It's the draw for the 2018 World Cup - the flagship international football event, which is due to be held from June 14 to July 15 next year in Russia.

We have received lots of Emails from our readers with most of them asking us to explain the process of the draw, while some needede the accurate time of the draw.

Chinedu Laurel Okorodike of www.90minutesgoal.com compiles this post to do justice to that.

When and where is it?

The 2018 World Cup draw will take place in Russia's capital city of Moscow on December 1 at the State Kremlin Palace, which is frequently used as a concert hall.it

The 32 teams will be split into four pots based on their current Fifa world rankings.

Pot 1 will have Russia and the highest-ranked seven teams.

Pot 2 will feature the next best eight teams, and so on for Pots 3 and 4.

The draw will divide the 32 teams into eight groups of four from A to H.

Each group will play three matches, before the top two countries advance to the second round.

Russia will be in Group A as host nation.

Which Pot is Nigeria in?

Nigeria is in Pot four alongside Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, which means the Super Eagles could be grouped with the likes of Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France from Pot one.

Spain and England from pot two and Denmark and Sweden from pot three.

Full World Cup seedings

Pot 1: Russia, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, France

Pot 2: Spain, Peru, Switzerland, England, Colombia, Mexico, Uruguay, Croatia

Pot 3: Denmark, Iceland, Costa Rica, Sweden, Tunisia, Egypt, Senegal, Iran

Pot 4: Serbia, Nigeria, Australia, Japan, Morocco, Panama, South Korea, Saudi Arabia

How can I watch the draw?

Sky Sports, Kwese sports and Supersport will have live coverage of the official draw begining from 3pm on Friday, December 1

There will also be a LIVE text commentary of the draw on www.90minutesgoal.com starting from 2:30pm Nigerian time. Just the way we do always during LIVE matches.

Full Story:
http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/Time-for-the-world-cup-draw.html

Nigeria is bound to lose a set of promising brothers at Manchester City, as England’s football egg heads are said to be making speedy moves to hook the international future of Lukas Nmecha and Felix Nmecha 90minutesgoal.com reports

Full story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/Lucas-nmecha-and-felix-nmecha.html?m=1

Super Eagles striker Odion Ighalo has set aside Saturday, December 16, 2017 as the date for the launch of his new orphanage in Lagos, 90Minutesgoal.com reports.

China-based Ighalo confirmed the date on his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday.
Last year, he revealed he planned to open his own orphanage to help the needy.

See Pictures of the house here: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/super-eagles-striker-odion-ighalo-completes-orphanage-home.html

For the first time, players of the Super Eagles will be heading to the World Cup with the knowledge of what they will earn as bonus and also a written agreement to that effect.

This was disclosed on Monday by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), when the Apex body announced that they have reached an agreement with the Super Eagles on what they will earn at next year’s World Cup in Russia.

A close source at the NFF told www.90minutesgoal.com that the Nigeria Football Federation and the players and officials all agreed on a specific amount of money for different stages of the competition.

"Yes we have reached an agreement with the players and officials over bonuses to be paid during the World Cup" This was done to avert the pay strike of the last World Cup in Brazil in 2014", the source said he

According to the source, the NFF will pay $15,000 as match bonus per players.

The players will also receive $13,000 if they qualify for the second one round and $16,250 if they qualify for the quarter final.

Also the players will pocket $20312 each if they make it to the semi-final of the World Cup and $25390 if they make it to the final of the World Cup.

The source went further to explain to 90MinutesGoal that the federation will also pay Super Eagles German coach, Gernot Rohr, $30,000 winning bonus at the group stage of the World Cup, while his assistants will receive $15,000 each.

Coach Gernot Rohr's bonus will be elevated to to $37,500 if the Super Eagles make it to the second round of the World Cup and a further $46,875 if the Super Eagles make it to the quarter final.

Rohr's assistants will also enjoy a 25% increment if the Super Eagles make to to the second round and quarter final respectively.

You will recall that disagreements over bonuses rocked the Super Eagles World Cup campaign in 2014 in Brazil, with the players then led by captain Joseph Yobo skipping a training session in protest over non-payment of Bonuses just a day to their second round clash against France.

The action of the players forced the Nigerian government to send then-sports minister Tammy Danagogo to Brazil with millions of dollars in cash to settle the players.

