Danycrusoe:


lol u do v an excuse

would have loved to watch too but as she said no team plays their matches around


the closest is Nasarawa united i think in Lafia which is like 6-7hhrs away

SHOULD KELECHI IHEANACHO LEAVE LEICESTER AFTER FOUSSENI DIABATE ARRIVAL?

Kelechi Iheanacho
The forward hasn't been getting games for the Foxes, and risks being pushed further down the pecking order with Fousseni Diabate signing
Article continues below

When Kelechi Iheanacho made the £25 million switch to Leicester City last summer, most wouldn’t have predicted the forward would be in dire straits a few months later.

In truth, however, it's beginning to look like he was set up to fail from the off.Craig Shakespeare already had Jamie Vardy and Shinji Okazaki as his primary starters, not to mention Islam Slimani and Leonardo Ulloa waiting in the wings.

The forward always faced a tough task in displacing the Foxes starters, and considering the tactic frequently relied upon by Leicester, it made things all the more difficult.

Kelechi isn’t blessed with Vardy’s blisering pace, neither does he have the legs of Okazaki to be a nuisance to the opposition. Alarm bells should have been ringing as there seemed to be no method to Leicester’s madness, and no specific plan to include the Nigerian.

Kelechi Iheanacho

Fast forward six months and the forward seems to be worse off than he was in Manchester under Pep Guardiola. Seemingly unable to get games under Shakespeare before he was jettisoned, his situation hasn’t in any way improved under Claude Puel.

To put it in perspective, the forward played 180 minutes of league football under the Frenchman’s predecessor.

Kelechi Iheanacho | 2017-18 stats

Under Puel though, the Nigeria International has seen only 55 minutes of action. If there were doubts he wasn’t fancied in East Midlands, being left on the bench for Leicester’s FA Cup Third Round tie at Fleetwood Town might have been the final nail in the coffin for the attacker.

He was eventually brought on in the final 10 minutes as the Foxes chased a win to no avail as the game finished goalless.

Kelechi Iheanacho Leicester City

Definitely, Iheanacho wouldn’t have envisaged a bit-part role at Leicester when he switched clubs, and the fact that it’s in a World Cup year is definitely worrying.

The purchase of Fousseni Diabate from Gazelec Ajaccio is certain to raise eyebrows concerning Iheanacho’s future.

Having recently admitted he’d need to sell a couple of attackers in the January window, going out to buy another forward, just days after insisting Iheanacho still had to “improve in all areas” may not sit well with the former City graduate.

The Malian youngster has got pace to worry defenders, is an incisive dribbler and also capable of playing across the forward line. He isn’t expected to be thrown straight into first-team action, rather gradually eased in from the under-23s.

Critics could imply that the signs are ominous for Kelechi, considering Diabate suits Leicester in more ways than one, while he looks out of place. Yet when you consider the ages of the club’s other forwards, Vardy (31), Slimani (29), Okazaki (31), Ulloa (31), perhaps this signing isn’t as fatal as some might think.

It doesn’t change the fact that Iheanacho’s current position needs to change pretty quickly.

It’s a World Cup year, and with Gernot Rohr recently implying players will be picked for the Super Eagles squad based on merit, shivers should have been sent down the forward’s spine.

Electing to leave the club he signed for barely seven months ago may be shortsighted, but with the extravaganza in Russia only months away, a short-term move away from East Midlands should be in sight.

If Iheanacho doesn't escape the King Power Stadium, then he may pay with his World Cup place.

http://www.goal.com/en-ng/amp/news/should-kelechi-iheanacho-leave-leicester-after-fousseni/1f8ue2v7n6vh71hm5k45dtz3j5

Nice one..any other update?

Danycrusoe:
Kastina united 0 - 1 Kano pillars

Half time. James Lokosa with the goal

goldfish80:


You have made valid points but the truth is that things cannot be allowed to continue like this. Government must come in at some point with pro indigenous polices to grow our sports industry.

First of all, indigenous companies who leave the the shores of Nigeria to sponsor foreign clubs or leagues must be made invest 40% of the said sponsorship amount in our local sports industry.
For instance, I find it incredulous that a company like chi group, makers of chivita and Chi exotic sponsors Man utd to the tune of $2M USD.
There market is not in Europe, not in Britain. Even with our lack of infrastructure, they still make profit from the local market. They owe it as its cooperate social responsibility to invest and encourage the local
Industry. A government policy can solve this at the drop of the hat.

