That dude should stop playing football, he was horrible the few minutes he came on and for a 23 year old, nna that dude is close to 30!

Subzero047:
Nigerian striker Daniel Udoh comes in for Shrewsbury against Liverpool

The world of sport just lost two legends, Kobe and Gigi (legend in the making)
RIP stars
May God give their family the fortitude to bear this heavy loss

Wtf is wrong with Seun's Nairaland?

Nigeria-Eligible Striker Scores Four Of Liverpool's Eight Goals Vs Blackburn Rovers LFC


England youth international of Nigerian parentage, Rinsola Babajide scored four of Liverpool's eight goals as they hammered Blackburn Rovers 8-1 in the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup on Sunday, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Reds number 20 took only ten minutes to open the scoring, slotting past goalkeeper Perry after a rebound fell kindly to her, and came close to scoring her second of the game on 20 minutes but was denied by the Blackburn goalie.

Twelve minutes before halftime, Babajide got her brace as she volleyed home to make it 3-1.

Just past the hour mark, the Anglo-Nigerian bagged her treble with a low strike into the near corner and her fourth goal came through a brilliant shot from the edge of the box at minute 84.

Babajide forced an own goal when her cross was turned into the net by Ellie Stewart in the second minute of stoppage time.

Liverpool's other scorers were Niamh Charles, Niamh Fahey and Kirsty Linnett

The 21-year-old Babajide joined Liverpool in January 2018 after stops at Crystal Palace, Millwall Lionesses and Watford.

We should also remember others who died in the crash

World cup 2022: predicting Africa's 10 group winner.

Group A


Algeria will be delighted with their group stage draw, after being pooled into one of the more favourable of the 10 groups. Niger and Djibouti were among the weaker teams in their groups, with the latter the lowest ranked nation left standing in the campaign.
Burkina Faso, the Pot Two team, aren’t the force they once were, and were among Africa’s highest profile absentees from the expanded 24-team Africa Cup of Nations last summer.



Group B


Tunisia are rarely eye-catching during qualification, but they typically get the job done. Don’t expect any different this time around.


Even though they were unconvincing at the Nations Cup, they have enough guile and grinta to see off Mauritania and Equatorial Guinea.


Zambia, like Burkina Faso, aren’t as strong as they have been over the last decade, although if a talented crop of players realise their potential under Milutin Sredojevic, they could capitalise on any Tunisian complacency.


Group C


Nigeria are overwhelming favourites here, and they’ll be boosted by the presence of relative minnows Central African Republic and Liberia.


Despite their tiny stature compared to the Super Eagles, Cape Verde represent Nigeria’s primary threat. They dumped the regional giants out of the Wafu Cup last year, and a recent 0-0 draw with


Cameroon was evidence of how they can neutralise the continent’s heavyweights.
However, it’s hard to see the islanders having enough consistency to unseat Gernot Rohr’s side from top spot.


Group D


Cameroon were the unfortunate top seeds to be drawn against Pot Two’s biggest threat—the Ivory Coast —in Tuesday’s draw.


Mozambique and Malawi have shown signs of quality over the last 18 months, but this one will surely boil down to the top two.
And I believe that the Indomitable Lions will fall short. The Elephants have begun to turn the corner after a poor World Cup 2018 qualifying campaign, and the likes of Nicolas Pepe, Maxwel Cornet and Wilfried Zaha should be able to outgun most opponents.


If Serge Aurier, Franck Kessie and Eric Bailly can rediscover the form they enjoyed earlier in their careers, than the Elephants can go all the way to Qatar.


Group E



Like Group D, I’m predicting the seeds will miss out on top spot here.


While Mali are favourites, on paper, to advance, Uganda are one of Africa’s coming forces, and have come on leaps and bounds over the last three years.


Johnny McKinstry is continuing the fine work of Milutin Sredojevic and Sebastien Desabre, and he has some fine talent at his disposal as they look to become East Africa’s first World Cup qualifiers.


I’m not ruling out Kenya also upsetting the established order, but while this group is there for the taking, the Cranes are my pick.


