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5 more years! Odion Ighalo signs new contract with Watford FC

Two months after turning down
a £38m offer from Chinese club, Shanghai SIPG, Nigerian striker, Odion Ighalo has committed his future to Watford FC.  The Super Eagles forward signed a 5
year-deal with the English club today. The 27 year-old scored 17 goals in 42 appearances in the
2015/2016 Premier League campaign. 

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New Argentina coach meets with Messi but Maradona thinks he won't rescind retirement decision.

Photo published for Sacchi says Messi no Maradona
While the
football world is prevailing on Lionel Messi to rescind his decision to retire
from the Argentina National team, fellow compatriot, Diego Maradona doesn’t see
that happening. The phenomenal striker announced his retirement from international duty in June 2016 after missing a crucial penalty causing his country to lose to Chile in
the Copa America; their third major final defeat in many years.
Former Sao Paulo manager Edgardo Bauza, who replaced Gerardo Martino as
the country’s head coach met with the football star in Spain to discuss his
future but details on what went down is yet to gain traction.
The 5-time Ballon d’Or winner openly criticised the Argentina Football
Federation days after calling time on his international career and Maradona
thinks the governing body has made matters worse.
The former captain told Radio La Red “I think Messi is going to say no
to Bauza. This is my thinking. Maybe I’m wrong.”
He continued, “We are very bad. We run the risk of not
going to Qatar. I’ve never seen such weak leadership. What
happened with Messi exposes what’s been going on for a lifetime.  How is
it that the families of the [AFA] leaders are more comfortable than the
players?”

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Gernot Rohr confirmed as Super Eagles’ new technical adviser

Photo published for BREAKING News: NFF confirms Gernot Rohr as the new Technical adviser of the Super Eagles
German manager, Gernot Rohr has penned a 2-year deal to become the new technical adviser of the Super Eagles of Nigeria. Rohr’s focus is to ensure that Nigeria secures qualification to the 2018 World Cup coming up in Russia. NFF committee vice-chairman Ahmed Yusuf
Fresh expressed satisfaction with the candidate.

“The committee was impressed with Mr.
Rohr’s profile and current activities for the German Football Federation (DFB),
so we invited him to Nigeria for exhaustive deliberations. “He was very
positive, showed great interest in the job and is ready and willing to live in
Nigeria. 


He is also willing to work with indigenous Nigerian coaches and with
the committee and believes the Super Eagles can qualify for the 2018 FIFA World
Cup, which is very important to the NFF. He swayed the committee with his
calmness, good knowledge of the African terrain, focus and maturity.” Fresh said   

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Pelé's visit to Nigeria postponed.

Brazilian football legend, Pelé’s visit to Nigeria has been postponed due to ill health, organisers have revealed. 
The Winihin Jemide Series and the Youth Experience Days Africa had planned to bring the soccer icon to the most populous country in Africa for the Legend Edition on August 11-12 but he wouldn’t be able to make it as he is down with an undisclosed ailment.

“The Winihin Jemide Series & Youth Experience Days Africa have both chosen to postpone the 2016 WJS/YEDA LEGEND EDITION with Pelé due to reports of his ill health on Friday 5th, 2016. “We are sorry that we have to disappoint the many Pelé fans and Legend Edition supporters at this time, who were looking forward to this event. As we pray for his speedy and full recovery, we believe that it would be inconsiderate for us to put his health at risk.

“Our ticketing platforms will be offering a full refund on all tickets purchased and new dates for the event will be announced over the course of the next few weeks. We hope the new dates are suitable for everyone.
“The decision to postpone the event did not come easily and we want to express gratitude to sponsors and stakeholders.” read a statement from the organisers.
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Barcelona Vice-President hits out at UEFA over Messi and Suarez award snub

Barcelona
Vice-President, Jordi Mestre has expressed his disappointment at UEFA for
snubbing two of the club’s key players, Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the
2016 European Player of the Year award list. The duo who played key roles in
the Blaugrana’s La Liga an Copa del Rey victories last season were placed
fourth and fifth in the poll. Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale and Antoine
Griezmann emerged the top three nominees.
Mestre in an
interview on TV3 described the omission as scandalous: “It doesn’t seem the right
decision to me at all. I don’t know what criteria UEFA applied, with all
respect to the chosen winners, but I disagree [with the choices]. That our
players aren’t there, such as Suarez or Messi, is scandalous. The club are very
disappointed and angry.” He said.

