Markus Rosenberg has revealed Malmo fear Cristiano Ronaldo even more than Zlatan Ibrahimovic ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League encounter with Real Madrid.

The Swedish champions were beaten 2-0 by Ibrahimovic’s PSG on matchday one, but Rosenberg thinks Ronaldo could cause them even more trouble.

“Together with Messi, Ronaldo and Ibrahimovic are the three best in the world. They have their differences, but I think maybe Cristiano is the most difficult to stop for us,” the Malmo forward told AS. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/29/ronaldo-a-bigger-threat-than-ibrahimovic/

Former Fifa vice-president Jack Warner has been banned for life from all football-related activity, the adjudicatory chamber of the Ethics Committee of the sport’s world governing body said on Tuesday.

The former Caribbean federation president “was found to have committed many and various acts of misconduct continuously and repeatedly during his time as an official in different high-ranking and influential positions at Fifa and CONCACAF” said the Ethics Committee statement.

The 72-year-old’s ban covers all football activity at both a national and international level and is effective from September 25. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/29/warner-banned-from-football-for-life/

Nigeria stars Victor Moses and Odion Ighalo are among five players nominated for the September edition of the English Premier League’s African Player of the Month.

“Africans hit the ground running in the Premier League in August, and although Andre Ayew won it, many performances by Africans were worthy of note and mention. This month has not been different,” africanFootball.com quoted the awards director, Tunde Adelakun, as saying on Tuesday. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/29/moses-ighalo-listed-for-epl-award/

Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh has invited 19 domestic professionals for next month African Nations Championship (CHAN) qualifying fixture against Burkina Faso.

The domestic lads are expected to commence camping in Port Harcourt on Monday, October 05.

Top joint-scorer in the ongoing Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), Tunde Adeniji is joined by Warri Wolves’ marksman, Gbolahan Salami, Solomon Kwambe, Idris Aloma, Usman Mohammed, Ezekiel Bassey and Bature Yaro. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/29/oliseh-names-adeniji-18-others-for-chan-tie/

There is a certain twisted irony that Jose Mourinho and Iker Casillas should be reunited at a ground that gave birth to ‘the Special One’, and which now serves as the graveyard for one of his great opposers. The Spanish goalkeeping icon is now playing out the final days of his career at Porto, in the shadow of the man who began his downfall. When Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid in 2010, newly crowned world champion Casillas was at his peak. Since then he has been cast out and cut adrift.Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/28/how-mourinho-caused-casillas-downfall/

Barcelona forward Neymar has confirmed he had “conversations” about joining Manchester United this summer but did not receive a firm offer.

United were linked with a move for the Brazilian – who has scored 57 goals for Barca – at the end of the transfer window.

The 23-year-old ex-Santos striker said: “We had conversations, but there was nothing concrete. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/28/neymar-had-manchester-united-talks/

Chinedu Udoji’s double ensured Enyimba beat Wikki Tourist 2-0 in Aba to move five points clear of their arch-rivals, Sunshine Stars at the Nigeria topflight log in a typically enthralling showdown.

The hosts bounced back from their defeat at El Kanemi to make a bold statement against the Bauchi based team who had promised to tame the Elephants before their home fans.

Enyimba began the game on an impressive note as they dictated pace from the middle, and almost got rewarded for their dominance after Markson Ojobo forced Paul Godwin to make a fine save. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/28/chinedu-udojis-double-ensured-enyimba-beat-wikki-tourist-in-aba/

Nigeria’s Women under-20 team, the Falconets, on Sunday defeated DR Congo 2-1 away in the Africa leg first leg, second round qualifiers for the 2016 Fifa Under-20 Women World Cup.

Two quick goals in the first half from Chinaza Uchendu in the sixth minute and Chiwendu Ihezou in the 12th minute gave Nigeria a comfortable lead as the Falconets took control of the game.

