ROAD TO RUSSIA: How Far Can Super Eagles Go At 2018 World Cup?

  The farthest the Super Eagles have gone since they started qualifying for the World Cup in 1994 has been the round of 16, which they have reached thrice in five outings.

The Nigerian side reached the second round in their debut campaign in 1994 as well as in 1998 and 2014, failing to advance beyond the group stage in 2002 and 2010.

Now, having been placed in Group D of the Russia 2018 World Cup with familiar foes Argentina and debutantes Iceland and star-studded Croatia, what do you feel are the chances of the Super Eagles?

MTN Sponsors First-of-its-Kind Kiddies Mini-marathon

   In its bid to encourage all-round wellness for Nigerian kids, MTN Nigeria in partnership with St Saviour’s School Endowment Fund has concluded a first ever Lagos Kiddies Marathon event for kids aged between 5-15 years in Lagos.

More than 22 schools with over 1,000 kids across the state participated in the race covering 1.2km, 3km and 5km distances respectively. Starting at the premises of St Saviour’s School, Ikoyi, the marathoners ran through Bourdillon Road and back to the starting line between 7am to 11am last Saturday.
Winners of the race were presented with cash prizes from MTN.

Gbenle Similoluwa won the first place in the 13-15 year old male category while Ibukun Agbede won the female category. They were awarded N100,000 each.

Moses, Four others Shortlisted for BBC African Footballer of the Year

  Voting for the BBC African Footballer of the Year is now open as Nigeria’s Victor Moses along with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Naby Keita (Guinea), Sadio Mane (Senegal), and Mohamed Salah (Egypt) were revealed as the five names to vie for the award.

The past season has been a breakthrough one for Moses who finally nailed down a place in the starting lineup of eventual Premiership champions, Chelsea. After years of loan moves, the 26-year-old cemented his role at Stamford Bridge – so much so that he became an integral member of their Premier League-winning team.

The date Moses might look back on is October 1, 2016, when Chelsea coach Antonio Conte, following comprehensive defeats by Arsenal and Liverpool, switched to a 3-4-3 system and fielded Moses in an unfamiliar right wing-back role at Hull City.

It was his first league start for the Blues in over three years but Moses was far from overawed – producing a man-of-the-match display with his natural attacking instincts and desire to track back.
The Hull victory was the start of a record-equalling 13 consecutive Premier League wins for Chelsea and 22 consecutive league starts for Moses, until he briefly succumbed to injury in April.

Argentina vs Nigeria: What fans are saying about Mikel Obi

                             
 Nigerians have applauded captain of Super Eagles, Mikel Obi over his performance at Tuesday’s match

Super Eagles rounded off a great performance in 2017 with a stunning 4-2 victory over stars studded Argentine side in a friendly in Krasnodar, Russia on Tuesday.

Many Nigerians on social media, have however, showered praises on Mikel Obi for his leadership role in the team.

Some went ahead to encourage Nigerian politicians to replicate Mikel’s leadership skills in running the nation.

Here are the comments @Samzen “After yesterday’s amazing performance by super eagles, we can conclude that Chelsea legend Obi Mikel is a better captain than Messi.

@colleagueZoned “Dedicated, selfless, pragmatic & Charismatic, Nigeria needs more leaders like Super Eagles Captain, Mikel Obi.

Italy Misses World Cup for the First Time Since 1958

  Buffon retires as Sweden qualifies for Russia 2018 ahead of the Azzurri
Four-time champions Italy failed to reach the World Cup for the first time since 1958 after a play-off defeat against Sweden.

It means the Azzurri will not be present in the competition for only the second time in their history having declined to play at the inaugural tournament in 1930.

Midfielder Jakob Johansson’s deflected strike in the first leg was the difference as the second leg at Milan’s San Siro stadium last night ended goalless.

Sweden sat back on their advantage and, despite the hosts enjoying 75 per cent possession, they failed to find the breakthrough – Italy’s best chance saw goalkeeper Robin Olsen palm away substitute Stephan El Shaarawy’s thumping late volley.

