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Entertainment, Sports

AAG: Nigeria Drawn with Ghana, Egypt and Senegal

Nigeria’s dream team VI was drawn in what has already been tagged the ‘group of death’ for the fast approaching All Africa Games.
Samson Siasia’s team was drawn in Group B where they will be facing two-time champions Egypt, Ghana and Senegal.
The draws took place yesterday at the CAF headquarters in Cairo, Egypt with General Secretary of CAF, Hicham El Amrani in charge.
While reacting to the draws, the coach of the team, Samson Siasia dismissed any notion of fear and emphasises on continual hardwork.

“we have been zoned in a difficult group but if you want to emerge champion of any tournament, you can’t avoid the strong teams in the competition” Siasia said.
The All Africa Games is scheduled to hold between September 3-18 in Congo Brazzaville.
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Entertainment, Sports

Wayne Rooney expecting third child

England and Manchester United captain, Wayne Rooney is expecting his third child.
The football star made the announcement online alongside his heartthrob, Coleen Rooney.
The couple married in 2008 and already have two sons – Kai and Klay. It appears the field of play isn’t the only place Rooney can score goals.
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Entertainment, Sports

Darmian to Manchester United, Vidal to Madrid and other transfer gists.

All seems set for Italian right back, Matteo Darmian to complete a €20M move to Manchester United.  Torino manager, Giampero Ventura affirmed this in a statement to Sky Sports Italia. 

“Matteo Darmian will play for Manchester United, it’s a dream for him” Ventura said.

General manager of Juventus, Beppe Marotta, has dismissed talks of Arturo Vidal moving to Real Madrid.  Marotta termed the talks ‘utopic’ while also reiterating that Paul Pogba will not be sold. 

“there have been rumors about Arturo and we have a relationship with Real so these rumors are utopic””at the same time, I think we’ve already said enough about Pogba. Juventus do not deprive themselves of their most important players”.

The news of Robin Van Persie moving to Fenerbahce gathered momentum as their Nigerian striker, Emmanuel Emenike is close to signing a loan deal with Qatari club, Al Alin. The club is confident of landing Van Persie to replace Emenike.
Yohan Cabaye might be switching sides this summer as PSG has agreed price deal with Crystal Palace and he is about to undergo a medical test.
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Entertainment, Sports

Done deal! Sunday Oliseh is Super Eagles manager-in-waiting.

The Nigeria Football Federation are currently in talks with ex Super Eagles captain, Sunday Oliseh to become the Head Coach of the men’s national team. Recall that the managerial position became available few days back after ex coach, Stephen Keshi was fired for breaching some terms of his contract.
Sunday Oliseh met with NFF President Amaju Pinnick in London on Tuesday and right now negotiations have reached advanced stage. Confirming the news, Felix Anyansi-Agwu, chairman of the NFF Technical and Development Committee said, “An offer has been made, and there is understanding, but we have to work out the final details of the agreement in a few days. Of course, the Executive Board has to give approval for his appointment based on the final terms to be agreed.”
Oliseh will come with a Foreign Technical Assistant, whose job description will centre around development programmes, and who will work with Clubs’ Youth Teams and certified Academies towards developing the game from the grassroots.
According to nff.com, Oliseh is expected to come up with a five –year developmental plan to fashion a unique playing and coaching philosophy for all the National Teams, and will for this purpose, interface regularly with coaches of those teams.
“We are also looking at how he will periodically organize clinics and seminars for coaches of Clubs in the Nigeria Professional Football League, probably once in a month, so as to strengthen the playing philosophy across board. A robust youth development programme, elite player development strategy and performance programmes to drive higher standards, among other core sustainable development programmes, are also part of the proposal,” Anyansi-Agwu added.‎

NFF President Amaju Pinnick said: “Sunday Oliseh has vast experience and immense knowledge of the game, and will certainly add value to what we are doing. He has bought into our vision and objectives towards the development of Nigeria football. He will command the respect of the players and we trust he has the temperament to work harmoniously with the Technical and Development Committee, the Technical Directorate and the Technical Study Group.

“On our part at the NFF, we will give him all the support to succeed as we have been giving to all our coaches. Subject to the approval of the NFF Executive Committee, we will conclude negotiations by weekend and he will be unveiled next week.”