DR Congo were able to pull a goal back just before half time as the second period failed to produce any goals in an entertaining game. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/27/falconets-soar-past-congo/

Bartholomew Ogbeche scored twice in SC Cambuur’s 3-3 draw in the Dutch Eredivisie game against FC Utrecht on Saturday.

The Nigerian forward scored a goal in each half of the game as his club were hoping to claim their first win in the Dutch top division this season.

The 30-year-old striker planted home the opening goal for his team in the 26th minute when he rose highest in the centre of Utrecht’s box to head away Marlon Pereira’s cross past Robbin Ruiter. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/27/ogbeche-nets-brace-at-utrecht/

A hat-trick by Alexis Sanchez fired Arsenal to a 5-2 win as Leicester’s unbeaten start to the Premier League campaign was ended in emphatic fashion at the King Power Stadium on Saturday.

Sanchez struck on 33, 57 and 81 minutes after Theo Walcott’s 18th-minute equaliser had cancelled out Jamie Vardy’s opener for the hosts five minutes earlier.

Vardy scored again a minute from full time to reduce the Gunners’ lead before substitute Olivier Giroud netted in stoppage time to restore the three-goal cushion. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/26/alexis-sanchez-fired-arsenal-to-a-5-2-win/

Never mind the Newcastle crisis, the Chelsea one was nearly back on again here. Steve McClaren started this game as arguably the Premier League manager under most pressure following the reaction of Newcastle supporters to the tamest of exits from the first cup of the season.

He came within 10 minutes of passing much of that burden on to José Mourinho, whose Chelsea side once again looked pallid and likely to slump to a fourth league defeat before the end of September, before a remarkable late recovery left the home side hanging on just to earn a point. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/26/chelsea-fight-back-late-on-to-salvage-a-point/

West Ham United forward Victor Moses has expressed his readiness to take on Norwich City in Saturday’s English topflight cracker.The Super Eagles star netted a sublime early opener and Diafra Sakho doubled the lead as Slaven Bilic’s team secured a 2-1 victory at Manchester City in their last encounter.Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/25/victor-moses-fired-up-for-norwich-clash/

The manager praised the Nigerian for his solid display in the Blues’ win against the Saddler in Wednesday’s League Cup encounter

ose Mourinho has voiced his satisfaction with Mikel Obi’s midfield display in Wednesday’s 4-1 Capital One Cup victory over Walsall at the Bescot Stadium.Goals from Ramires, Loic Remy, Kenedy and Pedro help the Blues advance into the fourth round of the League Cup but were tested against Dean Smith’s side. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/25/mourinho-hails-amazing-mikel/

Nigerian striker Bartholomew Ogbeche scored a brace for his Dutch side SC Cambuur in their 3-2 loss to PSV Eindhoven in the Dutch KNVB Beker Cup on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old was the star man for the modest Dutch side who were able to come from a two-goal deficit to equalise before PSV got the match winner late on in the game.

Jurgen Locadia and Sebastian Arias had given PSV a two-goal lead into half time but Cambuur came back strongly in the second half of the game at PSV’s Philips Stadion.

After a string of misses, Ogbeche scored for Cambuur in the 66th minute before pulling the Yellow and Blue level three minutes later as Cambuur took the game by the scruff of the neck. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/23/ogbeche-scores-twice-in-cambuurs-loss/

Tottenham Hotspur are planning an audacious bid for Kelechi Iheanacho, but Manchester City are also fighting to keep the highly-rated Nigeria starlet and have opened talks to extend his contract, which runs out in 2018.

According to the Sun of England, Spurs have been alerted to the contract situation of Iheanacho and would very much want to add to their growing pool of exciting youngsters led by another Nigerian-born ace Dele Alli.

Spurs hope that the lure of regular first-team football will be too tempting for Iheanacho to turn down. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/22/spurs-plan-iheanacho-swoop/

In a bid to ensure automatic qualification for the 2016 Olympics, Chief Coach of the national U-23 team, the Dream Team IV, Samson Siasia has began moves to have Manchester City of England young prodigy, Kelechi Iheanacho and new Liverpool signing, Taiwo Awoniyi join his team.