Manchester City Posts Record Revenue

  Manchester City announced record revenue of £473.4 million and a third consecutive year of profitability as the club’s annual report for 2016-17 was published on Wednesday.

Premier League leaders City posted a profit of £1.08 million, down from £20.5 million last year. The club said an extended 13-month reporting period had affected profitability.

A 21 percent increase in revenue meant that the ratio of wage costs to revenue fell to 56 percent.
The club is operating with zero debt and chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said that revenue was pushing towards “towards the 500 million pounds mark”.

AGUERO BREAKS MAN CITY RECORD IN THRILLING WIN AT NAPOLI

 LONDON - Manchester City’s all-conquering season reached new peaks as Sergio Aguero became the club’s all-time top scorer with a decisive goal in a thrilling 4-2 victory at Napoli that put them into the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

The Argentine struck his historic 178th goal for City, which took him past Eric Brook’s landmark, in the 69th minute to help settle a magnificent contest between the English and Italian league leaders.

Headed goals from City’s unlikely central defensive strike force of Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones either side of halftime had seen Pep Guardiola’s side overturn a 21st-minute lead deservedly given to the Serie A leaders by Lorenzo Insigne.

Yet after Jorginho had equalised with a penalty just after the hour, Aguero’s predatory instinct ensured City were not to be denied in their bid to become the first English team to win a European match in Napoli’s forbidding San Paolo Stadium.

N’Golo Kante is expected to be fit to face AS Roma Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League

  Chelsea midfielder N’Golo Kante is expected to be fit to face AS Roma in Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League group stage match, manager Antonio Conte announced yesterday.

Kante, who missed Chelsea’s last five matches with a hamstring injury, trained with the squad before they left for Rome and Conte will speak to the France international before deciding whether he will feature.

Midfielder Danny Drinkwater is also set to play after recovering from a calf problem and on the back of his first Premier League appearance for Chelsea as a late substitute against Bournemouth on Saturday.

“We had three starters out, but we have recovered Drinkwater and Kante. (Victor) Moses needs more time,” Conte told a news conference on Monday.

Conte reacts to rumours of Ancelotti replacing him as Chelsea manager

  Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has rubbished reports that Carlo Ancelotti is set to replace him at the club.

Speculation around Conte’s future at Stamford Bridge has been rife in recent weeks, as the Premier League champions endured a troubled start to the campaign.

“If I see the past it happened the same with a lot of managers. A lot of bulls—. They try to create problems between me, the club and the players.

“If someone is happy to continue to write this I think I answered very well in the past. I am answering very well about these different issues,” the Italian said on Friday.

Chelsea’s director of communications Steve Atkins interjected to call the Holland story “absolute nonsense,” with Conte then adding: “I think this is a lack of respect. I can accept [if you] write that the club is ready to sack me, the story with the players [being unhappy].

“But to put another person in this way, I think it’s incorrect. It’s not good that this person has to send me a message to tell me ‘I’m sorry, but this is not true. I’m sorry, if you want me to do an interview I’m ready.’ Why put another person in this bulls—? Why? If you want to hit me, hit me. Don’t put another person [in it] because this is incorrect and I hate this type of situation.”

The end of Cristiano vs Messi? 'It's just starting', says Ronaldo

  Cristiano Ronaldo’s stunning last season saw him win the 2017 Best FIFA Men’s Player of the Year trophy as Real Madrid dominated a star-studded awards ceremony in London on Monday, AFP reports.

The Portuguese ace, who has scored 44 goals in just 48 games for club and country so far this calendar year, played a major role in Real winning both La Liga and the Champions League.

He scored twice in a 4-1 win over Juventus in the continental final at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on June 3.

Real boss Zinedine Zidane took the corresponding manager of the year award, with the Spanish giants providing five players in the FIFA team of the year.

540 World Stars Storms Lagos for Governor’s Cup Tennis

  The 2017 edition of the Governor’s Cup Lagos Tennis Championship will witness great influx of players across the world when the International Tennis Federation (ITF) approved competition gets underway from October 6 through October 21 at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, Lagos.

