Super Eagles To Wear Black Bands During Today’s Senegal Friendly To Honour Westminster Attack Victims

The Nigeria Football Federation has announced that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will today wear black armbands against Senegal as a mark of respect and support to the victims of the Westminster terrorist attack which killed 3 people and left 40 injured on Wednesday.

WestMinster is very close to the Hive Stadium,London, where the Super Eagles will play Senegal tonight…

Nigeria vs Senegal kick off @9pm

Read More »

Football Is Not Just About Winning Trophies- Arsenal Boss Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has said football is not just about winning trophies.

Wenger stated this while defending his record during his 20 years in charge of the Gunners and insists he has built an “absolutely remarkable” club.

The 67-year-old has come under serious pressure recently with the team performing below par, but reports say he has been offered a two-year contract extension.

Wenger has not won the league title since 2004 and in an interview with beIN Sports, he was quick to point out that Liverpool have never won it in the Premier League era.

“For me Arsenal is the best club in the world and what we have built is absolutely remarkable, not only on the results front but on the values that this club, what we have built. Of course a football club is about winning, it’s as well about values.

“Nobody talks about that anymore but sport is as well about values and I think integrity, respect, humility, togetherness are very important qualities and if you would visit our club you would see that they really exist on a daily basis. That is part of what I am proud as well.

“You can basically say that if you don’t win the championship it is not a successful season and I can understand that but you take clubs like Liverpool and they have not won the Premier League, they are a big club.

“You have clubs like Man City, Man United, certainly the championship will be won by Chelsea so we have all, and no matter how many we are, Tottenham, all these clubs, every year only one will win it,” Wenger said.

Read More »

TEAM NEWS: Rooney benched as Rashford starts for Man Utd Vs Arsenal clash

Wayne Rooney has to settle for a place on the bench for Manchester United as Marcus Rashford leads the line

Jose Mourinho opted to start Marcus Rashford up front for Manchester United as they play host to Arsenal in the huge Premier League fixture at Old Trafford.

With Zlatan Ibrahimovic suspended for the big lunchtime kick-off, Mourinho has opted to go with young striker Rashford, who memorably scored twice against Arsene Wenger's side last season, ahead of the England captain.

Arsenal arrive at Old Trafford in fourth placoe but only two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, while United are in two places and six points behind Wenger's side heading into the game.

Man Utd XI: De Gea, Valencia, Jones, Rojo, Darmian, Carrick, Herrera, Mata, Pogba, Martial, Rashford.

Arsenal XI: Cech, Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Elneny, Ramsey, Ozil, Walcott, Alexis.

Read More »

Uefa Champions League: Barca thrash City, Arsenal humiliate ludogorets, As Bayern Humbled PSV

Lionel Messi scored a hat trick as Barcelona thrashed Manchester City 4-0 at the Camp Nou on Wednesday.

Messi opened the scoring in the 17th minute with a cool finish past former Barcelona goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, who was sent off for handling outside his penalty area after half-time.

Ilkay Gundogan forced a fine close-range save from Marc-Andre ter Stegen on 38 minutes and John Stones' header flashed wide in the 45th, but City were two down when Messi cut inside to beat substitute keeper Willy Caballero at the near post.

Messi grabbed his hat trick eight minutes later but Barca were also down to 10 men when Jeremy Mathieu was sent off for a second yellow card and Neymar -- who had earlier missed a penalty -- completed the scoring.

In-form Arsenal produced a dominant display illuminated by a Mesut Ozil hat trick as they breezed past Ludogorets 6-0 at the Emirates.

The Gunners made the breakthrough in style after 12 minutes when Alexis Sanchez cut in from the left and beat goalkeeper Vladislav Stoyanov with a delicate chip, and Theo Walcott fired home a brilliant second after 42 minutes.

Less than a minute into the second half it was 3-0 to the North Londoners as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain seized on a loose ball inside the Ludogorets area and slammed home an emphatic finish.
And as Ludogorets crumbled, Ozil took over to complete the easiest of victories.

Bayern Munich scored two early goals as they eased to a 4-1 victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Allianz Arena.