Recall in the mid 2000's , American Music was ruling our airwaves. Until the indigenous policy by the government of Obasanjo which mandated radio and tv stations to play 80% local content. Prior to that, Nigerian local music was dead. Nobody will collect a demo from an up coming artist. Radio stations will rather play Awilo ..... Look at how far we have come since then. If there is no turn around policy to protect the local sports industry, we will continue to be embarrassed in World championships like the world cup and Olympics.
As simple as that.

I think your suggestion is great because even China made a rule that any player being purchased above a certain amount, the club buying the player must pay a certain percentage to the government.

with this policy being in place, it will aid the sponsorship of local teams by those corporations who go abroad to sponsor

Borussia Dortmund have agreed a €21.5m deal for Basel's Manuel #Akanji.

Ndidi having a MOTM performance...

Leon Balogun was on the bench for the full duration in Mainz 3:2 loss.
Is he injured?

goldfish80:
Leon Balogun was on the bench for the full duration in Mainz 3:2 loss.
Is he injured?

I don't believe so.. He is just recovering from one.

Ndidi is class..

Kante, Bakayoko and Fàbregas.

And Ndidi was the best midfielder on display.. quality..

Top performers according to whoscored.com. Ndidi second only to Leicester keeper, best outfield player.... Quality!!!

Daejoyoung:

Yeah, but I'm saying Chiwendu lhezuo from the last u20 women world cup can fill in that void even before Rasheedat. The problem is the nff handling of women football.

I can agree with the last part.

somehow:
Nice one..any other update?

game later ended 2-2

Emmanueulj:



2018 World Cup: Why Musa, Iheanacho may not make my squad – Rohr

John Owen Nwachukwu
2 mins ago

Coach of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Gernot Rohr has told Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa to move away from Leicester City.

The Nigerian forwards have struggled for regular playing time since joining the Foxes from Manchester City and CSKA Moscow respectively.


With less than six months to the World Cup in Russia, the Super Eagles technical adviser has warned that players struggling for form and regular playing time at their various clubs are not likely to make his World Cup squad.

The Franco-German coach told SuperSport, “My plan is to execute the World Cup with the players who are playing regularly with their respective clubs.

“How do you expect a coach to jet out to Russia with average players who lack playing time?


“I do take my time to visit various club sides in Europe to beg the coaches to build my players’ mind towards a great competition like the FIFA World Cup.


“I’m sad the likes of Kelechi Iheanacho and Ahmed Musa lack playing time at Leicester City. I and my scouts took time to pay their coach a visit, but we realised their case are getting worse.


“I hope they keep fighting for shirts to get a playing time or quit the club for a better team willing to give them playing time to showcase their talent,” he concluded.


http://dailypost.ng/2018/01/09/2018-world-cup-musa-iheanacho-may-not-make-squad-rohr/amp/

Rohr said his plan is to execute the WC with players who are playing regularly in their clubs and we should not expect him to go to the WC with AVERAGE players lacking playing time.

Did Rohr really say that?

Who are those players?

Ahmed Musa
Kelechi Iheanacho
Elderson Echiejile
Ezenwa

Who can replace these players then?

What role do they play?

Ahmed Musa can be replaced by Onyekuru or Isaac Success (if fit)

Kelechi Iheanacho can be replaced comfortably by Noah Bazee or Sone Aluko. They can both play the SS role.

Elderson Echiejile can be replaced perfectly by Bryan Idowu or Joel Obi ( as a LWB)

Ezenwa can be easily replaced by Ajiboye, Aiyenugba or the two youngies. Gbam!

What do you think.

three of the names you put up there are in worst situations, Success and Bazee have hardly trained this season talkless of playing, Aluko has lots of playing time but his statistics are nothing to be excited about. Joel Obi? please just by typing his name dude will get injured.

BascoVanVeli:
FT in Polokwane: South Africa 0-2 Nigeria - Rasheedat Ajibade and Anam Imo on target as the Falconets secured a first leg advantage over Basetsana at the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium

rasheedat Ajibade again?

How many times she wan play u-20 World Cup?

Danycrusoe:
Kastina united 0 - 1 Kano pillars

Half time. James Lokosa with the goal

was anyone able to watch this match live on tv?

This ndidi sef
He seems better than I earlier thought sef..