As at last Saturday, the ITF posted on its website that 540 emerging world tennis players have registered to participate in the pro circuit competition which will last for two weeks at Nigeria’s Centre of Excellence.

Interestingly, nine of the women players coming this year are regular faces in Lagos, while the likes of Conny Perrin of Switzerland, Tadeja Majeric from Slovakia, Christina Dinu of Romania Chanel Simmonds of South Africa and Tessah Andrianjaftrimo of France were former champions.

Others such as Alexandria Riley of USA, Valeria Bhunu of Zimbabwe, Ukrainian Valeriya Strakhova, Austrian Melanie Klaffner and Indian Kyra Shroff had played regularly on the courts of Lagos Lawn Tennis Club.

WILL NIGERIA GET IT RIGHT WITH ORGANISATION AGAINST ZAMBIA?

  After the fine issued against the NFF due to pitch invasion against Cameroon, one expects better organisation in the game against the Chipolopolo
When someone falls, they rise up dust themselves up and continue on their journey with an awareness not to repeat the mistake that led to their previous slip. After the uproar from the last 2018 World Cup qualifying game in Uyo between Nigeria and Cameroon, one hopes that lessons learned will ensure a much better encounter when Zambia come calling on Saturday, October 7.
Much of the complaint centred on the issues of militarisation of the stadium environment, using one gate for fans’ entry instead of many, jamming internet signals once the political leadership of the state arrived at the stadium, and the working conditions that media faced. Following that game in Uyo that was in stark contrast with my experience in Yaounde, I spoke to a few staff of the Nigeria Football Federation about improving a few things.
However, it emerged that several issues have been running that way for a long time and that the NFF has not been able to convince the security services at the state level to leave internet active during matches. This is very visible at every Nigeria game that I have covered in the last five years – once the governor arrives, it is goodbye internet.
It emerged from my conversations that an external force needs to act upon the relationship between the state and the NFF in order to ensure that media conditions are improved upon. The NFF is a prisoner to its host - whenever there’s need to play a national team game, the NFF shops for a host state to bankroll the encounter. This leaves the NFF unable to enforce international standards required by FIFA and CAF, the sport’s governing bodies.

15 Eagles Land in Uyo Camp for Zambia

  Super Eagles countdown to Saturday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier against Zambia’s Chipolopolo began last night with 15 players arriving the team’s camp at the Le’Meridien Ibom Hotel and Resort in Uyo.

Nine players led by skipper John Mikel Obi joined Technical Adviser, Gernot Rohr, on the flight from Abuja to Uyo to meet the six early birds that included Hapoel Beer Sheva duo of Anthony Nwakaeme and John Ogu.

Home-based Plateau United safe hands, Dele Ajiboye, Elderson Echiejile and Oghenekaro Etebor were the other players who received the contingent from Abuja.

Super Eagles Media Officer, Toyin Ibitoye confirmed this last night that those expected to hit camp Tuesday for a full house include; Arsenal forward, Alex Iwobi, Victor Moses of Chelsea, Ola Aina (Hull), Uche Agbo (Standard Liege, Belgium), Chidozie Awaziem (Nantes, France) Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor, Turkey) and Moses Simon (KA Genk, Belgium).

Nigeria’s Falconets Thrash Tanzania 6-0

  The Nigeria Women’s U-20 team, the Falconets, are through to the next round of the 2018 FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.

The Falconets booked their passage in style as they thrashed their Tanzanian counterparts 6-0 in Dar es Salam on Sunday.

Having recorded a 3-0 win in the first leg tie a fortnight ago in Benin City, Edo State, the Falconets posted a 9-0 aggregate win over the East Africans.

In Sunday’s second leg tie played in Dar es Salam, four goals came in the first half and two in the second half as the Falconets romped to the massive win. Go grls!

Diego Costa sends message to Antonio Conte after securing Chelsea exit

Diego Costa and Antonio Conte were involved in a bust-up last season.

  The 28-year-old will initially join Atletico on loan but the Spanish club have an obligation to buy the player for £57.2 million next summer.

Costa will be unable to play for Atletico until January due to their transfer ban but is able to train with his new teammates.