The Bundesliga champions were rewarded for an attacking start when Thomas Muller smashed home at the second attempt after an Arjen Robben corner fell to him on 13 minutes.

Within seven minutes Bayern had doubled their advantage, David Alaba's deflected cross falling perfectly for Joshua Kimmich to head home from close range, but the Dutch champions pulled a goal back in stunning style four minutes before the break as Luciano Narsingh raced on to a Gaston Pereiro pass and lashed in an effort from distance that Manuel Neuer was unable to keep out.

After the break, Bayern restored their two-goal cushion when Arjen Robben's shot was saved but the ball bounced to Robert Lewandowski, who headed home from close range, and Robben headed home the fourth at the end of a slick passing move.

Napoli were stunned as Besiktas snatched a 3-2 win at the Stadio Olimpico.

After early pressure from the home side, Besiktas went ahead when a poor clearance enabled Ricardo Quaresma to fire in a low cross for Adriano to score from close range.
But the Serie A team were level after half an hour as Dries Mertens finished a fine move involving Marek Hamsik and Jose Callejon -- but within moments a terrible backpass allowed Vincent Aboubakar to run on and fire in off Pepe Reina to restore the visitors' lead.

Napoli missed a golden chance to equalise from the spot when Insigne had a penalty saved soon after half-time -- but when Napoli were awarded another after 69 minutes, substitute Manolo Gabbiadini made no mistake.

Gabbiadini thought he had found a winner when he fired home an overhead kick from close range, but the offside flag denied him -- and Besiktas snatched it when Aboubakar headed home Quaresma's free-kick close to full-time.

Paris Saint-Germain bounced back from a sluggish start to win 3-0 against Basel at the Parc des Princes.

The French champions twice came within a whisker of conceding the opening goal as first Michael Lang and then Seydou Doumbia hit the woodwork, with Doumbia also blazing a good chance over the top from close range.

They made their visitors pay for not taking those chances when Angel Di Maria lashed home after Edinson Cavani had laid the ball off to him.
Lucas Moura put the French champions into a comfortable lead when he seized on a poor clearance inside the area to slide home a low finish for the second, and Edinson Cavani rounded off a comfortable night from the penalty spot.

Atletico Madrid saw their perseverance pay off in a 1-0 victory away to Russian side Rostov.

Atleti made an early statement of intent as early as the second minute, with Rostov goalkeeper Dzhanaev parried a free-kick from Yannick Carrasco out to Angel Correa, whose effort from an angle flashed beyond the keeper but also past the far post.
Carrasco soon forced Dzhanaev to make another stop, but Atletico were becoming frustrated by their inability to break through and Sardar Azmoun tried his luck with a couple of speculative efforts for the Russian side.
But Atletico got the reward their dominance had deserved after 62 minutes when Carrasco smashed home a half-volley after Juanfran's cross.

Celtic defender Kolo Toure suffered an evening to forget as Borussia Monchengladbach won 2-0 in Glasgow.
A high-octane start from the home side brought Gladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer racing out of his area to clear a through ball as Moussa Dembele ran through. But Celtic counterpart Craig Gordon was soon into the action himself, stopping two Ibrahima Traore efforts and denying Jonas Hofmann.

Scott Sinclair could have given them the lead against the run of play when he fired over close to half-time, but Gladbah made a deserved breakthrough after half-time as Toure was caught out by Andre Hahn as he tried to usher the ball behind for a goal-kick and Lars Stindl lashed a low, angled shot through Craig Gordon at the near post.

And Toure's terrible pass enabled Hahn to race clear and prod a finish into the top corner under pressure from the defender.
Dynamo Kiev were left to rue a slow start as they lost 2-0 to Benfica at the NSK Olimpiyskyi

The visitors carried all the threat in the opening stages and were in front after only nine minutes when Eduardo Salvio scored from the spot after Vitorino Antunes had brought down Goncalo Guedes inside the area.

And the Portuguese side doubled their lead soon after the break when Franco Cervi slotted home at the second attempt after his first effort had ricocheted back to him off a teammate.