However the settlement of bonuses, did not stop France from defeating Nigeria 2-0 in the second round courtesy of goals from Paul Pogba and Joseph Yobo (own goal)

Full story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/revealed-what-each-super-eagles-players.html?m=1

Former France International Patrice Evra has been handed a one-match ban following his karate-style kick at one of his club's supporters before Thursday’s Europa League match against Vitoria Guimaraes which Marseille lost 0-1 courtesy o

Read More: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/patrice-evra-to-serve-one-game-ban-for.html

England have issued out call up letter to uncapped Nigerian Born forward Tammy Abraham for their upcoming friendly match against Germany and Brazil on November 10 and 14th respectively.
The 20-year-old Abraham was a target of Nigeria Football Federation boss Amanju Pinnick, who tried to convince the young striker to pledge his International future to Nigeria.

Pinnick even told football loving fans of Nigeria that Tammy Abraham had switched his allegiance to Nigeria and will soon wear the green jersey of Nigeria, but in a swift reaction, Tammy Abraham denied ever agreeing to play for Nigeria, , thus throwing the door

Full Story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/tammy-abraham-and-ashley-young-called.html

Nigerian International striker who plays for Chineses side Liaoning Whowin has released pictures of his pre wedding photos with his wife Elizabeth Ujah.

Ujah and his wife-to-be became so deep in love shortly after Ujah broke up with his German girlfriend when he was playing for FC Koln in Germany,and Surprisingly his ex-girlfriend still accompanied Ujah to his court wedding which was held on December 20, 2016.


His wife-to-be Eizabeth Ujah recently concluded her Master Degree programme at the University of Bradford.

The 27-years-old Anthony Ujah made his debut for Nigeria in 2013 and has played seven times for Nigeria without scoring.

He started his career with FC Abuja in 2005 and later played for Warri Wolves during the 2008/2009 Nigeria Professional Football league Season.

Ujah who is a native of Ugbokolo in Benue State of Nigeria. had previously played for Lillestrøm of Norway, FSV Mainz of Germany, FC Köln of Germany and Werder Bremen of Germany, before joining Chinese club Liaoning Whowin for a transfer fee of €13 million on 5 July 2016.

see photos here: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/footballers-lifestyle-super-eagles.html

With rumours that Chelsea Striker, Alvaro Morata isn't settling in to London life, it brings up memories of other players with similar hype surrounding their arrivals that ultimately just didn't settle well in their new surroundings.

Morata has since refuted those claims and only time will tell if he really can fully settle despite his positive start.

Here are nine other stars who struggled at new clubs and ended up looking like fish out of water.


9. Robinho - Manchester City

Robinho, once thought to be the next Ronaldo and Ronaldinho combined, unlike his former national teammates, made the brave jump to the Premier League. Unfortunately, he shouldn't have.

Signing for £32m on the 2008 summer transfer deadline day, managing 14 goals in 41 appearances for a newly-rich Manchester City, but after injuring himself in his second season, he fell down the pecking order and was loaned back to boyhoood club Santos, before moving to China in 2015.

Read More: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/11/9-hyped-up-signings-disappointed-their.html

Hello Fans how was your Champions League night.....

Seated is Plateau United new sinning Tosin Omoyele, who joined them yesterday. But someone wore a @ManUtd shirt to the unveiling. Is this proper?. Is the love of foreign clubs affecting our league, what do you think..

Please your comments are needed below.

Let's debate this

Welcome to www.90minutesgoal.com Live Text Commentary of the 2017 matchday 4, Group C fixture between Roma and Chelsea

My name is Ganiyu Tsav, and on behalf of the entire 90MinutesGoal crew, I bid you welcome to today's Live Text Commentary which will start here from.

Read More: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/ucl-live-text-commentary-roma-vs-chelsea.html

Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham has reportedly told the English FA that he will snub advances from Nigeria - and remain committed to winning an international cap for the Three Lions.

The 20-year-old, who is currently on loan at Swansea City, is eligible for the African national team through his father; born in Warri, Nigeria - who is an old friend of Amaju Pinnick, president of the Nigerian Football Federation.

READ MORE HERE: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/tammy-abraham-set-to-snub-nigeria-again.html

Manchester City have made a lightning quick start to their 2017-18 Premier League campaign, winning nine and drawing once in their opening ten games, meaning they are the only Premier League side who are yet to lose a game this season.

They have been blowing teams away so far this season, and have not looked like losing in any of their games so far. With this in mind, many are now asking the question, can City go the entire Premier League season without losing a game?

Here, we will be looking at five reasons why City will go through the entire Premier League season without losing a game.

1. Attacking Threat

Opposing teams have not been able to handle the Manchester City attacking threat so far this season. They have already scored an astonishing 35 goals in their first 10 games - with their Manchester rivals scoring the second highest amount of goals this season, 12 more goals less.

