From 60th position in the previous ranking to 50th, the Super Eagles of Nigeria have moved up ten spots in the latest FIFA rankings for the month of October released today, Thursday, November 24, 2016 world soccer governing body. The reason for this impressive rise in the rankings isn’t far-fetched, the Gernot Rohr-led team have recorded two crucial wins in the past couple of months.
three victories from his first three games as coach. In early October, they defeated Zambia 2-1 to pick up their first ever away win against the Chipolopolo in the 2018 World Cup Qualifier and just few weeks ago, they consolidated their leadership of their 2018 World Cup qualifying group after thrashing Algeria 3-1 in Uyo.
Spanish court calls for 2-year prison sentence for Neymar
A Spanish public prosecutor, Jose Perals has called for Barcelona player Neymar to be handed 2-year prison sentence following his involvement in a corruption case over his transfer from Brazilian club Santos to the Liga champions in 2013. The judge also wants former Barca president Sandro Rosel jailed for 5 years and Barca fined 8.4 million euros ($8.9 million).
The Brazilian became enmeshed in a corruption scandal after a Brazilian investment group, DIS, which owned 40 percent of Brazil forward Neymar’s transfer rights alleged it received less money than it was entitled to as Barca concealed the real transfer fee. Jose Barral, chairman of Sonda, umbrella group for DIS, wants Barca to pay compensation while Neymar be banned from playing during the trial.
These Barca players and tax evasion/corruption cases though.
Didier Drogba to leave Montreal Impact at the end of the season.
Didier Drogba has confirmed he will leave Montreal Impact at the end of the season. He’s played in his last home game against Toronto FC few days ago, he was cheered in the 71st minute of the game and given a special farewell tribute on the field after the match. In 18 months, the Ivorian has scored 22 goals and provided 4 assists in 32 games for the MLS club.
“My contract ends at the end of the season and I won’t be returning. I want to end things well, out of respect for everything the people here, the city, have given me. I was disappointed with the result, but we will do everything to qualify to the final. I don’t think the adventure will end in Toronto.” Drogba announced.
He continued, “I had one and a half years of good emotions. I think we made history. And when I came I here for the first time, last season we played against Columbus in the semifinal and this year we’re in the conference final, so it’s a good progress. I’m quite happy with the way things are going and I think I kind of reached the target, but there’s still more work to do. There’s still 90 minutes to play and a lot of things will happen in those 90 minutes. I hope we’re going to be happy by the end of it.”
Monreal Impact captain Patrice Bernier, also paid tribute to the Chelsea legend. “Didier brought so much on the field, off the field, with his leadership and experience and he brought a human factor as well. It was great to get to know him more. I was happy the club honored him after the game. But it’s not over yet — there’s still one or maybe two games to play.”
The Premier League great hasn’t revealed his next destination but there are indications he will be making a return to Stamford Bridge. Goodluck Drogba!
Five-man shortlist for 2016 African Player of the Year unveiled.
The Confedration of African football, CAF have released their top 5 candidates for the African Player Of The Year Award.
Meet the five-man shortlist.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – Gabon/Dortmund
Riyad Mahrez – Algeria/Leicester City
Sadio Mane – Senegal/Liverpool
Mohamed Salah – Egypt/AS Roma
Islam Slimani – Algeria/Leicester City
Zlatan Ibrahimovic named Sweden's best player for the 10th time in a row.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has been named Swedish Footballer of the Year for the 11th time in 12 years. The Swedish Football Association have announced plans to immortalize one of their greats by erecting a statue in his honour at outside the Friends Arena – the country’s national stadium located at the Swedish capital of Stockholm. The Red Devils striker who called time on his international career after the Euro 2016 has scored 62 goals in 116 games for his country was presented with the Golden Ball prize and a miniature replica of the statue.
Reacting to the honour, the former PSG forward said,
After 20 years of hard work I got a statue in the capital city of Sweden. Who else.
Super proud, happy, emotional, wow and thank you Sweden.
Meanwhile, David Beckham in a video message described the 35 year-old as one of the greatest players whose physique, passion and love for the game hasn’t changed.
“He’s still one of the greatest players that has ever played the game – one of the reasons why I’m happy he is now playing at Manchester United, my team. Thanks for that, Zlatan.” Beckham added.
FIFA Puskas Award 2016 contenders revealed!
The nominees for the 2016 edition of the FIFA Puskas Award has been revealed. Established on 20 October 2009, to award the best goal or the most beautiful goal of the year. Organizers whittled down thousands of goals from around the world between 30 September 2015 and 30 September 2016 down to just ten.