Group F


Egypt won’t have it as easy as some are suggesting, even though I believe that they’ll have enough to advance.


Libya and Angola are tougher than their Fifa world ranking may suggest, although while Gabon have Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, their structural dysfunction and a lack of quality in the supporting cast suggests that qualification may be beyond them.


Despite their poor Afcon, Egypt are a rugged bunch, and crucially, they have experience of getting over the line in World Cup qualification.


Group G


Having been pitted together in the Afcon 2021 qualifying campaign, Ghana and
South Africa are set to meet again on the road to Qatar .


The Black Stars won 2-0 in Cape Coast in their recent Nations Cup qualifying bout, but following the departure of Kwasi Appiah and the arrival of Charles Akonnor, the West Africans are something of an unknown quantity again.



If Bafana Bafana can build on their encouraging showing under Stuart Baxter in 2019—particularly at the Nations Cup—then they could leapfrog a vulnerable Ghana side into top spot.


Group H


Senegal will be delighted with this draw, and I can certainly see them taking top spot.
In the likes of Sadio Mane, Mbaye Diagne and Habib Diallo, they boast plenty of game-winners, and their rivals—Congo-Brazzaville, Namibia and Togo—just can’t bring the same quality to the table.


The Red Devils, Senegal’s nearest rivals, were defeated 2-0 by the Teranga Lions in Thies in November, and I can’t see them upsetting the odds here.



While Togo’s Claude Le Roy deserves immense respect for his work in African football, the Sparrow Hawks would need to improve immensely—they were recently defeated 1-0 at home by the Comoros—if they’re to progress.


Group I


Like a few other heavyweights, Morocco can be particularly delighted with their draw.
The Atlas Lions will still need to adapt to life under Vahid Halilhodzic following their disappointing Afcon showing and the exit of Herve Renard.


However, in Hakim Ziyech, they boast the finest African playmaker in the game today, and as he demonstrated during the 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign, he’s more than capable of carving Africa’s lesser nations apart.


Guinea-Bissau and Sudan will aim to frustrate the Atlas Lions, who are also likely to have too much for Naby Keita’s Guinea.


Group J


Comfortably the most open group of the 10, where all four teams will harbour tangible ambitions of progressing as group winners.
All four qualified for the Nations Cup, with only Tanzania falling at the first hurdle, and even the East Africans have a cutting edge of their own.


Benin and Madagascar cannot be overlooked; they’ve broken new ground over the last 18 months, and both have proven that they can stymie—and even beat—the continent’s biggest sides.


The Democratic Republic of Congo have the history, and have players in some of the world’s top leagues, but there’s a sense that they’ve come to the end of a cycle. Florent Ibenge has departed, and his replacement, Christian Nsengi-Biembe, has no experience at this level.


The Leopards may be the favourites, but Benin’s ruggedness, physicality and guile make them my pick to progress. https://www.goal.com/en-ng/lists/world-cup-2022-predicting-africas-10-group-winners/kdo5p6pv28na1nn48thbcw9eg

Subzero047:
Wtf is wrong with Seun's Nairaland?

How? What happened?

Nigerian midfielder James Olayinka on Monday joined League Two side Northampton Town on loan until the end of the season from Premier League giants Arsenal, informs the official website of the Gunners.

Arsenal confirmed that the loan is subject to regulatory processes.

Olayinka has been in brilliant form in his last four matches for Arsenal's youth teams, scoring against Dinamo Zagreb and Leicester City in the Premier League International Cup and Everton in the Premier League 2.

He traveled with the first team to the United States for pre-season training last summer and was named on the bench for the Europa League group game against Standard Liege in December 2019.

The Nigerian joined up alongside West Brom young striker Callum Morton and both could be available for manager Keith Curle for Tuesday's Sky Bet League Two game against Scunthorpe United.

The duo became the second and third signings of the January transfer window joining winger Mark Marshall who has also signed a short term deal until end of the 2019-2020 season.

According to The Sun on Sunday (print edition, page 61, January 26, 2020), Burnley and Southampton are interested in signing Bright Osayi-Samuel from Queens Park Rangers in the January transfer window.