As part of the deal, Chelsea will not subsidise any of Costa’s £185,000-a-week salary.

Last season, Conte and Costa were involved in a heated bust-up on the training ground and in the summer, the Chelsea manager informed the striker via text message that he would not be part of the club’s plans this term.

Zambia List 13 Things To Do To Overcome Nigeria In Uyo

                           
It’s less than three weeks to the all-important 2018 World Cup qualifying game between Nigeria’s Super Eagles and the Chipolopolo of Zambia at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo on october 7, 2017.

The Zambians are not leaving any stone unturned in a bid to win the game and thus avenge the 2-1 home loss they suffered on Matchday 1 while also nicking the sole ticket to Russia.

A Zambian journalist, simply identified by the initials RW and writing in the Zambian Observer, has therefore made a checklist of the 13 things Zambia must do to defeat Nigeria in October.

See if you agree with him…

Liverpool Storm Etihad to Begin Title Chase

The English Premier League resumes this weekend after the international break and the stand-out fixtures is today’s early kickoff between Manchester United and Liverpool.  With both teams on the same points, victory for either side would overtake league leaders-Manchester United, before the Red Devils’ trip to Stoke later in the day

L iverpool could hardly be in higher spirits as they set out on the short trip to Manchester City this afternoon hoping to make a strong case for their Premier League title prospects.

Pep Guardiola’s City and neighbours Manchester United, together with champions Chelsea, have already been installed as the trio most likely to contest the title, but optimism is surging on Merseyside after a free-scoring August.

A 4-0 thrashing of a compliant Arsenal side before the international break means Juergen Klopp’s side has seven points from nine during an opening period in which they also safely negotiated a Champions League playoff against Hoffenheim.

What is more, Liverpool’s transfer window business has been hailed as some of the best amongst the leading clubs.

Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah was rated by number-crunchers at the CIES Football Observatory as the bargain of the summer from Roma and a goal on his debut plus strikes against Hoffenheim and Arsenal have quickly endeared him to Anfield’s faithful.

The deadline-day signing from Arsenal of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, a player Klopp believes can become a Liverpool great adds more firepower to an attack already boasting Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino and which will soon be further boosted by the return from injury of Adam Lallana.

The rising stock of midfielder Jordan Henderson, who has captained England twice in the past week, and a superb goal for teenager Ben Woodburn on his Wales debut means the continued uncertainty surrounding Phillipe Coutinho and his desire to join Barcelona is a manageable distraction.

No wonder pundits are taking Liverpool seriously.

“I didn’t fancy Liverpool before the season started but they’ve made some decent buys and kept Coutinho which is a boost for them,” former Manchester United great Ryan Giggs conceded this week. “After the business they’ve done I’ve probably changed my mind and they will be in the mix.”

Liverpool have a strong recent record against City, winning four of the last six league clashes between the sides and last lost to them in the league three years ago.

Last season, Klopp’s side took 20 points from their matches against Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, City, United and Arsenal – more than any other club and the recent demolition of Arsenal maintained their form against the big clubs.

City, who also have seven points, have match-winners everywhere though, even if they will be without former Liverpool forward Raheem Sterling who was sent off for over-celebrating a last-gasp winner against Bournemouth last time out.

While Sterling’s absence will be a blow, Guardiola’s options are so numerous that Sergio Aguero was only a substitute against Bournemouth and he is likely to return.

Defensive worries remain despite a huge summer outlay and 50-million-pound right back Kyle Walker will return from suspension with the unenviable task of trying to stop the rampaging runs of Mane, a battle that could determine which of the two title rivals will be celebrating.

Meanwhile, City face an injury concern with the club’s medical team concerned over a fresh problem for Vincent Kompany.

The City captain has been stricken with a series of calf problems over the last three seasons and was limited to just 11 appearances in the Premier League in Pep Guardiola’s first season in England last term.

The worst of those injury woes could be over however with the Belgium international starting and completing each of City’s opening three games of the new campaign.

However, the 31-year-old was absent from training with his club on Wednesday as a result of a calf problem picked up while on international duty. While City’s medical staff do not see it as a serious problem, they are wary of his injury history and will continue to assess the centre-half ahead of the lunch-time kick-off at the Etihad Stadium.