Read More: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/five-reasons-why-manchester-city-may-go.html

We bring you today's prediction from our experts pundits

See prediction here: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/todays-football-prediction.html

Real Madrid superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has said he is looking forward to a clash with the Super Eagles of Nigeria if both countries come against each other at next year's World Cup.

Ronaldo, 32, who recently

Full Story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/i-want-to-play-against-nigeria-in-world.html?m=1

Nigerian players were in action in Europe during the weekend for their respective clubs.

90minutesgoal.com takes a look at how Nigerian players performed

Full story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/players-abroad-how-nigerian-players.html?m=1

They were our heroes, they were our ambassadors, they were loved by many, especially in the football world. The fans loved and screamed their names every time they make a deft touch or movement

Some of them had dreams to make it to the top in their chosen careers, while some were the bread winners in their family. But like they say life can fade away like a smoke.

Full Story Here: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/6-nigerian-footballers-who-died-by.html?m=1

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has thrown out a protest which was lodged by The Zambia Football Federation over the disallowed goal scored by Augustine Mulenga during the World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria in Uyo on October 7 90minutesgoal.com reports.


You will recall that 90minutesgoal.com first broke the news about a plan by Zambia to lodge a protest to FIFA, which the the president of Zambia Football Association, Andrew Kamanga denied ever harboring such plans

However 90minutesgoal can reveal that the Zambian FA still summited their complaints to FIFA stating that referee Joshua Bondo from Botswana should have allowed Augustine Mulenga's 29th minute goal.

But FIFA in a swift reply which was addressed to the Zambia Football Federation and signed by the Deputy Secretary to Fifa's Disciplinary Committee Julien Deux, FIFA threw out the case for lack of merit and technical basis.

FIFA also added that Zambia should accept the result, saying there was no evidence of any infringement of the regulations by the referees” while it also referred them (Zambian FA) to Article 15, Paragraph 6 of the World Cup regulations.

Nigeria qualified for her sixth World Cup appearance by defeating Zambia 1-0 courtesy of an Alex Iwobi goal.

Full Story here: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/picture-fifa-throws-out-zambia-fa.html

Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) has thrown out a protest which was lodged by The Zambia Football Federation over the disallowed goal scored by Augustine Mulenga during the World Cup qualifying match against Nigeria in Uyo on October 7 90minutesgoal.com reports.

You will recall that 90minutesgoal.com first broke the news about a plan by Zambia to lodge a protest to FIFA, which the the president of Zambia Football Association, Andrew Kamanga denied ever harboring such plans

However 90minutesgoal.com can reveal that the

Read Full Story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/picture-fifa-throws-out-zambia-fa.html

Spanish giant Real Madrid and the Government of Rivers State have signed an agreement to set up a football Academy in Port Harcourt 90minutesgoal.com reports.

Governor of Rivers State Chief Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, Rivers State commissioner for sports Hon.Boma Iyaye, former Super Eagles player Chief Adokiye Amiesimaka and the Majority leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly Chief Evans Bipi are currently in Spain to sign the terms and conditions of the proposed Real Madrid Academy that will help nurtured talents in Rivers State.

This will offer players of the state the opportunity to be spotted by Real Madrid and also to train and understand the ideologies and philosophies of Real Madrid, Rivers State Commissioner of Sports Hon.Boma Iyaye told www.90minutesgoal.com

No Nigerian player has ever played for Real Madrid senior team. Mutiu Adepoju also known as "The Headmaster" joined Real Madrid in 1988 but never made it to the senior team.

Adepoju scored 26 goals in 67 apperance for Real Madrid team B between 1989-1992. Real Madrid are the current La Liga and Champions League Champions.

In February last year, Real Madrid arch rivals Barcelona set up its own Academy in Lagos.

Read full story via: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/rivers-state-and-real-madrid-sign.html

For live text commentary of the Aiteo Cup Final between Niger Tornadoes vs Akwa united, follow this link below

http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/live-text-commentary-niger-tornadoes-vs-Akwa-united-aiteo-cup-final.html?m=1

Organizers of the Nigeria's second tier League, The Bet9ja Nigeria National League (NNL) have placed a five year ban on My People FC starting from the 2016/2017 league season 90minutesgoal.com reports.

My People FC which is owned by popular Pastor and philanthropist, Temitope Balogun popularly known worldwide as (T.B) Joshua was slammed with the ban because the Lagos State based club failed to honour four consecutive matches on match day 29, 30, 31 and 32.

Speaking to 90minutesgoal.com, Chief Operating Officer of the Bet9ja NNL, Lawrence Katken said all points gotten by My People FC have been canceled including all matches played and not played.

