the highlights here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=YroFM157Gro

Nigeria face FIFA sanction after Ighalo celebrated goal against Cameroon with ‘Thank You Jesus’ shirt

Super Eagles could face additional sanctions from FIFA after Odion Ighalo celebrated his goal against Cameroon with ‘Thank You Jesus’ shirt.

The striker lifted his shirt to reveal a message and was instantly booked by Egyptian referee Ghead Grisha after netting the opening goal in the Super Eagles’ 4-0 victory over Cameroon in Uyo on Friday.

“He told me that the message on my shirt was about religion because it’s ‘thank you Jesus’,” Ighalo told ESPN.

According to ESPN, Referee Grisha is expected to include the incident in his report to FIFA, which could subject to additional sanction, mainly fines.

Displaying unsanctioned commercial, political, religious or personal slogans or statements in undershirts have been already outlawed by FIFA.

The most recent incident of a similar violation is Qatar, who warmed up for their World Cup qualifier against South Korea in June wearing T-shirts with the picture of Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to show their support after several Gulf nations and Egypt cut ties with Qatar and imposed economic sanctions on Doha for allegedly supporting “extremism”.

Daily times

Wayne Rooney retires from international football

England’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney announced on Wednesday he is retiring from international football with immediate effect, despite England manager Gareth Southgate telling him he had earned a recall.
The 31-year-old — scorer of 53 goals in 119 appearances for his country — told Southgate of his decision during a phone conversation.

“Having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football,” said Rooney in a statement sent to Press Association Sport.

In his statement explaining his decision to retire from international football, Rooney said: “One of my very few regrets is not to have been part of a successful England tournament side.
“Hopefully the exciting players Gareth is bringing through can take that ambition further and I hope everyone will get behind the team. One day the dream will come true and I look forward to being there as a fan – or in any capacity.”
AFP

Bafana Bafana crushed Eagles

The Super Eagles of Nigeria began their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign on a sour note after succumbing 0-2 to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa. Strikes by  Rantie and Percy Tau in the 54th and 81st minutes ensured that South Africans got only their first victory over the Eagles in a competitive game.
Nigeria dictated things for a larger part of the game but failed to take the initiative and would now seek redemption in their next qualifying game against Seychelles. The Eagles paid dearly for failing to convert the numerous chances they got while also making very obvious the absence of John Mikel Obi and Victor Moses. The flat-footedness of the team’s defence paved way for Rantie sneaking in to head in after Elderson Echiejile failed to deal with Mphahlele on the right hand side. A bid to salvage the situation saw the team go all out for a corner kick and left the goalkeeper unprotected. The South Africans  took advantage of this mistake when Percy Tau scored with his first touch of the game after beating the offside trap, went round Daniel Akpeyi and finished it off brilliantly to make it 2-0.

Credit: Vanguard News

Arsenal beat Chelsea to win FA Cup

Arsenal beat Chelsea 2-1 to win FA Cup ON MAY 27, 20177:46 PMIN SPORTSCOMMENTS Arsenal has won the English Cup by defeating league champions, Chelsea 2-1 in a final played at Wembley. Goals for Arsenal were scored by Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey while Diego Costa got Chelsea’s only goal.

Credit : Vanguard News

What Mourinho said after winning Europa League Trophy

Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho said his side would give up their Europa League trophy if it would bring back the 22 victims of Monday’s terror attack in Manchester. United beat Ajax 2-0 in Stockholm on Wednesday to win the Europa League for the first time, but the game was overshadowed by the deadly suicide attack on concert-goers at Manchester Arena, which also left dozens injured.
“If we could, we would obviously change the people’s lives for this cup, immediately,” Mourinho told reporters at the Friends Arena. “We wouldn’t think twice. Does this cup make the city of Manchester a little bit happier? Maybe. But we just came to do our job. “We came without the happiness we should bring with us, because when you come for these big matches you come happy, you come proud. And we didn’t. we just came to do our job.” The game was preceded by a minute’s silence, which was interrupted by applause from both sets of fans, and United’s players wore black armbands. Mourinho agreed with European governing body UEFA’s decision for the match to go ahead, but said the victory would always be associated with sad thoughts about what happened in Manchester. “It’s really hard,” said the Portuguese, whose pre-match press conference on Tuesday was cancelled. “That’s why yesterday we didn’t want to have the press conference because we had to prepare ourselves to do our job and to try to forget events that are obviously much more important than our job. “But the world goes on. It doesn’t stop and we have to do our work. I agree with the UEFA decision to play the match. “But if we have questions like your questions that made us return to this tragedy, obviously it takes happiness from our achievement.” Paul Pogba, who opened the scoring in the game, dedicated the triumph to the victims, saying: “We played for the people who died.” “These things are terrible all over the world, in London and in Paris,” said Pogba, who was also playing at the Stade de France on the night of the November 2015 Paris terror attacks. “We went out focused to win and we won for Manchester and the country,” he told BT Sport. “We played for England, we played for Manchester and we played for the people who died.”

