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Didier Drogba confirms retirement from football

Former Chelsea forward, Didier Drogba has announced his retirement from football calling time on an illustrious 20-year career. The ivorian who had been lacing his boots for US-based began his career at French side Le Mans in 1998, but did not play top-tier football until he was 23 when he was signed by Guingamp in 2002.
He moved to Olympique de Marseille and Chelsea in 2003 and 2004 respectively.   He made more than 100 appearances for the Ivory Coast and was voted African footballer of the year twice. Speaking on his retirement, the 40 year-old told BBC.
“It’s the best way to end, helping some young talent to develop. To give something back to the game was the best way to finish as I have learned so much in the game.”
He also a picture of him as a youngster on his instagram page with a farewell message.

 He said: “When I think of the last 20 years of my professional career, looking at this picture cant make me more proud of what I’ve achieved as a player but most importantly how this journey has shaped me as a man.

“If anyone tells you your dreams are too big, just say thank you and work harder and smarter to turn them into reality. “I wanna thank all the players, managers, teams and fans that I have met and made this journey one of a kind!!! “Also a huuuuge thank you and love to my family, my personal team for supporting me all my career during the ups and downs no matter what.
He was the first player to score 100 Premier League goals, the first player to score in four separate FA Cup finals. He retires with 19 career trophies in 679 games, scored 367goals, had 105 caps.

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Super Eagles qualify for 2019 AFCON after holding Bafana Bafana

Nigeria’s Super Eagles have booked a ticket to the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations after a 1-1 draw with the Bafana Bafana of South Africa at the FNB Stadium on Saturday.
The team qualifies for #AFCON2019 with a game to spare after failing to qualify on two occasions.
The Africa Champions took an early lead via an own goal from South Africa’s Buhle Mkhwanazi in the ninth minute of the game, South Africa’s Lebo Mothiba however levelled the score in the 26th minutes of the match.
Nigeria still tops group E with 10 points while South Africa come behind with nine points. Libya are placed third with seven points after beating Seychelles 8-1 on Saturday in Victoria.

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Premier League clubs agree to introduce VAR from next season.

Premier League clubs have agreed to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) from the 2019/2020 season. The decision was reached at a shareholders’ meeting on November 15, 2018, where clubs were provided with an update on the non-live VAR trials being undertaken by the League and Professional Game Match Officials (PGMOL) this season.
It is not unlikely that the successful implementation of the technology at the World Cupin Russia, contributed to its approval in Premier League club next season. The VAR was already in use in the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, EPL will now join other top leagues across Europe that is adopting the use of the technology.
The League will now formally make a request to the International Football Association Board and FIFA to use VAR next season.

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UEFA to introduce a third European club competition.

UEFA is set to introduce a third European club competition alongside the Champions League and Europa League from 2021.
This was confirmed by President Andrea Agnelli in an opening address at the ECA’s biannual general meeting in Split on Tuesday.
“Pending approval of the Uefa executive committee, the green light has been given to introduce a third competition, bringing the overall number of clubs to 96, as of the 2021/22 season.”
This means the Europa League’s group stage would be reduced from 48 teams to 32, with the new competition and Champions League  all having the same number.
In recent, weeks, Uefa has said it is “constantly reviewing” its competitions and has been “discussing various ideas within its Club Competitions Committee before any decision on potential changes would be made”.
Details on the rules, format and the teams going to be involved in the new competition are sketchy at the moment.

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NFF bans and fines Salisu Yusuf for taking bribe

The Nigeria Football Federation have handed Salisu Yusuf a year ban from all football activities and fined him $5000 after he was found guilty of receiving a bribe to select players.
The Super Eagles assistant coach was filmed collecting $1000 by undercover journalists posing as agents. Following thorough investigation into the incident, the country’s football governing body directed the 56 year-old to pay a fine of $5,000 to the Federation within three months, and asked him to stay away from football-related activities.
“The NFF Committee on Ethics and Fair Play have placed a one–year ban from all football-related activities on Super Eagles’ Chief Coach, Mr. Salisu Yusuf.”

“Following its consideration of a complaint by the NFF as well as the Coach’s defence of a video documentary in which he was seen to accept the sum of $1,000 from an undercover reporter posing as a player’s agent. The coach must also pay a fine in the sum of $5,000 to the Federation within three months.” A statement from the NFF Ethics Committee read.