Siasia told Sports Vanguard yesterday in Abuja that the forthcoming Africa Youth Championship (AYC) to be hosted by Senegal in November is very crucial because it will also serve as a qualifier for the 2016 Olympic Games. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/22/siasia-banks-on-iheanacho-awoniyi/

Barclays English Premier League leaders, Manchester City are in no hurry to hand Nigerian starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho a new contract.

The Citizens are of the view that the 18-year-old has plenty of time on his current deal.

Iheanacho has forced his way into Pellegrini’s first-team squad and has made a stunning impact to his first team career; scoring the winner for Manuel Pellegrini’s side against Crystal Palace in the last minute of this month’s Premier League clash at Selhurst Park, just moments after going on from the bench. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/22/city-hold-back-on-new-iheanacho-contract/

Robin van Persie was unhappy at being left out of the Fenerbahce team despite coming off the substitutes’ bench to score the winning goal against Bursaspor on Sunday.

The former Arsenal and Manchester United striker was not named in Vitor Pereira’s starting XI and was only brought on after 77 minutes with the scores level after Tomas Necid had cancelled out Nani’s opener.Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/21/van-persie-unhappy-after-being-left-out-by-fenerbahce/

Victor Moses wants more success at West Ham United after his goal scoring heroics against Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the Barclays English Premier League on Saturday.

The Nigerian winger beat Joe Hart with a stunning snap shot from outside the penalty area in the sixth minute to help the Hammers record a shock 2-1 win over the Citizens.

Moses has now taken the time to assess his performance noting that he is looking to achieve more success with Slaven Bilic’s side. Readmore
http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/21/moses-wants-more-success-at-west-ham/

Former England international, John Fashanu has told Jordan Ibe to learn from his own experience, saying that he regretted not playing for Nigeria, after showing up for trials but was never given a chance.

He revealed that the English national team will lure the liverpool forward with a couple of games and dump him afterwards, knowing he’s useless for any other country.

The 19-year old winger chose England over Nigeria in recent time and it has generated a lot issues. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/21/jordan-ibe-will-regret-choosing-england-over-nigeria-fashanu/

Diego Costa provided the lightning conductor as the longstanding friction between Chelsea and Arsenal crackled to the fore during his side’s ill-tempered 2-0 victory in the Premier League.

Costa sparked the incident, late in the first half, that culminated in the dismissal of Arsenal centre-back Gabriel, who was goaded into kicking out at the Chelsea striker following a penalty-box scuffle involving Laurent Koscielny. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/20/mourinho-wenger-clash-over-costa/

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic is full of praise for his Nigerian charge Victor Moses.

The Nigerian winger scored a stunning goal on Saturday to help West Ham defeat high-flying leaders Manchester City 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium.

Moses’ strike in the sixth minute represented the first goal City conceded in this season’s Barclays English Premier League and Bilic was quick to underline the importance of the 24-year-old. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/20/slaven-bilic-is-full-of-praise-for-victor-moses/

Godfrey Oboabona celebrated his Super Eagles call for the friendlies against DR Congo and Cameroon next month in Belgium by scoring as his club Caykur Rizespor defeated Antalyaspor 5-1 in the Turkish Super League.

Oboabona, who started for the Super Eagles in the recent friendly international with Niger in Port Harcourt, played the entire duration of the game but was cautioned in the 55th minute of the game. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/19/oboabona-scores-in-rizespors-win/

Victor Moses and Diafra Sakho ended Manchester City’s 11-match run of consecutive Premier League victories as West Ham recorded a stunning 2-1 success at Eastlands.

Without injured centre-half and captain Vincent Kompany, City conceded goals for the first time this season and looked uncharacteristically vulnerable in defence.

After West Ham’s first half strikes, a goal from Kevin De Bruyne just before the interval gave City hope of salvaging a point and set up a second half of non-stop pressure from the hosts. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/19/west-ham-united-shock-manchester-city/

Odion Ighalo scored a brace for Watford in the Hornets’ 2-1 win over Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Saturday.