Credit: Vanguard News

Messi loses appeal in tax fraud trial, but will not go to jail

Spain’s Supreme Court, Wednesday,  rejected an appeal by FC Barcelona star Lionel Messi and stood by a Catalan regional court’s 21-month prison sentence for tax fraud, according to court documents. The five-times World Player of the Year is however unlikely to go to prison. Messi and his father Jorge were found guilty by a Catalan court last July on three counts of tax fraud between 2007 and 2009. The fraud was said to be to the tune of 4.1 million euros (about N2.5 billion) on image rights. The duo were also fined 2 million euros (about £1.7 million or N1 billion). The court reduced Jorge Messi’s sentence from 21 months to 15, however, for returning the defrauded amount to Spain’s tax authority. Neither Messi nor his father are expected to serve time in jail, as under Spanish law sentences under two years can be served under probation. Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi  A court statement said Messi “unequivocally understood his obligation to pay tax on income obtained from exploiting his image rights…therefore it is not logical that he should ignore his duty to pay tax on them”. The Supreme Court’s ruling brings an end to a case which began in 2013. The 29-year-old Messi and his father defrauded the Spanish tax office of 4.1 million euros between 2007 and 2009 by using a web of shell companies based outside Spain. These companies are in Belize, Switzerland and Uruguay, and the idea was to evade taxes on income from the player’s image rights. The Argentine’s lawyer was however not available for comment on the court ruling Messi, who has won eight La Liga titles, four King’s Cups and four Champions League crowns with FC Barcelona, finished top scorer in Spain this season with 37 league goals. He is due to play in the King’s Cup final next Saturday in Madrid, the last game of the domestic season. Messi is FC Barcelona’s all-time top scorer and their highest paid player. He is expected to sign a new contract with the Catalan club later this summer, with his current deal expiring in June 2018. FC Barcelona last year released a statement in support of Messi following his guilty sentence and launched a campaign in support of him on social media. But they have not yet commented on the Supreme Court’s decision.

Credit: Vanguard

How Nigerian boxing officials rejected Anthony Joshua

Jeremiah Okorodudu, a former boxing champion, has revealed how boxing rave of the moment, Anthony Joshua, was rejected by Nigerian boxing officials nine years ago.

Anthony Joshua

Joshua caught global attention and became a darling of boxing fans Saturday night after he humiliated Wladimir Klitschko, at the Wembley Stadium in England.

Speaking with UK Sun, Okorodud recalled that nine years back, Joshua’s efforts to represent Nigeria at the 2008 Olympic Games were futile as the Nigerian boxing officials turned him down.

He said, “Joshua was in Nigeria once to connect with his roots and I think that was in 2007.

“He wanted a chance to compete for trials ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics qualifiers, but he was denied and not given a chance.

“Disappointed, he went back to England to represent Great Britain.

“He went on to win a gold that could have been a first for Nigeria at the Olympics.

“If only they had allowed him to compete for Nigeria, that gold would have been a Nigerian gold and not Great Britain’s.”

Another Nigeria coach at the time, Adegboyega Adeniji-Adele also confirmed the fact that Joshua was at the Nigerian camp.

“Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua is his name and his family come from Ogun state in Nigeria,” he said.

“When he visited, his intention was to represent Nigeria at the Olympics but he was denied in the trials. He had no other option than to go to Britain.

“It’s Nigeria’s loss, Britain’s gain. Personally, I feel sad that they let him go and those people should be made to explain why it was impossible to give him a chance.”

Anthony Ujah hooks to his Heartrob

Benue born Super Eagles Forward, Anthony Ujah on Monday at the Ikoyi Registry, Lagos State sealed a marital vow with his hearttrob, Elizabeth Ameh; DAILY POST exclusively gathered.

Information gathered from a family source said Mr. Ujah, his bride and few family members who were at the court registry by 10am could not hide their joy as they witnessed "the most memorable day of his life".

Speaking to our Correspondent in a telephone chat, a UK based Philanthropist and immediate elder brother to the groom, Adoyi West Ujah, confirmed the story.

"Yes, we are right now in Lagos for Anthony Ujah's wedding with Elizabeth; it's a thing of joy and we are grateful to Almighty God", Ujah said.

The bride, Elizabeth Ameh, who is currently studying in Bradford University is also a native of Orokam, the native home of the Ujahs in Benue State, Nigeria.

Mr. Tony Ujah, who is playing forward for the Nigerian Senior Team, is also a Striker with a  Chinese Club, Liaoning Whowin, after he successfully concluded his deal with a German club, Werner Bremen.

He has since returned to Germany where friends and colleagues are waiting for his reception.
Credit: Daily Post (Yemi Itodo)

Pogba to sign a Man United deal; breaks record.