It has been reported that Premier League outfit Burnley are looking are at the 22-year-old midfielder as a potential replacement for Dwight McNeil, who is attracting a lot of interest this month.

The report has claimed that the Clarets’ Premier League rivals Southampton are interested in the former Blackpool man, who’s is valued at £8 million.


Osayi-Samuel has been on the books of QPR since the summer of 2017 when he moved after leaving Blackpool.

According to WhoScored, the 22-year-old has made 17 starts and three substitute appearances in the Championship for QPR so far this season, scoring four goals and providing four assists in the process.

During the 2018-19 campaign, the young midfielder made nine starts and 18 substitute appearances in the league for Rangers, scoring two goals in the process, according to WhoScored.

daveP:
How? What happened?

I'm seeing all sorts of weird stuffs like 'followed boards'

She's a lioness

Kbs468:
Nigeria-Eligible Striker Scores Four Of Liverpool's Eight Goals Vs Blackburn Rovers LFC


England youth international of Nigerian parentage, Rinsola Babajide scored four of Liverpool's eight goals as they hammered Blackburn Rovers 8-1 in the fourth round of the Women's FA Cup on Sunday, allnigeriasoccer.com reports.

The Reds number 20 took only ten minutes to open the scoring, slotting past goalkeeper Perry after a rebound fell kindly to her, and came close to scoring her second of the game on 20 minutes but was denied by the Blackburn goalie.

Twelve minutes before halftime, Babajide got her brace as she volleyed home to make it 3-1.

Just past the hour mark, the Anglo-Nigerian bagged her treble with a low strike into the near corner and her fourth goal came through a brilliant shot from the edge of the box at minute 84.

Babajide forced an own goal when her cross was turned into the net by Ellie Stewart in the second minute of stoppage time.

Liverpool's other scorers were Niamh Charles, Niamh Fahey and Kirsty Linnett

The 21-year-old Babajide joined Liverpool in January 2018 after stops at Crystal Palace, Millwall Lionesses and Watford.

Subzero047:


I'm seeing all sorts of weird stuffs like 'followed boards'

U re sounding like one moniker here earthquake 1

elyte89:


U re sounding like one moniker here earthquake 1

I'm not earthquake

Saka with a goal and an assist

tbaba1234:
Saka with a goal and an assist

Dis guy is gone.....England again

elyte89:



Dis guy is gone.....England again

if we act fast we can still get him

tbaba1234:
Saka with a goal and an assist

was named man of the match

jihday:
if we act fast we can still get him

You have a point

If he keeps on like this and we act slow, then the English FA would cap tie him as usual.

Na so e be ooo

Kelechi and Chidiebere Nwakali: Talented youth stars risk fading away

Since his emergence onto the scene at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, Kelechi Nwakali has come to occupy an esteemed position in the hearts of Nigerian football fans.

In Chile, he emulated his brother Chidiebere who, two years prior, had won the same competition in the UAE; he was named the best player in the tournament, and immediately become the subject of interest from all around the world, eventually signing with Premier League side Arsenal.

The conviction of his talent has been so great that, for most people, it is more a matter of ‘when’ than ‘if’ he fulfils it. He is acclaimed the future of the Super Eagles midfield, to the extent that when national team manager Gernot Rohr elected not to include him in the 23-man squad for the World Cup in 2018, there was genuine dismay.

This reaction was far removed from the objective reality of the situation. Kelechi, for all his promise, has struggled to get his career off the ground. Loan spells with Maastricht, VVV-Venlo and Porto B have all culminated in disappointment, and the 21-year-old has barely played in the last two years. It might seem a little cruel but, in recent times, he has spent a lot more time posting images on social media than actually playing football.

This did not stop the clamour, of course.

Chidiebere has also endured a stop-start career so far. First, he was signed by Manchester City back in 2015, but was released after a number of underwhelming loans in Spain and Scandinavia. He is now on the books of Swedish side Kalmar, and has been in the news for all the wrong reasons after finding himself strapped for cash and unable to return to his clubside following the winter break.