The 40 year-old FIFA instructor won 63 caps for Nigeria between 1993 and 2002. He was part of the Nigeria squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia in 1994, and played in the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup final competitions. He played in clubs like  Reggiana, FC Cologne, Ajax Amsterdam, Juventus, Borussia Dortmund etc. He holds a UEFA Pro License. Between 2008 and 2009, he coached Belgian club, Vervietois.
Credit: nff.com
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Entertainment, Sports

Nani joins Fenerbahce, gets a warm welcome by fans (Photos)

Manchester United winger Nani arrived in Turkey yesterday to complete his £3.5m move from Manchester United to Fenerbahce on a three-year deal.

The Portuguese forward who has a year left on his contract at Old Trafford will team up with ex colleagur, Robin Van Persie. He was treated to a warm welcome by fans of the Turkish side.

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Entertainment, Sports

Stephen Keshi sacked.

The appointment of Stephen Keshi as Super Eagles Head Coach has been terminated by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF). Till another manager is appointed the Super Eagles’ team affairs will be jointly managed by Assistant Coach, Salisu Yusuf and the Technical Directorate of the NFF headed by Coach Shuaibu Amodu‎.


According to a statement by the NFF Executive Committee, thr decision was made “having thoroughly reviewed the reports/findings of the NFF Disciplinary Committee and NFF Technical and Development Committee, as well as having reviewed the actions and inactions of Mr. Stephen Keshi, in the performance of his duties as Super Eagles’ Head Coach, which we found to lack the required commitment to achieve the Federation’s objectives as set out in the Coach’s employment contract”.

“To this end and pursuant to the provisions of Clause 4.3 of the Employment Contract between Mr. Stephen Keshi and the NFF (The Contract) and the various clauses therein, the Nigeria Football Federation has decided to exercise its option to summarily terminate the employment contract of Mr. Stephen Keshi with the Federation with immediate effect.”

It added that the termination was “without prejudice to the settlement of any existing and due financial obligations between the NFF and Mr. Keshi”.


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Entertainment, Sports

Photo: 3 years after his death, Rashidi Yekini remembered in Portugal.

3 years after his shocking and painful death, Nigerian football legend has been remembered by his former club, Vitoria de Setubal of Portugal.
Nigerians have taken to social media to vent their disappointment with the Nigerian Football Administration for failing to honour him with a befitting memorial years after his demise. Some of his colleagues were not left out, they have also been slammed for not paying tributes to the iconic footballer.
Yekini holds the record of the highest goal scorer in the national team scoring 37 goals in 58 appearances. Born on October 23, 1963 in Kaduna, he featured in several local clubs like the IICC Shooting Stars of Ibadan and the defunct Abiola Babes before he moved to Cote d’Ivoire to play for Africa Sports National. From there he joined Vitoria de Setubal of Portugal.
His incredible feats in his career earned him several accolades including the African Footballer of the Year title in 1993, the first ever in the country.‎ He got a spot in history books for scoring Nigeria’s first ever world cup goal. He was Nigeria’s marksman in 1994 as the Super Eagles won the 1994 Nation’s Cup in Tunisia. 
He passed on on 4th May 2012 at the age of 48. He was rumoured to have suffered mental illness for years before he breathed his last.
May his soul find repose. Amen
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Entertainment, Sports

Top football official reveals how winning the BBC Award and Falcons' World Cup exit devastated Asisat Oshoala.

Super Falcons’ exit from the FIFA Women’s World Cup left Nigeria/ Liverpool Ladies’ FC forward, Asisat Oshoala devastated, top football official reveals.
Oshoala who beat  Veronica Boquete of Spain, Germany’s Nadine Kessler, Scotland’s Kim Little and Brazilian forward Marta to win the maiden edition of BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year award last month failed to impress at the Canada 2015 tournament.  This really got her depressed because she knew she failed to meet up to expectations.

“Shortly after the BBC award was announced, we noticed that Oshoala was behaving somehow. She even went on twitter to say that she does not know what was happening to her. Oshoala became so depressed,” the official said.‎

“The psychologist was with her 24/7 and even other officials, including our leader of delegation (Mrs. Dilichukwu Onyedima) spent time with Oshoala, taking to her not to allow the weight of the BBC Award depress her. But she kept saying that the focus on her was becoming too much. I am sure she is yet to overcome the depression because Oshoala didn’t really perform to expectation in this World Cup. This is not the Oshoala we used to know.” 

She continued. “After we came from behind to draw 3-3 with Sweden, we were all expecting the team to go all out and finish Australia in our second group game. We actually relied so much on Oshoala to prove her worth upfront, but that was not to be.”