Nominees include:
Mario Gaspar – 13/11/2015, Spain v England, friendly (Alicante)
Hlompho Kekana – 26/03/2016, Cameroon v South Africa, Africa Cup of Nations qualifier (Limbe, Cameroon)
Marlone – 21/04/2016, Corinthians v Cobresal, Copa Libertadores (São Paulo)
Lionel Messi – 21/06/2016, USA v Argentina, Copa América semi-finals (Houston)
Neymar – 08/11/2015, Barcelona v Villarreal, La Liga (Nou Camp)
Saúl Ñíguez – 27/04/2016, Atlético Madrid v Bayern Munich, Champions League (Vicente Calderón)
Hal Robson-Kanu – 01/07/2016, Wales v Belgium, Euro 2016 (Lille)
Daniuska Rodríguez – 14/03/2016, Venezuela v Colombia, South American Under-17s Womens’ Football Championship (Barquisimeto, Venezuela)
Simon Skrabb – 31/10/2015, Gefle v Atvidaberg, Allsvenskan league, Sweden
Mohd Faiz Subri – 16/02/2016, Penang v Pahang, Malaysia Super League
The top 3 goals would be unveiled on 2 December.
Courtois reportedly earns £98,000 per save for Chelsea
Chelsea goalkeeper, Thibaut Courtois has reportedly been earning more than £90,000 per save for The Blues this season.
No goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets than the 24 year-old in Europe’s top 5 leagues this season. The Belgian footballer who rakes in £120,000 a week, has been very instrumental in Antonio Conte’s side’s run of six wins and six clean sheets in a row in their last 6 EPL games.
Courtois has faced a combined total of 17 shots in the premier league this season.
Source: Goal.com
Ultimate Team Of The Year: Meet UEFA's All-Time XI
UEFA today unveiled their all-time XI as the Team of the Year 2016 vote launches today!
The football governing body also explained why the select footballers made it to the team.
Meet the nominees!
Iker Casillas (Goalkeeper) – Real Madrid/Porto & Spain
Spain’s captain at UEFA EURO 2008 and 2012 also lifted the 2010 FIFA World Cup – three of the six times he made it into Team of the Year. Manuel Neuer and Gianluigi Buffon (three selections each) are his main (albeit distant) rivals for the No 1 shirt.
Carles Puyol (Defender) – Barcelona & Spain
Enjoyed a golden run from 2005 onwards, winning the UEFA Champions League with Barça in 2006, 2009 and 2011, and UEFA EURO 2008 and the 2010 World Cup as cornerstone of his country’s defence.
Philipp Lahm (Defender) – Bayern München & Germany
One of Europe’s most consistent performers of the past decade, Lahm’s run of three successive Team of the Year appearances came to an end in 2015.
Sergio Ramos (Defender)– Real Madrid & Spain
Four selections in a row are a measure of the Real Madrid man’s standing, the defender having earlier been rewarded for his role in helping Spain to UEFA EURO 2008 glory.
Gerard Piqué (Defender) – Barcelona & Spain
One of four defenders to have been chosen four times along with Alessandro Nesta, Daniel Alves and John Terry, Piqué squeezes into the XI on a tie-breaker by virtue of having been nominated seven times – while his three rivals received only six nominations each.
Xavi Hernández (midfielder)– Barcelona & Spain
A contender in 2005, it was not until his second involvement in 2008 that Xavi made the cut – then there was no dislodging him as unprecedented success with club and country kept him in the side for five years running.
Andrés Iniesta (midfielder) – Barcelona & Spain
Like midfield partner Xavi, once he forced his way into the Team of the Year Iniesta proved impossible to remove until 2013, but returned in splendour in 2015.
Steven Gerrard (midfielder) – Liverpool & England
One of five midfielders to have been selected three times, seven nominations were key to taking the Liverpool talisman into the ultimate XI at the expense of Kaká (five nominations), Ronaldinho (four), Pavel Nedvěd (three) and Zinédine Zidane (three).
Cristiano Ronaldo (forward) – Manchester United/Real Madrid & Portugal
Nominated a record 13 times, the Portuguese phenomenon has been included in the Team of the Year no fewer than ten occasions, three more than any other player. The 2015 team marked his ninth appearance in a row.
Lionel Messi (forward) – Barcelona & Argentina
Like Ronaldo, Messi was initially categorised as a midfielder – collecting the first of ten successive nominations in 2006 – and has missed out on the Team of the Year just once, in 2013, since his 2008 debut.
Thierry Henry (forward) – Arsenal & France
Nominated for the first six editions, Henry’s consistency was such that he got into the final selection no fewer than five times, including the first four – the only player to achieve that.
Source
Footballer, Harrison Chinedu breaks record of longest distance covered with ball on head while cycling
Cambodia based Nigerian footballer, Harrison Chinedu who holds the world record of walking the longest distance of 48.04 kilometres in 6 hours, 15 minutes with a ball on his head has successfully set another Guinness World Record again.
He recorded another feat today Sunday 20th November 2016 Chinedu Harrison after he travelled with a ball balanced on his head while riding a Bicycle from La Campaigne Tropicana Ibeju Lekki to National Stadium Surulere. Lagos Nigeria.
He kicked off 7am, cycled 103.621km and arrived at his destination few hours ago.
Trailblazer!
Fifa President, Gianni Infantino proposes 32-team World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has pitched sweeping changes to the World Cup.
The football administrator suggests that the tournament could expand to a 32-team tournament and be played in June rather than December adding that a revamped club competition could kick off in 2019. Having the team expanded would create more balance and attract broadcasters and sponsors, he affirmed.
The Swiss’ proposition fuels speculation that China wants to host more international football as part of their plans to invest in sports.