Kompany remains a hugely important player for Guardiola following City’s failure to bring in another centre-half during the summer transfer window. While the club spent £130m in strengthening their options at full-back, the club’s interest in West Brom’s Jonny Evans, Southampton captain Virgil van Dijk and Real Sociedad’s Iñigo Martinez amounted to nothing, leaving City with the options of Kompany, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and Eliaquim Mangala as their only senior centre-halves.

Doubts over Kompany will act as a major boost to Liverpool’s chances of leaving the Etihad with something. While they have their own problems in attack, their front three of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino has already proved to be a deadly combination with Kompany’s organisational skills in the City backline vital to keeping the trio quiet.

Guardiola has experimented with playing three at the back and a flat back four this season with Kompany, Stones and Otamendi all featuring as the first choice combination.

Leaders Manchester United, who have a 100 per cent record and are yet to concede a goal while scoring 10, travel to Stoke City for today’s late kickoff.

Promoted high-flyers Huddersfield Town, who have also kept three clean sheets and are level on points with Liverpool and Manchester City, play at bottom side West Ham United on Monday.

Arsenal, who have lost their last two games, should avoid slumping to three defeats in a row when they host Bournemouth today.

Champions Chelsea are at Leicester City on the same day.

Transfer deadline day: Mbappé, Sánchez, Gomes, Rabiot

  Man City are still pursuing Sanchez, Arsenal in turn bidding for Lemar, and what's going to happen to Coutinho, van Dijk, Costa, Mbappe and Mahrez?

The transfer window is almost over but clubs are tussling to complete their final deals before tonight's 11pm deadline.

Liverpool unveiled Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain today after winning a tug-of-war with Chelsea.

Spurs have confirmed a deal for PSG's Serge Aurier while Swansea have loaned Renato Sanches from Bayern.

There's some massive deals still in the air with Man City still pursuing Alexis Sanchez and Arsenal in turn bidding for Monaco's Thomas Lemar.

And what's going to happen to Philippe Coutinho, Virgil van Dijk, Diego Costa, Kylian Mbappe and Riyad Mahrez?

Follow all the latest news, rumours and done deals here.

Barcelona to unveil Coutinho Friday as Liverpool accept €160m fee

 

  Rumours swirling round the potential move of Liverpool’s defender, Philippe Coutinho, continues with reports from Europe claiming Liverpool have accepted a €160m fee for the Brazillian.

Yahoo Sport are now claiming that Coutinho, 25, has been told on international duty that Reds owners Fenway Sports Group have finally accepted his request to leave.

Reports further claimed that The Reds have asked the Nou Camp bosses to delay the completion of the deal, in order for them to find a replacement, with Thomas Lemar or Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the favourites.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. Beats Conor McGregor with 10th Round TKO

  Floyd Mayweather Jr., the face of boxing for more than a decade, punctuated a stellar yet controversial career with a technical knockout over U.F.C. champ and first-time boxer Conor McGregor on Saturday night.

In the 10th round of a surprisingly competitive fight, Mayweather backed McGregor onto the ropes with a series of rights and lefts. McGregor’s face was completely bloodied. He was about to fall through the ropes, and the referee stepped in to stop the fight with 1:55 remaining in the round.

“I gave the fans what they wanted to see,” Mayweather said after the fight. “I told them that I owed them for the Pacquiao fight. I must come straight ahead and give them a show.”

The victory improved Mayweather’s record to 50-0, and allowed the typically defensive fighter to say farewell in thrilling fashion in what he said was his last fight. It also proved right the naysayers who said that this fight was nothing more than a glorified, money-making exhibition.

Mayweather said the fight was not going to go the distance, and he delivered on that promise. Things went just the way that most pundits said they would. McGregor would have no way of connecting cleanly with Mayweather. He landed a few touch punches but nothing solid the entire fight. And given that U.F.C. fights are much shorter than boxing matches, McGregor’s stamina was in question. And he certainly seemed to tire in the late rounds as Mayweather made easy work of him.