It is difficult to understand the basis upon which the desire to see them integrated into the national team is based. Talent is all well and good, but in professional football, it is a bare minimum. Nurturing that talent to full potential by infusing it with dedication and passion is what elevates a player: down the years, Nigeria have seen such prospects as Alfred Emoefe and Bernard Okorowanta fail to reach their full potential, and it was not for a lack of ability.

It appears that most are holding on to the memory of what these brothers were able to achieve in the national youth set-up, as well as the fact that, two years ago, Kelechi thrilled the crowd with a dazzling performance during a friendly with a second-string Atletico Madrid team in Uyo.

However, should that be enough? After all, a number of their contemporaries have gone on to greater influence, and are playing regularly at club level in Europe: Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi played with the older Nwakali, while Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze played with the younger.

There is only so long they can continue to be regarded as “young”. It has been over four years now since Kelechi took the world by storm, and over six for Chidiebere.

There is, naturally, some luck involved in the trajectory of a professional career, but how is it that, beyond even the uncertainty surrounding their present and future, they find themselves in the news for the wrong reasons?

Some have blamed poor transfer decisions for their troubles - both chose to join Premier League sides in their very first moves. All things considered, it is a difficult pathway for young Nigerian players, and directly led to their spate of loans.

While that is a worthwhile factor to consider, it is almost impossible to completely dull talent in this manner. Even when work permit restrictions prevent a player gaining a foothold, there is nothing stopping him from applying himself during one of his loan spells and securing a permanent move away.

As an example, Kenneth Omeruo was loaned all over Europe for years while on Chelsea’s books, but crucially he always stayed involved wherever he was, putting in solid performances until a move to La Liga materialised.

Could it have been bad advisers? Again, this is possible. However, it is also a player’s responsibility to have a vision for his own career, as well as the discipline to see it through. As is clear from the conduct of these two brothers, there is a need to improve where the latter is concerned: what degree of professionalism is conveyed when an employee requires his employer to bail him out of a personal holiday?

For all the excuses that have been made, the truth is a lot has been done already to keep them involved. Almost in spite of a lack of club football, Kelechi was heavily involved with the national under-23 team from qualifiers through to the AFCON, where his lack of match fitness went some way toward undermining their Olympic qualifying efforts. To expect the senior national team to do the same would be a step too far: Rohr, for all his foibles, insists on picking players who are getting consistent minutes at club level.

Being labelled "the future" just will not do. Not when the likes of Joe Aribo have burst onto the international scene, and there is interest in players like Ovie Ejaria and Ebere Eze, all of whom are playing at a high level in the UK.

It is difficult to tell exactly where these brothers lost their way. However, if they are to avoid the pitfalls of early success, it is entirely in their hands now to change the narrative around themselves

Source:Opera

tbaba1234:
Kelechi and Chidiebere Nwakali: Talented youth stars risk fading away

Since his emergence onto the scene at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, Kelechi Nwakali has come to occupy an esteemed position in the hearts of Nigerian football fans.

In Chile, he emulated his brother Chidiebere who, two years prior, had won the same competition in the UAE; he was named the best player in the tournament, and immediately become the subject of interest from all around the world, eventually signing with Premier League side Arsenal.

The conviction of his talent has been so great that, for most people, it is more a matter of ‘when’ than ‘if’ he fulfils it. He is acclaimed the future of the Super Eagles midfield, to the extent that when national team manager Gernot Rohr elected not to include him in the 23-man squad for the World Cup in 2018, there was genuine dismay.

This reaction was far removed from the objective reality of the situation. Kelechi, for all his promise, has struggled to get his career off the ground. Loan spells with Maastricht, VVV-Venlo and Porto B have all culminated in disappointment, and the 21-year-old has barely played in the last two years. It might seem a little cruel but, in recent times, he has spent a lot more time posting images on social media than actually playing football.

This did not stop the clamour, of course.

Chidiebere has also endured a stop-start career so far. First, he was signed by Manchester City back in 2015, but was released after a number of underwhelming loans in Spain and Scandinavia. He is now on the books of Swedish side Kalmar, and has been in the news for all the wrong reasons after finding himself strapped for cash and unable to return to his clubside following the winter break.