“The Oshoala we used to know would rubbish those Australian defenders. On a good day, she would have used that game to announce herself in the competition, but she played as if nothing was at stake. At a point, I began to ask myself if it was the same Oshoala that was playing on the pitch. There was no cohesion in her movement and those amazing skills were nowhere to be found. I won’t blame her much because she is still very young. She may have allowed depression overcome her in this World Cup.”‎

Oshoala was not in the mood to speak after the team’s elimination from the World Cup. ‎NFF board member and chairperson, Women Football Committee, Dilichukwu Onyedima who also noticed her change in attitude held private talks with her.

“The team psychologists really worked on her. I also called her for private talk, where I advised her to focus her energy on the World Cup and forget the attention she is getting from people. I even told her to call her parents to pray for her because I felt that prayer from parents has a great impact on a child. But let us not put all the blames on Oshoala for our inability to do well in this World Cup.

“The NFF actually gave this team the financial and moral support they needed to do well. But that is one of the things in football. We will go back and plan for the future.” Onyedimma said.

Credit: allAfrica.com
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Entertainment, Sports

EPL 2015/2016: See fixtures for Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham.

Check out English Premier League fixtures for Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United, Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham for 2014/2015 season.
Chelsea 
August 8 Swansea City (H)
August 15 Manchester City (A)
August 22 West Bromwich Albion (A) 
August 29 Crystal Palace (H)
September 12 Everton (A)
September 19 Arsenal (H)
September 26 Newcastle United (A)
October 3 Southampton (H)
October 17 Aston Villa (H)
October 24 West Ham United (A)
October 31 Liverpool (H)
November 7 Stoke City (A) 
November 21 Norwich City (H)
November 28 Tottenham Hotspur (A)
December 5 Bournemouth (H)
December 12 Leicester City (A)
December 19 Sunderland (H)
December 26 Watford (H)
December 28 Manchester United (A)
Janaury 2 Crystal Palace (A)
January 13 West Bromwich Albion (H)
January 16 Everton (H)
January 23 Arsenal (A)
February 2 Watford (A)
February 6 Manchester United (H)
February 13 Newcastle United (H)
February 27 Southampton (A) 
March 1 Norwich City (A)
March 5 Stoke City (H)
March 12 Liverpool (A)
March 19 West Ham United (H)
April 2 Aston Villa (A)
April 9 Swansea City (A)
April 16 Manchester City (H)
April 23 Bournemouth (A)
April 30 Tottenham Hotspur (H)
May 7 Sunderland (A)
May 15 Leicester City (H)
‎
Manchester United
‎
August 8: Tottenham Hotspur (H)
August 15: Aston Villa (A)
August 22: Newcastle United (H)
August 29: Swansea City (A)
September 12: Liverpool (H)
September 19: Southampton (A)
September 26: Sunderland (H)
October 3: Arsenal (A)
October 17: Everton (A)
October 24: Manchester City (H)
October 31: Crystal Palace (A)
November 7: West Bromwich Albion (H)
November 21: Watford (A)
November 28: Leicester City (A)
December05: West Ham United (H)
December 12: Bournemouth (A)
December 19: Norwich City (H)
December 26: Stoke City (A)
December 28: Chelsea (H)
January 2: Swansea City (H)
January 13: Newcastle United (A)
January 16: Liverpool (A)
January 23: Southampton (H)
February 2: Stoke City (H)
February 6: Chelsea (A)
February 13: Sunderland (A)
February 27: Arsenal (H)
March 1: Watford (H)
March 5: West Bromwich Albion (A)
March 12: Crystal Palace (H)
March 19: Manchester City (A)
April 2: Everton (H)
April 9: Tottenham Hotspur (A)
April 16: Aston Villa (H)
April 23: West Ham United (A)
April 30: Leicester City (H)
May 7: Norwich City (A)‎
‎
Arsenal 
AUGUST
8 Sat H West Ham United
15 Sat A Crystal Palace
22 Sat H Liverpool
29 Sat A Newcastle United
SEPTEMBER
12 Sat H Stoke City
19 Sat A Chelsea