Also My People FC were hammered with some monetary fine, as the club were ordered to pay the sum of ₦5,000.000,00 (Five Million Naira) for bringing the game into disrepute.


We warned all clubs participating in the Bet9ja NNL about the consequence of acting like this and they all agreed to finish the League or face sanctions that could arise in the case of pulling out or failure to honour matches, what we just did to My People FC is just applying the rule, Lawrence Katken told 90minutesgoal.com.

My People FC was established in 2008 by TB Joshua to help and nurture talented young footballers.

Super Eagles midfieldercOgenyi Onazi and former U-17 and Beitar Jerusalem FC player Sani Emmanuel started their careers with My People FC

Full Story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/tb-joshua-owned-football-club-my-people-FC-fined.html

Heartland Football club of Owerri have gained promotion back to the topflight of the Nigerian Professional Football League after a hard fought 0-1 away against First Bank of Lagos on Wednesday 90minutesgoal.com reports.

See More funny pictures and video of Heartland players celebrating below: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/heartland-fc-of-owerri-gain-promotion.html?m=1

These are indeed troubled times for the self styled NPFL Galacticos. The discontent and disgruntlement bubbling beneath the surface at the Ifeanyi Ubah Stadium is almost palpable.

A source close to the club confirmed to 90minutesgoal.com that two members of the club's foreign legion; Tamen Medrano and Ngoma Luamba have reportedly returned to Cameroon. Fans favorite Pascal Seka has not been seen around the Ifeanyi Ubah Games village. Goalkeeper Idrissa Bamba has been conveniently unavailable for selection for the last couple of games of the season.

The reason for all this is not so far fetched as the players are being owed as much as 5 months salaries, and the situation doesn't look like improving anytime soon. Indeed it is the managerial ingenuity of the club Chairman Mr Chukwuma Ubah that has held the club together through thick and thin.

Trouble started when the founder Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah was incarcerated by the DSS Authorities in Nigeria over some of the dealings his company Capital Oil and Gas had with the state owned NNPC. The players decided to show solidarity and support for their boss by soldiering on— during the period of his incarceration— without being paid. Upon his release there was widespread jubilation, hope was rekindled, morale was boosted and the playing personnel carried on battling for NPFL glory.

When Dr Patrick Ifeanyi Ubah decided to take an ill advised shot at contesting for the governorship position and launch a campaign so expensive it beggared belief. Eye watering sums were rumored to have been disbursed (One source even claims that as much as $1million was spent during the primaries) and lost when Dr Ubah lost controversially in the primaries.

While all this was going on the players had still not been paid, all attempts to seek redress through the proper channels proved abortive, and the standard reply was always "there is no money".

At this point in time the players felt betrayed that the man they sought to protect had practically treated them like nonentities. Grumblings of discontent were heard and the players threatened to go on strike.

If not for the tactical ingenuity and superb man management of Coach Yaw Preko, (himself unhappy at the turn of events) anarchy would have reigned supreme. The gaffer's intelligent squad rotation and promotion of some of the Feeders players helped ensure that a threadbare squad still remained competitive until the AITEO Cup 2nd leg semifinal against Niger Tornadoes.

In the absence of senior established stars, Preko had to call on the likes of Uche Okafor, Ayorinde and M'gbisa to help finish the season.

Hopefully peace and sanity returns to the Club, but until then it is a keg of gunpowder waiting to explode.

Read full Story here: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/troubled-times-for-fc-ifeanyiubah-two.html?m=1

Walehelt:
after ten years?


29yrs old young man?

Yes it is possible, I got into university at the age if 19, havent you seen a 20 year old graduate

Polish and Bayern striker Robert Lewandowski has graduated from a degree program he spent 10 years studying 90minutesgoal.com reports,

The 29-year-old who recently helped Poland qualify for the 2018 World Cup, was awarded a degree in Physical Education with coaching and management from Warsaw’s School of Education in Sport on Tuesday, just 24 hours after his 85th minute goal took Poland to the World cup Montenegro.

Professor Marek Rybinski said that Lewandowski’s is an intelligent young man who did well in his course and answered all his questions correctly which resulted in him getting high grades

Lewandowski who currently leads the goalscorer chat in the German Bundelisga has joined a league of footballers who have added educational degrees to their careers

Full Story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/bayern-striker-robert-lewandowski-graduates-from-university-after-10-years.html?m=1

The past week has been a bad one for Zambian striker Augustine Mulenga as he lost his twin daughter same day his team lost to Nigeria 1-0 in Uyo 90minutesgoal.com reports.

