Former Arsenal, Ajax and Inter striker Kanu Nwankwo has promised to help Nigeria bring back Vincent Enyeama to the Super Eagles as his services his needed if the country must qualify for AFCON 2019 and World Cup 2018.

The former Golden Eaglets and Super Eagles captain submitted that he is willing to convince Enyeama to comeback from his retirement most especially now that Carl Ikeme who took over from him has been diagnosed with leukemia and already undergoing treatment.

“As it is now we need Vincent badly. In my opinion, Enyeama should come back immediately,” the two-time African Player of the Year told KweséESPN.

“Enyeama is very very good. He is one of the best players in Africa, and one of the best in the world. Let the federation look into it and do everything they can to bring him back.

“If Enyeama says he doesn’t want to come, people like us can talk to him, the federation too can talk to him. If a lot of people talk to him, I’m sure that definitely he will change his mind.

“And not just Enyeama, let us look at some of the other active goalkeepers too. If we have like four goalkeepers there training, there will be competition and the coach can have more options to make his decision.”
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Cristiano Ronaldo is “so happy” at Real Madrid and the LaLiga champions are delighted with their star forward, according to Fernando Morientes.

Ronaldo, 32, has been linked with a shock move from Madrid, with Paris Saint-Germain and his former club Manchester United reportedly interested.

But United manager Jose Mourinho said on Saturday his team never considered a move for Ronaldo, labelling it “mission impossible”.

Morientes, who won three Champions Leagues and two LaLiga titles at Madrid, has no doubt Ronaldo will stay at the European champions.

“I haven’t heard Cristiano saying he wants to leave,” he said at the Star Sixes tournament.

“I already know how this works… At the end of every season there are a lot of rumours and doubts on the big players. Ronaldo is one of them.

“I am calm because he hasn’t spoken… At the time when he speaks, we will see.

“But I am pretty sure that Cristiano is so happy at Real Madrid, and Real Madrid is happy with Cristiano. So it will be complicated [if he leaves].”

A four-time Ballon d’Or winner, Ronaldo has claimed two LaLiga titles and three Champions Leagues at Madrid, amid numerous other trophies.
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Wigan vs Liverpool—————————————–Away win

CLICK D LINK FOR D REST GAMEShttps://www.sportlineng.com/2017/07/14/113700/

Former FIFA Executive Committee member Chuck Blazer has died aged 72, according to his lawyers.

Blazer, who served as CONCACAF general secretary and U.S. Soccer Federation executive vice-president, was handed a lifetime ban by FIFA from all football-related activity in 2015.

The American had pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy, money laundering and tax evasion in late 2013.

As part of his plea, Blazer, who had been battling cancer up until his death, agreed to work undercover to help authorities with their investigation into corruption within FIFA.

“We are truly saddened by the passing of our client and friend, Chuck Blazer,” his lawyers Eric Corngold and Mary Mulligan said in a statement given to the BBC and AFP.

“His misconduct, for which he accepted full responsibility, should not obscure Chuck’s positive impact on international soccer.”
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Chelsea have reportedly agreed a £40m deal for AS Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko.

The Premier League champions have been strongly linked with the Frenchman since the end of last season, although it had been claimed that Manchester United were preparing to swoop for the 22-year-old.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Chelsea and Monaco were still £3m apart in their valuation of the midfielder, but according to Sky Sports News, a deal has now been agreed, and Bakayoko will join the English giants before the end of the week.

Bakayoko, who made his senior France debut in March, scored three times in 47 appearances for Monaco last season as the principality club won Ligue 1, in addition to reaching the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The midfielder is currently recovering from routine keyhole surgery, which he underwent last month to address a niggling problem.
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The Manchester United squad for Tour 2017, presented by Aon, will be announced on Sunday ahead of Jose Mourinho’s men flying to Los Angeles for an 18-day stay in the United States.

Mourinho is expected to name a strong squad that will presumably include the club’s first confirmed summer signing Victor Lindelof, while a handful of Academy players including Nigerian duo of Matthew Osunde and Tosin Kehinde could also join the party, as has become custom in recent pre-season campaigns.

For example, the boss opted to take young Axel Tuanzebe to China in the summer of 2016, before later handing the impressive defender his senior debut in the second half of the 2016/17 season

The Red Devils will contest friendly matches against Major League Soccer sides LA Galaxy and Real Salt Lake, before facing Manchester City, Barcelona and Real Madrid in the International Champions Cup.

United will then return to Manchester on 27 July for two days of rest, before travelling to Norway and then Ireland for further friendlies versus Valerenga and Sampdoria.
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James Rodriguez claims the door is not closed on his Real Madrid career despite being presented as a Bayern Munich player on Wednesday.

The Colombia international has agreed a two-year loan move to the Allianz Arena, where he will hope to recapture top form after finding himself on the fringes of the Madrid first team.

The 26-year-old earned a big-money transfer to the Santiago Bernabeu in 2014 following his impressive performances at the World Cup in Brazil.

He played under Carlo Ancelotti during his first campaign in the Spanish capital and must now impress the Italian coach again to force his way into the Bundesliga champions’ starting XI.

“We have some great players and I have to fight for a starting position,” he told a news conference.

“I can play on the left or the right wing as well as a playmaker. I will play wherever the coach wants me to play.

“It is a new life for me. Everything is new, but Munich is a beautiful city. I will try to learn German.

“The door to Real Madrid is still open, but for now I only think about the next two years here. After that we’ll see and make a decision.

“It is a new way but no step back. A new challenge.”

. @jamesdrodriguez : “I can play on the left, on the right or as a number 10. I will have to fight for my starting place.” #ServusJames pic.twitter.com/tw9BXmWbe9

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) July 12, 2017
Bayern chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the club will be first in line to keep James, should all parties be in favour of making the switch permanent.