It is difficult to understand the basis upon which the desire to see them integrated into the national team is based. Talent is all well and good, but in professional football, it is a bare minimum. Nurturing that talent to full potential by infusing it with dedication and passion is what elevates a player: down the years, Nigeria have seen such prospects as Alfred Emoefe and Bernard Okorowanta fail to reach their full potential, and it was not for a lack of ability.

It appears that most are holding on to the memory of what these brothers were able to achieve in the national youth set-up, as well as the fact that, two years ago, Kelechi thrilled the crowd with a dazzling performance during a friendly with a second-string Atletico Madrid team in Uyo.

However, should that be enough? After all, a number of their contemporaries have gone on to greater influence, and are playing regularly at club level in Europe: Taiwo Awoniyi, Kelechi Iheanacho and Wilfred Ndidi played with the older Nwakali, while Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze played with the younger.

There is only so long they can continue to be regarded as “young”. It has been over four years now since Kelechi took the world by storm, and over six for Chidiebere.

There is, naturally, some luck involved in the trajectory of a professional career, but how is it that, beyond even the uncertainty surrounding their present and future, they find themselves in the news for the wrong reasons?

Some have blamed poor transfer decisions for their troubles - both chose to join Premier League sides in their very first moves. All things considered, it is a difficult pathway for young Nigerian players, and directly led to their spate of loans.

While that is a worthwhile factor to consider, it is almost impossible to completely dull talent in this manner. Even when work permit restrictions prevent a player gaining a foothold, there is nothing stopping him from applying himself during one of his loan spells and securing a permanent move away.

As an example, Kenneth Omeruo was loaned all over Europe for years while on Chelsea’s books, but crucially he always stayed involved wherever he was, putting in solid performances until a move to La Liga materialised.

Could it have been bad advisers? Again, this is possible. However, it is also a player’s responsibility to have a vision for his own career, as well as the discipline to see it through. As is clear from the conduct of these two brothers, there is a need to improve where the latter is concerned: what degree of professionalism is conveyed when an employee requires his employer to bail him out of a personal holiday?

For all the excuses that have been made, the truth is a lot has been done already to keep them involved. Almost in spite of a lack of club football, Kelechi was heavily involved with the national under-23 team from qualifiers through to the AFCON, where his lack of match fitness went some way toward undermining their Olympic qualifying efforts. To expect the senior national team to do the same would be a step too far: Rohr, for all his foibles, insists on picking players who are getting consistent minutes at club level.

Being labelled "the future" just will not do. Not when the likes of Joe Aribo have burst onto the international scene, and there is interest in players like Ovie Ejaria and Ebere Eze, all of whom are playing at a high level in the UK.

It is difficult to tell exactly where these brothers lost their way. However, if they are to avoid the pitfalls of early success, it is entirely in their hands now to change the narrative around themselves

Source:Opera

Has Chriskels joined the OperaTeam? This looks like his hand writing

TheSuperNerd:
No... You are wrong about Salzburg. They will be patient with him and he will be allowed to blend in. He is not walking into their first team as soon as he is 18 naa... No way. He will be eased in and start from Salzburg's feeder team. If you know about the Red Bull Sports Group and their ways with young talents, you will know that Tijani is in good hands.
Red Bull also owns and runs RB Leipzig in Germany. Big sister club to RB Salzburg in Austria.

Infact, talking about pressure, it is more in England than at Salzburg, in Holland or in Belgium.

Time will tell.
In England, they would place him in the youth teams first which will allow him to develop technical skills, then ease him slowly in cup games

Iheanacho and Ndidi will play against Aston Villa by 8:45 pm

Subzero047:
Iheanacho and Ndidi will play against Aston Villa by 8:45 pm

of course
Rodgers does not have another option

I think the england press have started noticing Ndidi
www-nairaland-com.0.freebasics.com/5655686/ndidi-outperformed-kante-leicester-city?iorg_service_id_internal=1646953538912597">https://https-www-nairaland-com.0.freebasics.com/5655686/ndidi-outperformed-kante-leicester-city?iorg_service_id_internal=1646953538912597%3BAfotkJETULqNLAE0

Wilfed Ndidi: Leicester midfielder rising above N'Golo Kante comparisons
By Gary


N'Golo Kante and Wilfred Ndidi
Wilfred Ndidi joined Leicester in January 2017, eight months after the Foxes won the Premier League title
Wilfred Ndidi has probably got a little tired of hearing N'Golo Kante's name over the past couple of years.