Manchester United and Juventus have agreed a world-record €110 million for Paul Pogba, according to multiple reports in Italy and England.
It is understood that the Red Devils met with the Serie A champions on Wednesday, with a view to sorting out a transfer for the France midfielder.
Both clubs have now reportedly settled on fee of €110m for Pogba, which breaks the previous record set, when Real Madrid paid €100m for Gareth Bale in 2013.
Pogba, who is currently on vacation in USA, is expected to sign a five-year deal worth €13m a season.
If the move is finalized, Pogba will be returning to Old Trafford, four years after he left on a free to join the Italian side.

Source: Daily Post

Why Paul Le Guen rejected Eagles' job

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Tuesday in Abuja confirmed that Frenchman Paul Le Guen has rejected the job of Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles it offered him.
The news of the rejection came in less than 24 hours after he was recommended for appointment.
The Technical and Development Committee of the NFF had on Monday, after its meeting in Abuja, recommended Le Guen to its Executive Committee for appointment as Super Eagles Technical Adviser.
Paul Bassey, a member of the committee, had told newsmen that Le Guen’s was recommended to the executive committee even before concluding agreement on contract terms.
``Baring agreement on contract terms, emoluments, allowances and entitlements, Le Guen becomes the Technical Adviser of the Super Eagles,’’ he had said.
About 24 hours later, the NFF confirmed the Frenchman’s rejection of offer of appointment in a statement by Ademola Olajire, its Assistant Director of Communications.
Why Le Guen rejected Super Eagles job
The statement quoted Chairman of NFF’s Media and Publicity Committee, Suleiman Yahaya-Kwande, as saying Le Guen said he was not ready to live in Nigeria while working for Nigeria.
``Apart from this, he also did not want to be given a target,’’ Yahaya-Kwande said in the statement.
``The statement on the recommendations was clear, to the effect that all appointments made at the Technical and Development Committee meeting were mere recommendations, which had to be deliberated upon and agreed to by the board,’’ he added.
However, a top source in the NFF who preferred not to be mentioned said Le Guen cited insecurity in the country as part of his reasons for rejecting the offer.
``The fear of a state of insecurity and other disagreements accounted for his rejection of the Eagles job we offered him.
``We were sceptical when Le Guen insisted he was not going to live in the country and we all remember the last experience we had with Sunday Oliseh.
``In fact, Le Guen’s refusal to live in Nigeria was the first point of disagreement and we don't want to hire another Oliseh as coach of the Super Eagles, who will not live in the country.
``So, we had no option than to terminate the contract discussion because his position of living outside Nigeria while working for Nigeria will not augur well for the country’s football.
``This can also jeopardise the World Cup target we promised Nigerians,’’ the source said.
He argued that allowing Le Guen have his way could compromise the target set for him.
The source also said the Frenchman insisted he would accept the contract if only he would be visiting the country few weeks to the team’s matches.
NAN gathered further that Le Guen had expressed concern over a clause in his proposed contract which required that he would be travelling to different parts of the country.
The essence of such travels was for him to harness the potential of players on the domestic scene.
``It was the fear of what he considers as insecurity in the country that forced him to decline the offer.
``But let me put it on record that the federation has not offered Le Guen the employment. It was just a recommendation by the Technical and Development Committee.’’
The NFF top official also pointed out that the federation would not go ahead to approve the recommendation of its technical and development committee against the wish of Nigerians.
He however insisted that the decision to disregard the committee’s recommendation had nothing to do with finance.
NFF General Secretary Mohammed Sanusi declined to comment on the development.

Source: Vanguard News

NFF names Eagles' Handlers

The Nigeria Football Federation on Monday named Frenchman Paul Le Guen, 52, as the new Technical Adviser of the Senior National Team, Super Eagles. He will be assisted by Nigerian Salisu Yusuf, who takes the role of Chief Coach. The appointments are subject to agreement of contract terms with the NFF Executive Committee.
New Eagles’ boss Le Guen steered the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon to the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals. He played for Brest, Nantes and Paris Saint Germain and won 17 caps for France, before coaching Rennes, Lyon, PSG (in France) and Glasgow Rangers (in Scotland). He also coached Oman.
Yusuf, capped at U20 level by Nigeria, called the shots in interim capacity for two international friendly matches in Europe at the end of May, which the Eagles won.
Spokesman of the Committee, Paul Bassey, told
thenff.com after the meeting at the NFF secretariat on Monday that Enugu Rangers gaffer Imama Amapakabo and former Super Eagles’ goalkeeper and skipper Alloy Agu, who served as assistant coach and goalkeeper trainer for the games against Mali and Luxembourg in May, retain their places in the technical crew.
The new crew’s immediate challenge is a 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Tanzania in the first week of September – a dead rubber, but which would serve as ample preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying match away to Zambia on October 3.
The Committee has also recommended to the NFF Board, the appointment of one –time Super Eagles’ assistant coach Bitrus Bewarang as the new NFF Technical Director. Bewarang, who is president of the Nigeria Football Coaches Association, will replace the late Coach Shaibu Amodu.
There is also a recommendation that former Super Eagles’ defender Nduka Ugbade be restored to the U17 National Team as assistant to Coach Manu Garba.

Source: Independent Newspaper