Read More »

Clash Of The (TITANS) - Liverpool Vs Manchester United Line-ups And Team News

Both teams make two changes with Marouane Fellaini and Ashley Young coming in for the visitors and Emre Can and Daniel Sturridge replacing Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana

Anthony Martial and Henrikh Mkhitaryan are not in Manchester United's squad to face Liverpool, while Wayne Rooney is on the bench again.

Marcus Rashford and Ashley Young start on the flanks, either side of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, with Marouane Fellaini anchoring Paul Pogba and Ander Herrera in midfield.

Daley Blind is preferred to Luke Shaw at left-back as Jose Mourinho makes two changes to his side.
For Liverpool, Adam Lallana has shaken off a groin problem to make the bench for Liverpool, but Georginio Wijnaldum sits out with a hamstring strain.

That means a first start of the season for Emre Can, while Philippe Coutinho will operate in a more central role with Roberto Firmino on the left and Daniel Sturridge, making his 100th appearance for the club, up front.

Dejan Lovren and Nathaniel Clyne are both in the starting XI after using the international break to overcome their respective niggles and Loris Karius keeps his place in goal.

Liverpool: Karius; Clyne, Lovren, Matip, Milner; Henderson; Mane, Can, Coutinho, Firmino; Sturridge.

Subs: Mignolet, Moreno, Klavan, Lucas, Grujic, Lallana, Origi.

Man Utd: De Gea; Valencia, Bailly, Smalling, Blind; Fellaini; Rashford, Herrera, Pogba, Young; Ibrahimovic.

Subs: Romero, Rojo, Shaw, Carrick, Lingard, Mata, Rooney.

Read More »

Scholes backing Liverpool to beat Manchester United

Former Red Devils midfielder feels his old club are lacking an identity under their manager, who he says wasn't ruthless during the summer transfer window
Paul Scholes feels Liverpool are favourites to beat Manchester United in the Premier League and claims Jose Mourinho has not been ruthless enough early in his Old Trafford tenure.

Liverpool better than envious Man Utd

The two fierce rivals clash at Anfield on Monday, with seventh-placed United three points and three places back from Liverpool after an inconsistent start to their campaign under the Portuguese.

The Reds meanwhile have impressed so far in what is Jurgen Klopp's first full season in charge, prompting United great Scholes to grudgingly endorse the Red Devils' arch-rivals.
"If you were betting, you would be betting on Liverpool," he told BBC Sport.

Liverpool & Man Utd combined XI

United have spent big to re-sign Paul Pogba from Juventus, with Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Eric Bailly and Zlatan Ibrahimovic also arriving at Old Trafford.

But Scholes believes Mourinho is still searching for his preferred starting line-up.
"He was not ruthless enough in the off season," the former England international said.

"There is so much confusion about who should play.

Klopp: Mourinho past it? It’s bull****!

"What I saw of Mourinho at Chelsea, he had 13 or 14 players who played every week. He never rested players, even in the League Cup or whatever competition he was in.
"With United it is still a settling-in period - it is going to take a bit of time for them to knit together and see what they are about.
"Is there an identity to the team yet? I don't think there is."

"You can see Jurgen Klopp has stamped his way of playing football on the team," he said.

"There is a definite way about them. You know how they are going to play. They are going to be quick, they are going to try to take the ball off you and try to score goals by flooding the box.

"I was worried about them defensively - but they have already played some of the big teams and they are a real threat.
"The form they are in, they look as good as any team in the league."

Read More »

Mikel Obi, Iheanacho And Mahrez Make 30-man Shortlist For African Player Of The Year

The Confederation of African Football (CAF), have announced 30 players who are up for the African Player of the Year award.

Four-time winner Yaya Toure, who also made the final three last year is the obvious omission. But Andre Ayew, Islam Slimani, Mohamed Elneny, Victor Wanyama, John Obi Mikel, Kelechi Iheanacho, Ahmed Musa, Yannick Bolasie, Sadio Mane and Wahbi Khazri made the cut.

The current holder of the award, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is also included and is a strong favourite to win it for the second year running.