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Jose Mourinho proud of Man United's world record transfer fee for Paul Pogba

Newly-signed Manchester United player, Paul Pogba’s world
record transfer fee has raised not a few eyebrows but Jose Mourinho doesn’t
care whose ox is gored. The former Juventus player was reportedly snapped for
around $116 million surpassing the current transfer record of $112.2 million
Real Madrid paid Tottenham for Gareth Bale 3 years ago. The 23 year-old midfielder has flown into
Manchester for his medical and should be unveiled in the coming days.
The former Chelsea manager has however hailed his employers’ spectacular signing.
“No, I don’t think Real Madrid was upset when they broke
the record with Gareth Bale or when they broke the record with Cristiano Ronaldo,
I think that was a world record too. When other people break records, I don’t
think it’s a reason to be sad. I think it’s a reason to be proud with the
dimension of the club that can do that and can attract players of this
dimension.

“If you ask if I think it is a lot of money, I think
football is crazy, the market has become crazy. What you think this season is
crazy, you realise that three years later it’s not crazy any more. And I think
there are players that cost ten million that are super expensive because there
are players who are four hundred or five hundred thousand or one million. What
is expensive and what is not expensive in football, I don’t know any more. I
just know that he’s a big player that is going for sure to be important for a
big club like Man United. And I’m sure that every Man United fan around the
world will be proud to belong to such a big club.”
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Thomas Vermaelen joins Roma

Roma have completed the signing of defender, Thommas Vermaelen on a season-long loan from Barcelona. The injury-plagued Belgian centre back who left Arsenal for Spain in the summer of 2014, made 21 appearances for the Spanish giants and netted once in the process.  

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Rio 2016 : Nigerian footballers' plane too small, to arrive Japan late.

Nigeria’s Olympic football team will arrive in Japan hours before the opening Rio 2016 match owing to flight hiccups. The players complained about the size of the plane which was meant to convey them to the venue. Arrangements have however been made for them to leave on a bigger plane and arrive in time for kick-off against Japan.
“The players were uncomfortable with the size of the plane. The Government had to step in. The players have been assured of adequate medical care on the plane. It’s been challenging but most importantly we will be ready for the first game.” Team media officer Timi Ebikagboro told BBC Sport.
This embarrassing development is coming few days after players were stranded in Atlantic over flight payment.
“The money paid by the sports ministry for the charter flight did not hit airline’s account on Tuesday so they refused to fly the team to Brazil,” a source close to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) revealed.
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Ahmed Musa scores twice as Leicester City lose to Barcelona

Nigeria international, Ahmed Musa came off the bench at half time to score a brace as Spanish Champions, Barcelona beat Leicester City 4-2 at the 2016 International Champions Cup match held last night in Stockholm. The 23 year-old was the star of the match and his sterling display during the match didn’t only earn him accolades but also dominated discourse on social media yesterday. The Super Eagles player joined the Foxes from CSKA Moscow in the summer.
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Barcelona legend, Xavi donates yacht to NGO

Barcelona legend, Xavi Hernández has donated his yacht to Proactiva Open Arms (POA), a Spanish NGO dedicated to saving lives in the sea. Funds from the yacht which will be sold at a public auction will be used to help the refugees escaping from their native countries by boat.

“The Soccer Player Xavi Hernández Collaborates with Proactiva Open Arms with the donation of a recreational craft to be auctioned in the near future. Hew as introduced to our work a while ago and decided to donate his yacht to obtain more resources in order to ensure the permanence of the mission.
Thank you, Xavi, gestures like yours, will save many lives” POA wrote on Facebook.
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