Ighalo who has been in sparkling form in front of goal this season, fired inside the near post from close range to put his side in front following an Etienne Capoue assist in the 10th minute.

The striker made it 2-0 to the visitors in the 28th minute and it was a thing of beauty as the visitors notched up their second Barclays English Premier League win of the season.

He successfully sprung the offside trap as he got to a precise through ball from Troy Deeney and rounded the Newcastle United goalkeeper, Tim Krul before planting emphatically unto an unguarded net. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/19/ighalos-brace-shoots-down-newcastle/

Iker Casillas insists he has no regrets over the manner of his Real Madrid exit and says he will “never speak ill” of the club or its current president, Florentino Perez.

Casillas came through the youth ranks at the Santiago Bernabeu and spent a total of 25 years with Los Blancos before joining Porto this summer.

However, the Spain international left under a cloud after announcing his departure at a press conference without a single Madrid official in attendance.Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/18/casillas-no-regrets-over-real-madrid-exit/

Having accumulated 600 career appearances at the age of just 28, has the midfielder peaked too soon? Or will he come back to haunt Arsenal again on Saturday?

The Arsenal fans in the away end will boo and heckle Cesc Fabregas on Saturday. They will accuse their former captain of being a traitor for joining Chelsea.

But the fact is that when Fabregas left Barcelona to return to the Premier League in 2014, Arsenal were his first choice.

He ended up signing for Chelsea in a deal worth around £30 million – but only after Arsene Wenger declined to take up Arsenal’s buy-back option to match the Blues’ offer and bring him back to north London. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/18/now-fading-fabregas-is-mourinhos-problem/

Nigeria U23 defeated hosts Congo U23 5-3 on penalties to finish third in the men’s football event of the 11th All African Games played at the Stade Alphonse Massemba-Débat, Brazzaville.

Both teams had crashed in the semifinal to Burkina Faso and Senegal respectively and were hoping for the bronze medal to end the competition on a high.Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/18/dream-team-vi-win-all-african-games-bronze-medal/

Anthony Ujah scored for Werder Bremen in Sunday’s 3-1 win over Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga season.

The attacker has been in brilliant form this season and again underlined his status as one of the most feared marksmen in the division.

Ujah netted in the second minute of added time to temporarily give his side a 2-1 lead at the Rhein-Necker Arena.

Claudio Pizzaro provided the assist for the Nigerian who has now netted twice in three league games this season. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/13/ujah-scores-in-werder-victory/

England manager Roy Hodgson is hopeful that Liverpool winger Jordon Ibe will ignore solicitations from the Nigerian Football Federation and commit his international future to England.

Ibe, 19, recently made his debut for England’s under-21s, having previously been capped at under-18, under-19 and under-20 level, but qualifies to play for Nigeria through his father.

Nigeria head coach Sunday Oliseh visited Ibe at Liverpool’s Melwood training ground last month to sound him out, but Hodgson says the teenager could soon enter into the England senior team’s plans. Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/13/hodgson-hopeful-ibe-will-opt-for-england/

Emmanuel Adebayor has been released from his contract with Tottenham Hotspur by mutual agreement.

Adebayor, 31, had fallen completely out of favour at White Hart Lane and had not been included in the club’s Premier League or Europa League squads, or given a squad number.

Proposed moves to Aston Villa and to West Ham United fell through during the transfer window..

Even if he had been reintegrated into the Spurs squad, he would only have been eligible to play for the club in the third, fourth and fifth rounds of the Capital One Cup before January.

Now he is left in limbo, as FIFA transfer rules state that a player must be a free agent when the transfer window closes to be allowed to register for another club before January,A statement on Spurs’ official website on Sunday morning said: “We can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement with Emmanuel Adebayor which will see him released from his contract with the club.

“We wish Emmanuel well for the future.” Readmore http://ssportsng.com/2015/09/13/emmanuel-adebayor-leaves-tottenham-as-contract-cancelled/