After all, since the 22-year-old defensive midfielder joined Leicester in January 2017 he has regularly found himself compared to the Chelsea midfielder, who was an instrumental part of the Foxes' title-winning team in 2015-16.

But maybe now is the time for the comparisons to stop.

Ndidi is not just filling the void left by Kante, he has developed into one of the best players in his position and is arguably the fulcrum in a Leicester team that is fighting for a top-four finish in the Premier League and at one stage looked like battling with Liverpool for top spot.

It is also probably no coincidence that Leicester's title challenge - admittedly unlikely against an imperious Liverpool side - faded when Ndidi suffered an injury in early January.

His return is significant for the Foxes, who beat West Ham 4-1 on his comeback last week to end a three-game winless run, and who face Aston Villa in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday with the tie level at 1-1.

So how did Ndidi develop into one of the best defensive midfielders in Europe? It all started with a ball made of Sellotape...

Makeshift footballs and strict discipline - where it all began
There is something simplistic yet regimented about Ndidi's role on the pitch - break up attacks, win back possession and pass. Rinse and repeat.

The type of footballer he is can perhaps be traced back to his upbringing.

Born in 1996 to a military father, Ndidi grew up in a Lagos barracks. Discipline and education were the priority while football was a passion his father frowned upon.

"Any time my dad went to work I would go and play," Ndidi said in an interview with BBC World Service.

"I would then get the signal that he was coming and go back to what I was doing, so he didn't know I'd been playing. I got caught several times but was still going. I love football. I just want to play."

While many of his Leicester team-mates started their careers in the academies of professional football clubs, Ndidi's football education came on the roads around the military barracks he grew up in.

"We would wrap sheets of papers up and using Sellotape make it into a ball," he adds. "There was no money to buy footballs.

"We played on the main road, using two tyres as goals. The big guys were using the good pitch, we had nothing to use and just played on the road."

It was during these formative years that Ndidi came across a person who he credits as one of the most influential in his career.

Nduku Ugbade
Former Nigeria international Nduka Ugbade, had a huge influence on a young Wilfred Ndidi
Coaching the army barracks youth team was former Nigeria international Nduka Ugbade, a tough disciplinarian who pushed the young players to their limits both physically and mentally.

"Ugbade is one of the biggest names in African football," Africa-based sports journalist Oluwashina Okeleji tells BBC Sport.

"His opinion is respected and if he speaks to you, you listen. There is no limit with him. No excuses. He is a hard trainer but will not stretch you beyond your ability."

Still, the tough training was too much for some but, as a skinny teenager who was also smaller than his peers, Ndidi felt such a work ethic would benefit him.

'Take the ball and pass' - keeping it simple pays dividends
The discipline he developed from being coached by Ugbade meant he treated every game equally - competitive or friendly - and his big chance to impress the wider world came in a tournament in Nigeria, where international scouts were watching.

"There were about 40 teams that came for the tournament," says Ndidi. "I got the ball and made a run, a one-two run into the middle. I gave a simple pass to the striker. No-one had seen him so I just gave it to him between the defenders and he went and scored. That was the only game I played."

For Roland Janssen, a Genk scout at the tournament, that one game was enough. Impressed with the teenager's work rate he invited Ndidi for a trial with the Belgian side.

"When I came to Belgium the coach was Alex McLeish and he was putting me at right-back and left-back," Ndidi continues.

"Then a new coach came in and put me in midfield but it was so strange because the first game I played there I was substituted in the 32nd minute.

"After that I went back to basics - take the ball, look around, pass, take the ball, look around, pass."

'Kante is brilliant but there's no-one better than Ndidi'
Keeping it simple has undoubtedly worked wonders for Ndidi and statistically he is now one of the best players in his position.