Tho my players were fatigued, he was adding salt to injury with the way he was pressing them..

Apart from his useless shot, vicmo was quite good too..

Kuddles to both Nigerian boys..

They were good

Ndidi is highly underated.. Pay him attention people

AIG07:
was anyone able to watch this match live on tv?

Guy LMC fed us with lies, the TV deal and coverage deal didn't improve only the broadcaster changed. we still continue with one match per week and for the opening match day only Akwa united and Enugu Rangers will be on tv

Cool, I thought we had more than one game today?

Did you watch it on tV or?

Danycrusoe:


game later ended 2-2

2017/2018 NPFL; REFEREES ASSURE STAKEHOLDERS

As the Nigeria Premier League kicks off this weekend for the 2017/18 football season, the Nigera Referees Association,NRA has assured that members of the body involved in the Officiating will employ best practices in the course of discharging their duties.

President of the NRA, Tade Azeez made this disclosure while reeling out preparations by the whistle men and women for the new season.

According to Tade, the leadership of the Association has extracted heartwarming promises from the FIFA and elite referees that consitute the list of match Officials in the premier league to not only maintain free, fair and firm Officiating but also give in their best during the season.

"We are promising to parade the best hands among the active referees to ensure organisers, clubs and spectators are happy. We have done the necessary pre Season training programs to tune up our referees for the challenges ahead"

"It might interest followers of the league that the Referee Assessor introduced two years ago has been sustained for the development of Nigeria referees" Tade added.

The NRA president who expressed happiness with the football house, the Nigera Football Federation, NFF for continuous support to the referees' body noted that the NRA is working in strategic partnership with the NFF Referees Committee for quality driven Officiating throughout the session.

He therefore requested the state FAs, host teams and their supporters to imbibe the spirit of sportmanship and refrain from making match officials scape goats of their teams misfortune by assuring that the Association will sanction any referee found wanting in acts calpable of bringing the game to disrepute.

Meanwhile, FIFA badged Sani Mohameed of Kaduna referees Council will be at the centre with others from the State for the North West derby signalling the opening of the league in Katsina involving Katsina Utd vs Kano Pillars.

Others are Adamu Kabiru, police ASP and Moses Ojo, a Peace Corps officer as Assistant Referees 1 and 2 respectively. Fourth Official is Ishaya Patrick, a teacher.

In the top of the cracker in Uyo; Akwa United vs Rangers, three FIFA referees Quadri Adebimpe (LG), Abel Baba ( KG) Olajide Usman (OY) and Segun Onowaye will take charge of proceeding while newly badged FIFA referee from the Niger State council Abubakar Abdulahi leads other international officials; Tejiri​ Digbori (DT) and Mimisen Iyorhe (BN) for the Lafia game where Nassarawa United host League winners, plateau united.

The NRA wishes all.match officials best of luck for the opening games.


National Publicity Secretary, NPS
NRA

AIG07:
rasheedat Ajibade again?

How many times she wan play u-20 World Cup?

This will be her second time. She got drafted straight from the u17s for the last edition.

somehow:
Cool, I thought we had more than one game today?

Did you watch it on tV or?

The rest will be played tomorrow.

Most certainly Marvelous Basco Ajibade is Nigeria's and Africa's next big soccer export to the world in the making. And to think Oshoala is still only 23 going on 24 this year I think. Mehn, can't wait to see them ball together in the Super Falcons alongside Ordega and Oparanozie.

Sweet sturvs ahead...

BascoVanVeli:
Is Rasheedat Ajibade our next Oshoala?

somehow:
Cool, I thought we had more than one game today?

Did you watch it on tV or?

nope. followed updates

Wilfred Ndidi is going to be world class sooner than I thought. He just blew away a midfield having the world's best DMF in Kante, France midfield hotshot in Bakayoko and even the beautiful midfield pass master in Fabregas

Ndidi bossed things against a crack Chelsea midfield... Chaiiii


Verily verily I say unto you all, after Russia 2018, Ndidi's days at Leicester will be numbered. He is signing for a big club pretty soon and be on his way to becoming a truly world class elite Midfielder. A true bad ass CM/DM (CDM).


Ndidi-Mikel-Onazi midfield will destroy teams at the world cup oooo.... Heeehhh... I know my forecast is early but this is the truth.

Meanwhile Nwanna Ndidi... Twale for you

AIG07:
rasheedat Ajibade again?