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Lionel Messi omitted from 2018 Fifa's men's player of the year award

For the first time in 11 years, Argentina/Barcelona talisman, Lionel Messi was omitted from The Best FIFA Men’s Player Award. The 2018 shortlist which was revealed by FIFA today features Juventus new signing, Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s Luka Modrić and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah.

The Egyptian was last season’s Premier League top scorer, netting 44 goals in 52 games for the Reds last season,  Ronaldo who moved to Italian side, Juventus in the summer was last campaign’s Champions League top scorer and also clinched the CL trophy with his former team, ball, Modric helped Luka Modric helped Real Madrid to clinch their third consecutive European Cup and also inspired his national side, Croatia to the final of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

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Photos: Amokachi, Siasia, Eguavoen, others feature in novelty match

The doors of the Enyimba International Stadium in Aba in September were thrown open on Sunday August 26, 2018 with a novelty match between Ex-Enyimba players & 1998 Super Eagles squad. The match which was captained by Uche Okechukwu, had in attendance, the likes of Ike Shorunmu, Austin Eguavoen, Taribo West, Dan Amokachi, Samson Siasia, Tijani Babangida, Mutiu Adepoju, Garba Lawal to mention a few









Gov Okezie Ikpeazu (he plays football every weekend) took the ceremonial kick-off after which both sides traded tackles. It was highly entertaining & the ex Eagles still had moves. The game ended 1-0 in favour of ex Enyimba Stars.



The fully refurbished, 20,000 seating capacity stadium  is now awaiting re-certification by NFF and CAF to resume hosting NPLF and CAF matches. It was reconstructed by an indigenous Sports Company Monimichelle Sports Nig Ltd with Ebi Egbe from Bayelsa State as CEO. He renovated Sampson Siasia Stadium, Yenagoa.
 
Credit: www.twitter.com/hartng

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Photos: George Weah honours Wenger and Claude LeRoy


Today, the President of Liberia, George Weah bestowed the nation’s highest honor to his two former football coaches; Arsene Wenger and Claude LeRoy. They were named the Knight Grand High Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption.

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Arsene Wenger in Liberia to receive country's top honour

Ex-Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger arrived Liberia today where he’s due to get the nation’s highest honour. The Frenchman was George Weah‘s first European football coach, who brought him to Monaco in 1988.
 George Weah who was elected President of Liberia months ago had always spoken of Wenger in glowing terms, because of his impact in bringing him to Europe, where he laced his boot for Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan, and became Fifa World Player of the Year in 1995. He retired from football in 2003 and went into politics.

 
On Friday, 23rd August, 2018, Wenger will be given the title of Knight Grand Commander of the Humane Order of African Redemption in recognition, at a investiture ceremony in Monrovia for his “contribution to sports in Africa” and work in giving “many Africans opportunities”.



“I remember when I saw him the first time at Monaco, coming in a bit lost, not knowing anybody, not being rated by anybody as a player and becoming the best player in the world in 1995 and today becoming the president of his country. The life of this guy is a real film. It is unbelievable. It can make a fantastic film.” Wenger said in January.


Additional report: www.standard.co.uk

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Nigeria escape FIFA ban

FIFA have confirmed that the legitimate leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) under President Amaju Melvin Pinnick has been given back effective control of the NFF and its offices and thus, they will no longer suspend Nigeria.
Recall that the governing body said if the NFF offices are not handed back to the legitimate President Amaju Pinnick on August 20, the NFF will be suspended with immediate effect for contravening articles of FIFA statutes. The Federal Government stepped into the case and wrote to FIFA on Saturday agreeing, amongst other things, to allow football to be run on FIFA Statutes and to expedite passage of NFF Bill.
Here’s a statement from FIFA.
“Following the decision of the Bureau of FIFA Council of Aug 13 concerning NFF, FIFA received confirmations that the legitimate leadership of the NFF under President Amaju Pinnick & Mohammed Sanusi has been given back effective control of NFF & its offices. In view of these circumstances, FIFA deems that the conditions set by the decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council have now been met and consequently the suspension of NFF will not take effect. FIFA will continue to closely monitor the situation in order to ensure that FIFA’s rules and regulations are fully adhered to.”

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