Nigerian strikers, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba and Chisom Chikatara of Wydad, are listed as two of 25 nominees for the African Player of the Year Based in Africa award.
The event will take place on January 5, 2017 in Abuja.

African Player of the Year

1. Riyad Mahrez (Algeria & Leicester City)
2. El Arabi Hillel Soudani (Algeria & Dinamo Zagreb)
3. Islam Slimani (Algeria & Leicester City)
4. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon & Antalyaspor)
5. Benjamin Mounkandjo (Cameroon & Lorient)
6. Serge Aurier (Cote d’Ivoire & PSG)
7. Eric Bailly (Cote d’Ivoire & Manchester City)
8. Yao Kouasi Gervais ‘Gervinho’ (Cote d’Ivoire & Hebei Fortune)
9. Mohamed Salah (Egypt & Roma)
10. Mohamed El Neny (Egypt & Arsenal)
11. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon & Dortmund)
12. Andre Ayew (Ghana & West Ham)
13. Victor Wanyama (Kenya & Tottenham)
14. William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club)
15. Mehdi Benatia (Morocco & Juventus)
16. Hakim Ziyech (Morocco & Ajax)
17. John Mikel Obi (Nigeria & Chelsea)
18. Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria & Manchester City)
19. Ahmed Musa (Nigeria & Leicester City)
20. Cedric Bakambu (DR Congo & Villareal)
21. Yannick Bolasie (DR Congo & Everton)
22. Sadio Mane (Senegal & Liverpool)
23. Kalidou Koulibaly (Senegal & Napoli)
24. Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
25. Itumeleng Khune (South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs)
26. Mbwana Samatta (Tanzania & Genk)
27. Aymen Abdennour Tunisia & Valencia)
28. Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia & Sunderland)
29. Dennis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
30. Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)

African Player of the Year – Based in Africa

1. Dennis Onyango (Uganda & Mamelodi Sundowns)
2. Itumeleng Khune (South Africa & Kaizer Chiefs)
3. Aymen Mathlouthi (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
4. Joel Kimwaki (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
5. Joyce Lomalisa (DR Congo & AS Vita)
6. Salif Coulibaly (Mali & TP Mazembe)
7. Ali Gabr (Egypt & Zamalek)
8. Keegan Dolly (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
9. Jackson Mwanza (Zambia & Zesco United)
10. Rainford Kalaba (Zambia & TP Mazembe)
11. Elia Meschak (DR Congo & TP Mazembe)
12. Aymen Hefny (Egypt & Zamalek)
13. Morgan Betorangal (Chad & MO Bejaia)
14. Hlompho Kekana (South Africa & Mamelodi Sundowns)
15. Hamza Lahmar (Tunisia & Etoile du Sahel)
16. Jesse Were (Kenya & Zesco United)
17. Idris Mbombo (DR Congo & Zesco United)
18. Chisom Chikatara (Nigeria & Wydad Athletic Club)
19. William Jebor (Liberia & Wydad Athletic Club)
20. Reda Hajhouj (Morocco & Wydad Athletic Club)
21. Fabrice Nguessi Ondama (Congo & Wydad Athletic Club)
22. Mfon Udon (Nigeria & Enyimba)
23. Bassem Morsi (Egypt & Zamalek)
24. Khama Billiat (Zimbabwe & Mamelodi Sundowns)
25. Yannick Zakri (Cote d’Ivoire & Mamelodi Sundowns)

Read More »

Breaking; Jurgen Klopp Wins Premier League Manager of The Month, As Henderson Bags Best Goal Award

Jurgen Klopp has won the Barclays Manager of the Month award after guiding Liverpool to maximum points in September, As Henderson grabs best goal of the Month Award.

The 49-year-old has become the first German to win the award in Premier League history after a run of three successive victories last month.

Klopp's men started September with a 4-1 victory over champions Leicester City at Anfield, before Jordan Henderson's Carling Goal of the Month secured a 2-1 win at Chelsea. The Reds then triumphed 5-1 in their home encounter with Hull City.

After receiving the award,
 Klopp said:

 "I went into the office of my coaches and said, 'We are Manager of the Month! I don't need personal prizes but it's nice now I have another one'.