How many times she wan play u-20 World Cup?

She was taken from the U17 the last time. This is her set actually.

Danycrusoe:


game later ended 2-2

NPFL and late penalties are inseparable
Nigerian ref and EPL refs are 5 and 6

goldfish80:


You have made valid points but the truth is that things cannot be allowed to continue like this. Government must come in at some point with pro indigenous polices to grow our sports industry.

First of all, indigenous companies who leave the the shores of Nigeria to sponsor foreign clubs or leagues must be made invest 40% of the said sponsorship amount in our local sports industry.
For instance, I find it incredulous that a company like chi group, makers of chivita and Chi exotic sponsors Man utd to the tune of $2M USD.
There market is not in Europe, not in Britain. Even with our lack of infrastructure, they still make profit from the local market. They owe it as its cooperate social responsibility to invest and encourage the local
Industry. A government policy can solve this at the drop of the hat.

Recall in the mid 2000's , American Music was ruling our airwaves. Until the indigenous policy by the government of Obasanjo which mandated radio and tv stations to play 80% local content. Prior to that, Nigerian local music was dead. Nobody will collect a demo from an up coming artist. Radio stations will rather play Awilo ..... Look at how far we have come since then. If there is no turn around policy to protect the local sports industry, we will continue to be embarrassed in World championships like the world cup and Olympics.
As simple as that.

Ur points are also valid but dis is not d fundamental problem of d league!....ur point will obviously provide more money and improve d business side of d league but ultimately not its entertainment value a key to its sustainability and growth. There must be business reasons why MTN and recently GLO gave up sponsorship of the league....it does not add value in d long run to dia business (a sad reality). Even d money dey will provide may end up in d wrong hands (corruption)....Football is a big platform in Nigeria and Companies do not need to be forced to identify with it if the govt does its part.....diz companies will at best fold up if govt policies forces dem to invest in non-profitable businesses and hence d govt is wary of such policies.

The objective of d local content act is to increase value and and most importantly transfer technology. I work in a multinational O&G company and can say d local content does provide jobs but dat it has improved d value is subject of debate as a lot of diz local companies do not av a working template for transfer of technologies through training and development.

The music industry in nigeria today is big and needed such policy but it was only until recently dat a teenager wants to be a musician like David or whizkid...our musicians needed to be heard more but football already has a platform here.....a policy dat commits local stations to air local music is different from a policy dat commits a company to invest huge sums in sports sponsorship without a guarantee of a good ROI.

Lastly,a govt dat wants to enforce such policies must be serious about playing its own role..When a team travels from portharcourt to maiduguri on a bad Road, it will tell in in its performance and fans will not com out to see such crappy teams and d sponsors will lose d customer base dey are trying to get!

First game of the NPFL.

Two penalties for the home team, one saved, one scored.

94th minute penalty to save the home team blushes... 2 penalties awarded in the space of 6 minutes

And we wonder why away wins are so difficult.

No league in the world gives as many home penalties as the NPFL.

TheSuperNerd:
Wilfred Ndidi is going to be world class sooner than I thought. He just blew away a midfield having the world's best DMF in Kante, France midfield hotshot in Bakayoko and even the beautiful midfield pass master in Fabregas

Ndidi bossed things against a crack Chelsea midfield... Chaiiii


Verily verily I say unto you all, after Russia 2018, Ndidi's days at Leicester will be numbered. He is signing for a big club pretty soon and be on his way to becoming a truly world class elite Midfielder. A true bad ass CM/DM (CDM).


Ndidi-Mikel-Onazi midfield will destroy teams at the world cup oooo.... Heeehhh... I know my forecast is early but this is the truth.

Meanwhile Nwanna Ndidi... Twale for you

We seem to see Ndidi at his best in the SE when he's paired with Ogu (a good cover for his dashing moves). Ogu provides the cover he gets from Matty James. With Onazi he plays well too but too many spaces to penetrate and punish.
Well depending on the game and against opposition Rohr might switch between Ogu and Onazi. The only two guarantee in our MF are: Mikel - Ndidi - (subject to opposition).
Ogu is another player that is underrated.

nelszx:


NPFL and late penalties are inseparable
Nigerian ref and EPL refs are 5 and 6

OK after seeing tbaba's post I had to edit mine. I wonder if Nigerian referees are not tired of the bad reports they get but who knows the penalties may be legitimate