26 Sat A Leicester City
‎
OCTOBER
3 Sat H Manchester United
17 Sat A Watford
24 Sat H Everton
31 Sat A Swansea City
NOVEMBER
7 Sat H Tottenham Hotspur
21 Sat A West Bromwich Albion
28 Sat A Norwich City
DECEMBER‎
5 Sat H Sunderland
12 Sat A Aston Villa
19 Sat H Manchester City
26 Sat A Southampton
28 Mon H A.F.C. Bournemouth
JANUARY
2 Sat H Newcastle United
12 Tue A Liverpool
16 Sat A Stoke City
23 Sat H Chelsea
FEBRUARY
2 Tue H Southampton
6 Sat A A.F.C. Bournemouth
13 Sat H Leicester City
27 Sat A Manchester United
MARCH
1 Tue H Swansea City
5 Sat A Tottenham Hotspur
12 Sat H West Bromwich Albion
19 Sat A Everton
APRIL
2 Sat H Watford
9 Sat A West Ham United
16 Sat H Crystal Palace
23 Sat A Sunderland
30 Sat H Norwich City
MAY
7 Sat A Manchester City
15 Sun H Aston Villa‎
Manchester City
‎August 8: West Bromwich Albion (A)
August 15: Chelsea (H)
August 22: Everton (A)
August 29: Watford (H)
September 12: Crystal Palace (A)
September 19: West Ham United (H)
September 26: Tottenham Hotspur (A)
October 3: Newcastle United (H)
October 17: Bournemouth (H)
October 24: Manchester United (A)
October 31: Norwich City (H)
November 7: Aston Villa (A)
November 21: Liverpool (H)
November 28: Southampton (H)
‎December 5: Stoke City (A)
December 12: Swansea City (H)
December 19: Arsenal (A)
December 26: Sunderland (H)
December 28: Leicester City (A)
January 2: Watford (A)
January 13: Everton (H)
January 16: Crystal Palace (H)
January 23: West Ham United (A)
February 2: Sunderland (A)
February 6: Leicester City (H)‎
February 13: Tottenham Hotspur (H)
February 27: Newcastle United (A)
March 1: Liverpool (A)
March 5: Aston Villa (H)
March 12: Norwich City (A)
March 19: Manchester United (H)
‎April 2: Bournemouth (A)
April 9: West Bromwich Albion (H)
April 16: Chelsea (A)
April 23: Stoke City (H)
April 30: Southampton (A)
May 7: Arsenal (H)
May 15: Swansea City (A) ‎
Liverpool 
August 8: Stoke City (A)
August 15: Bournemouth (H)
August 22: Arsenal (A)
August 29: West Ham United (H)
September 12: Manchester United (A)‎
September 19: Norwich (H)
September 26: Aston Villa (H)
October 3: Everton (A)
October 17: Tottenham (A)
October 24: Southampton (H)
October 31: Chelsea (A)
November 7: Crystal Palace (H)
‎November 21: Manchester City (A)
November 28: Swansea City (H)
December 5: Newcastle United (A)
December 12: West Brom (H)
December 19: Watford (A)
‎December 26: Leicester (H)
December 28: Sunderland (A)
January 2: West Ham (A) 
January 12: Arsenal (H)
January 16: Manchester United (H)
January 23: Norwich (A)
February 2: Leicester (A)
February 6: Sunderland (H)
February 13: Aston Villa (A)
February 27: Everton (H)
March 1: Manchester City (H)
‎March 5: Crystal Palace (A)
March 12: Chelsea (H)
March 19: Southampton (A)
April 2: Tottenham (H)
April 9: Stoke City (H)
April 16: Bournemouth (A)
April 23: Newcastle United (H)‎
‎
‎April 30: Swansea City (A)
May 7: Watford (H)
May 15: West Brom (A) ‎
Tottenham 
August 8: Manchester United (A)
August 15: Stoke City (H)
August 22: Leicester City (A)
August 29: Everton (H) 
September 12: Sunderland (A)
September 19: Crystal Palace (H)
September 26: Manchester City (H)
October 3: Swansea City (A)
October 17: Liverpool (H)
October 24: Bournemouth (A)
October 31: Aston Villa (H)
November 7: Arsenal (A)
November 21: West Ham United (H)
November 28: Chelsea (H)
December 5: West Brom (A)
December 12: Newcastle (H)
December 19: Southampton (A)
December 26: Norwich (H)
December 28: Watford (A)
January 2: Everton (A)
January 13: Leicester City (H)
January 16: Sunderland (H)
January 23: Crystal Palace (A)
February 2: Norwich (A)
February 6: Watford (H)
February 13: Manchester City (A)
February 27: Swansea (H)
March 1: West Ham (A)
March 5: Arsenal (H)
March 12: Aston Villa (A)
March 19: Bournemouth (H)
April 4: Liverpool (A)
April 9: Manchester United (H)
April 16: Stoke City (A)
April 23: West Brom (H)
April 30: Chelsea (A)
May 7: Southampton (H)
May 15: Newcastle United (A) ‎
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