"We are on a good way but there are so many good teams in this league and so many difficult games for us, which we have to be ready for. I'm fine with the moment, but we have to play a few more games and hopefully we perform well."

Klopp was the winner from a shortlist of five : Manchester City's Pep Guardiola, Crystal Palace's Alan Pardew, Tottenham Hotspur's Mauricio Pochettino and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

The winner was decided by a combination of votes from a panel of experts and the public. Hull City head coach Mike Phelan won August's award.

Jordan Henderson's spectacular strike at Stamford Bridge has been recognised as the Carling Goal of the Month for September.

The Liverpool captain's long-range effort in the

Reds' 2-1 victory over Chelsea last month topped a shortlist of eight goals after the votes of a panel of experts and the public, who picked their favourite via the Carling Tap and website, were combined.

"It's definitely one of the best goals I've scored, if not the best," Henderson said. "As soon as it left my boot really I thought I had a chance."

Read More »

Defender Echiejile Insists- Beating Zambia Will Be A Good Start For Super Eagles In The World Cup Qualifier

Elderson Echiejile has said that Nigeria must kick off their World Cup qualifier against Zambia on a winning note, saying that starting their campaign away from home reduces pressure on the team.

The Standard Liège left full back made coach Gernot Rohr’s squad for the trip to Ndola, as the Super Eagles battle the Chipolopolo at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Sunday.

“The fixture is a really good start for us. At least starting away is good because it takes off the pressure, so we will just go out there and get a good result,” Echiejile told postzambia

“If we start very well with the away game that will really be good for us.

“To be sincere it is not going to be easy. But with hard work, and commitment, and playing well as a team, it is going to be a positive result at the end.”

Read More »

Kelechi Iheanacho & Alex Iwobi Nominated For European Young Player Of The Year

Sterling performances by Nigerian youngsters, Kelechi Iheanacho and Alex Iwobi has earned the duo nominations for the 2016 European Golden Boy awards.

Kelechi Iheanacho of Manchester City, Alex Iwobi of Arsenal, Marcus Rashford of Manchester United, and Dele Alli of Tottenham Hotspur are among the 40 nominees for the 2016 Golden Boy award, run by the Italian newspaper, Tuttosport and awarded to Europe’s most impressive footballer under the age of 21.
The award, founded in 2003, relates to performances across a particular calendar year, with the winner decided by a panel of 30 journalists.
Lionel Messi, Sergio Aguero, Paul Pogba, and Raheem Sterling are past winners, while Manchester United’s Anthony Martial claimed the prize last year.
Iheanacho’s Manchester City are currently flying high this season, and are yet to lose a game with the 19-year-old already contributing goals for the Citizens both in the Premier League and in the Champions League.
Iwobi’s Arsenal have also had great shows in recent weeks, having started the season with a home loss to Liverpool. The Nigerian international returned from injury to reclaim his spot as a first team regular for the Gunners.

The list in full:-

Dele Alli (Tottenham), Marco Asensio (Real Madrid), Leon Bailey (Genk), Riechedly Bazoer (Ajax), Gabriel Boschilia (Monaco), Julian B.randt (Bayer Leverkusen), Carlos Fernandez (Sevilla), Andreas Christensen (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Kingsley Coman (Bayern Munich), Ante Coric (Dinamo Zagreb), Amadou Diawara (Napoli), Mahmoud Dahoud (Borussia Mönchengladbach), Danilo Barbosa (Benfica), Moussa Dembélé (Celtic), Ousmane Dembélé (Dortmund), Gianluigi Donnarumma (Milan), Breel Embolo (Schalke), Gabriel Barbosa (Internazionale), Aleksandr Golovin (CSKA Moscow), Goncalo Guedes (Benfica), Demarai Gray (Leicester), Marko Grujic (Liverpool), Alen Halilovic (Hamburg), Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City), Alex Iwobi (Arsenal), Viktor Kovalenko (Shakhtar Donetsk), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea), Lucas Hernández (Atlético Madrid), Emanuel Mammana (Lyon), Nathan (Vitesse), Olivier Ntcham (Genoa), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Renato Sanches (Bayern Munich), Jairo Riedewald (Ajax), Rúben Neves (Porto), Tonny Sanabria (Real Betis), Leroy Sané (Manchester City), Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen), Youri Tielemans (Anderlecht), Almamy Touré (Monaco).