Such is his influence that when he missed three games this month for Leicester through injury, the Foxes failed to win any of them.

He missed two Premier League matches during that spell on the sidelines yet still tops the table for most tackles made in the top flight. And by some distance.

Most tackles in the Premier League (midfielders)
Player Tackles
Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester) 86
Joao Moutinho (Wolves) 65
James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) 62
Emiliano Buendia (Norwich) 57
Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg (Southampton) 57
"I think he is the best in the Premier League at tackling and winning the ball back," Ndidi's team-mate James Maddison told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.

"Kante is a brilliant player but actually winning the ball back and taking the ball off the opposition I don't think there is anyone better than Wilfred.

"Sometimes you get a player like that and what he does doesn't get talked about on the back pages, it doesn't maybe get talked about on Match of the Day.

"However, us as team-mates know what he does and it lets players like myself and Youri Tielemans do our thing higher up the pitch because we know we have that solidarity behind us."

Stopping attacks while studying at university
Nigerian midfielder Wilfred Ndidi on why he's studying business at University.
Ndidi's statistics are all the more impressive when you consider he is combining being the best defensive midfielder in Europe with studying for a degree.

Having found himself with plenty of spare time after training, Ndidi last year enrolled onto a business management course at De Montfort University in Leicester.

"It is easy to get carried away with the bright lights of the big cities when you move to England, but that's not Ndidi," continues Okeleji.

"He is learning how to invest his money properly. Legends of the game have struggled in Africa after their playing careers have come to an end.

"Instead of going home and watching films he wanted to do something productive with his time.

"He may sometimes play PlayStation with his friends but otherwise it is just about football and studying."

'He wants to be his own man'
It takes a lot to frustrate Ndidi, described by those who see him behind the scenes at Leicester as one of the most laid-back players at the club.

At Genk, he was nicknamed Teddy Bear because of his calm demeanour and ability to take being the butt of some of the team's jokes in good humour.

But comparisons with Kante are one thing he struggles to smile about.

"Any time someone mentions it to him it does upset him a bit," adds Okeleji.

"There is obviously great respect there but now he wants to be his own man. He feels he has established himself in his own right."




Source: BBC

So CAF hosting futsal AFCON ....thats is a good one

Iheanacho and Ndidi start for Leicester

Subzero047:
Iheanacho and Ndidi start for Leicester

Na so

Aston Villa have a Zimbabwean and a Tanzanian in their squad

Southern African football has improved

Former Tottenham Hotspur’s striker Jermain Defoe has heaped praises on his Rangers’ team-mate after the youngster’s seamless adaptation to his new role as a number ten.

The ex-England striker has been left impressed with how Super Eagles star Joe Aribo has embraced the challenge of the Scottish Premiership since joining last summer. He also believes that the youngster has been able to express himself more since he was handed a free role in an attacking setup by Rangers boss, Steven Gerrard.


The Light Blues have been able to count on the technical ability and tactical nous of the Nigeria international since arriving the Ibrox from Charlton Athletic, with the 23-year-old nailing a regular shirt in Gerrard’s Rangers starting eleven.

During his early days, Aribo was usually deployed in deep-lying positions in midfield, but he has recently been moved further upfield where he enjoys the freedom of a classic Number 10.



It is in this new position that Gers frontman Defoe feels the youngster can better express himself even more.

“For Joe Aribo – where he was sort of like, played a little bit deeper and now he is playing as a 10, closer to the goal, where I feel like he can really express himself,” Defoe told Rangers TV.

“And almost like play off the cuff without thinking too much and I feel like that’s where he’s at his best, when he can just play off the cuff and just do what he does.

“He’s been a big player for us. He’s enjoying it, he’s enjoying playing that sort of role.”

Aribo has scored six goals and provided eight assists from his 35 appearances across all competitions for Rangers this term.

What game were you watching? Neither one of them started today’s game. Kelechi came in as a sub and scored the equalizer for Leicester City tho.

O pari

Subzero047:
Iheanacho and Ndidi start for Leicester

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Aston Villa have a Zimbabwean and a Tanzanian in their squad

Southern African football has improved

Tanzania is East Africa.