News about Mulenga's daughter's situation filtered in, but the Football Association of Zambia kept it from Mulenga while the team was in Uyo preparing for the match against Nigeria, as they believed the hopes of Zambia reaching the World Cup rested on his young shoulder's

Yes he lost his daughter after a brief and sudden illness, but we only let him know after the game against Nigeria, Football Association of Zambia Andrew Kananga told 90minutesgoal.com

Mulenga shined like a million star and scored a goal against Nigeria which was disallowed by referred Joshua Bondo due to offside.

Former Rangers of Enugu coach Imama Amapakabo has been unveiled by El-Kanemi Warriors of Maiduguri and is set to become the highest paid coach in the Nigeria Professional Football League for the second time 90Minutesgoal.com reports.

A top source at the club told 90minutesgoal.com that Imama is expected to earn a whooping ₦1million a month as salary with El-Kanemi Warriors after El-Kanemi agreed to pay him a sign on fee of ₦15million.

Imama who won the Nigeria Professional Football League with Rangers in 2016, was also the highest paid Nigerian coach in the NPFL as at that time 90Minutesgoal.com scooped

He was place on a salary of ₦2million a month when he signed an improved new Two year deal with Rangers in October 2016 shortly after he led the club to their first NPFL title after 32 years.

However Imama could not stay till the end of his contract as he fell out with the management of the club due to bad performances and strings of poor results which reached a climax when Rangers got bundled out of the CAF Champions league and CAF Confederation cup.

He was shown the exit door by Rangers and subsequently arrested because he failed to return the club's properties at his possession which included a house and a Kia car.

However Imama Amapakabo dragged the Christian Chuku led Rangers board to the organizers of the Nigeria Professional Football League which is the League Management Company (LMC) and after due investigation, Rangers were ordered to pay the 47-year-old Imama ₦16.7million for wrongful dismissal.

Rangers are still yet to pay Imama that lump sum ordered by the LMC.

More of this story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/see-the-highest-paid-coach-in-Nigeria-league.html

Super Eagles dazzling player Ahmed Musa has added another investment to his already long list as this time he has opened a state of the art filling station in Kano.

The 24-years-old Leicester City winger on Sunday commisioned his latest investment which is christened Myca-7 located in Kano.

Other investment owned by Musa includes a fitness centre worth over ₦500million and many landed properties scattered across the country.

He also have another filling station different from this latest one commissioned.

These are indeed good times for Ahmed Musa.

Full Story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/ahmed-musa-opens-his-second-filling-station.html

Some disgruntled fans of the Chipolopolo of Zambia have called on the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) to order a replay of the match against the Super Eagles of Nigeria which they lost 1-0 on Saturday 90minutesgoal.com reports.

90minutesgoal.com caught up with Stephen Eruaga and Kundah Pandawe, who are key members of the Zambian Supporters club shortly after the match in Uyo.

We are heading back to Zambia to work out modalities on how to present our case to FIFA for justice to be carried out. We scored a good goal and the decision of the referee did not help matters. Stephen Eruaga said

An aggrieved Kundah Pandawe could not hide his disappointment for referee Joshua Bondo's decision to cancel Augustine Mulenga's goal in the 24th minute.

Mulenga's goal is a clear goal which could have stood, referee Bondo's decision changed and affected this game for us. If Senegal can get justice, then the Chipolopolo can also get. We are the Copper bullet, !!! yes we are the Copper bullet, an aggrieved Kundah Pandawe concluded.

FIFA recently ordered a replay of the World Cup qualifying match between South Africa and Senegal after the referee awarded a penalty for a nonexistent handball.

The referee Joseph Lamptey was banned for life due to his obvious match manipulation.

Full Story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/court-orders-brown-ideye-to-pay-225000.html?m=1

Nigeria International forward Brown Ideye has been ordered by a Switzerland based court to pay $225,000 (about ₦82million) as child support for his son he fathered when he was based in Switzerland playing for Neuchatel xamax FC.

Brown ideye was alleged to have had a fling with Francisca Errol who is the mother of the child when she worked as a secretary with the football club.

The son who is now six years old is still in the custody of Francisca Errol.

According to The Sun, Ideye was served the papers by the court when he was still playing for West Brom in the English Premier League but ignored the order and did not even appeal.

It's a big shame that a personality like Brown who represents Nigeria, will choose to abandon his own blood and disrespect court rulings, an angry Francisca Errol said.

Brown Ideye played for Swiss club Neuchatel xamax FC from 2007-2009, scoring 25 goals in 55 appearance.

He currently plays for Tiajin Teda in the Chinese Premier League.

Full story: http://www.90minutesgoal.com/2017/10/court-orders-brown-ideye-to-pay-225000.html?m=1