Read More »

Facing Sack, England Boss Sam Allardyce Is Deeply Embarrassed By Scandal That Could Cost His Job

England manager Sam Allardyce is “deeply embarrassed” after he was secretly filmed discussing the possibility of circumventing FA rules on third-party ownership and mocking predecessor Roy Hodgson, according to Sky sources.

A report in The Daily Telegraph claims Allardyce told undercover reporters posing as businessmen it was possible to “get around” the FA rule, which was introduced in 2008, while also criticising Hodgson, calling Prince Harry “a very naughty boy” and accusing the FA of being “all about making money”.

Sky Sports News understands the 61-year-old, who left his home in Bolton at around 7am on Tuesday morning ahead of meetings at Wembley to consider his future, intends to apologise at the earliest opportunity to Hodgson, but believes that his comments, while ill-advised, were not corrupt, as suggested by the newspaper.

An FA insider has admitted to Sky Sports News that Allardyce displayed “poor judgement” in his words, but added there was disbelief at the governing body that the investigation has come so early in Allardyce’s England career.

Read More »

Liverpool Will Win The Premier League, Star Player Insists

Nathaniel Clyne insists Liverpool are capable of challenging for the title after their promising start to the season.

Jurgen Klopp’s side are sixth with 10 points from their opening five games after picking up away wins at Arsenal and Chelsea and a 4-1 victory against the Premier League champions Leicester at Anfield.
Liverpool, who also secured a point against Tottenham at White Hart Lane, have impressed with their free-flowing attacking performances despite a challenging start to the campaign.

And Clyne, speaking in an exclusive interview for
Soccer Saturday , thinks Liverpool have the squad to challenge for top spot this season.
When asked if Liverpool can win the title, the England defender said: “I don’t see why not. We’ve got the squad of players to fight for the title.
“If we keep playing how we are then hopefully we can be in amongst it at the end of the season.”

Read More »

After 6 Goals In 10 Years, Mikel Obi Says He Wants To Be The Highest Goalscorer In EPL This Season

Chelsea and Nigeria midfielder John Obi Mikel wants to be the top scorer in the English Premier League this season. Yesterday marked the third year he scored his first goal in the EPL when he hit target in the 84th minute in Chelsea’s 2-0 win over Fulham.
The Nigeria captain took to his Twitter to reminisce about his maiden goal, tweeting :

“Three years ago today…my first @ChelseaFC PL goal in the West London derby. Now for the Golden Boot .

Read More »

Billionaire Nigerian Businessman Aliko Dangote Plans To Buy Arsenal F.C. In 4 Years

Aliko Dangote, Africa/Nigeria’s richest man, has clearly re-stated his plans to buy London-based professional football club ‘Arsenal’ , in four years time. In an interview with Bloomberg TV in New York on Wednesday, Dangote stated that there’s no doubt he’ll buy Arsenal and it’s not a problem of money.
Dangote, reportedly worth around £8.3billion, announced his intention to buy Arsenal last year. But his business prospects needs to improve and investments in gas pipelines/oil refinery have to to pay off before making the expensive acquisition.

“It’s not about buying Arsenal and just continuing with business as usual,” he said. “It’s about buying Arsenal and turning it around. I’ve run a very successful business and I think I can also run a very successful team. Right now, with what we’re facing, over $20 billion of projects, I cannot do both.”

“Maybe three to four years. The issue is that we have more challenging headwinds. I need to get those out the way first and start having tailwinds. Then I’ll focus on this.”

Read More »

Barclays Premier League Table: Updated EPL 2016 Review After Week Five (5) Results

Premier League on Friday, as the Anfield giants flexed their muscle on their travels to the capital.
Dejan Lovren gave the Reds a precious lead in west London,

Read More »