“We have a clear agreement with James and Real about a two-year loan,” he said.

“After that we have the option to make the deal permanent with a specific amount for three more years.”

Of Bayern’s other recruitment activity, he added: “The transfer market is open for another six weeks.

“I won’t rule out that we sign some other players nor that some players could leave. But right now, nothing specific is planned.”

Ancelotti welcomed a quality addition to the squad but made it clear the new arrival should not expect any preferential treatment when it comes to selection decisions.

“I am really happy that he is here now. We already had a good time together,” he said. “His quality will improve our squad. He is a calm person and will find his place within the team.

“He can play everywhere, it’s important to have competition within the team. He will get some breaks as well, I have no problem to bench players.”

. @jamesdrodriguez could be available for #TelekomCup selection, after being observed by @MrAncelotti in training later this week. pic.twitter.com/HMUVVBH8AD

— FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) July 12, 2017
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Jason Denayer has accused Manchester City of forcing him into a loan move with LaLiga newcomers Girona against his wishes and preventing him from leaving permanently.

Belgium international Denayer has been a City player since 2013, but has not made a senior appearance in any competition and spent the last three seasons out on loan at Celtic, Galatasaray and Sunderland.

With first-team opportunities limited under Pep Guardiola, a temporary switch is once again on the cards for Denayer, who outlined a desire to join Ligue 1 side Lyon – a move he says City have blocked.

Denayer told Sport Voetbalmagazine: “Man City are not keen on selling me, or only against unreasonable terms for potential buyers: a buy-back clause for almost the same price as the selling price.”That means that clubs aren’t keen on signing me permanently and prefer to take me on loan. I’ve nothing against a new loan deal, but I want to choose my destination. Lyon would be the perfect place for me. An ambitious club in an attractive league.

“The club and I had already reached a personal agreement, but City are vetoing a move and are pushing me to Girona… we’ll see what’ll happen in the coming weeks. If the situation is not resolved, I will go to Girona, but not heartily.

“I would rather not join Girona. Not because I want to make it difficult for myself, but because I like to play in a team that is dominating. Not only to show myself, but also to develop myself. I have always had certain priorities in my career choices.

“Now it’s first and foremost a club that plays at the top of the league. In addition, in a pleasant city and with good supporters, who create a lot of noise at home.

“The financial aspect comes in the last place. The problem of Girona is that the club has just been promoted to the Primera Division, and in a small city. That’s not really what I’m looking for.”
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Paris Saint-Germain have called a news conference amid intense speculation that they have beaten Manchester City to the signing of Dani Alves.

Reports in France and the UK claim that Alves has agreed a two-year deal at the Parc des Princes, having rejected a reunion with Pep Guardiola in Manchester.

The pair won three LaLiga titles and two Champions League crowns together at Barcelona, with Alves winning a second treble at Camp Nou under Luis Enrique.

Alves also helped Juventus to a Serie A and Coppa Italia double last term, but the Serie A side lost the Champions League final to Real Madrid.

PSG have already signed left-back Yuri Berchiche from Real Sociedad, with Alves likely to compete with Thomas Meunier for a slot at right-back. Ivory Coast full-back Serge Aurier is expected to leave Paris and has been linked with Manchester United.

City are expected to continue their pursuit of Tottenham’s Kyle Walker, but must now find another player to complement the England international, with no recognised right-backs currently in their squad.
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Michael Carrick has been named the new captain of Manchester United, replacing departed striker Wayne Rooney.

Rooney was appointed skipper by former boss Louis van Gaal, but England’s record goalscorer ended his 13-year stay at Old Trafford this week to return to Everton after falling down the pecking order under Jose Mourinho.

Mourinho has handed long-serving Carrick – who had a testimonial to mark his 11 seasons at the club last month – the armband at Old Trafford.

“I feel great, it’s such a huge honour to captain such a great club,” Carrick told MUTV. “Obviously it’s my 12th year here now, I came as a 25-year-old and I never thought I could be here this long and achieve so much.

“I’ll try to lead the boys and guide the young boys in some ways. It’s a nice thing to be [captain] and it’s a real pleasure. I came to this club as a footballer and I’m now a huge fan. I’ve grown to love the club over the years and to be in this position is very special to me.

“I’ll just be myself, you can’t change, it’s wrong to suddenly get a role and start shouting and screaming at everyone and telling them what to do. I’m not like that, I’ll speak when I need to speak but I’m quite laid-back and chilled out. I’ll try and lead by example.”Carrick only started 18 Premier League matches last season, but signed a one-year contract extension in May.

During his time at Old Trafford, Carrick has won five Premier League titles, three League Cups, one FA Cup and the Champions League and is now United’s longest serving player after Rooney’s departure.

Following Rooney’s exit earlier this week, Carrick played tribute to his former team-mate.

“Blew me away by how good he was from day 1,” Carrick wrote on Twitter on Monday. “Outrageous. Had ups n downs but what a ride we’ve been on. Gonna miss him. Good luck Pal #Legend.”
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

bbm2016:
Like he has a choice

Am sure he knows he has grown so old....

Even Sunderland won't accept him

bt he stills play nice football

Barcelona have put former players Guillermo Amor and Jose Mari Bakero in charge of the club’s youth setup, as part of an ongoing shake-up at Camp Nou.

The duo will oversee Barca B, as well as the club’s U19A and U19B teams, with Amor and Bakero taking over from Josep Segura after his appointment as general manager.

Bakero and Amor were both at the club under Johan Cruyff when Barcelona’s ‘Dream Team’ claimed their first European Cup in the 1991-92 season.

Amor was most recently the coach of A-League side Adelaide United, who won the Grand Final in 2016 under his leadership, while Bakero coached the Barca Legends team that played Manchester United at Camp Nou last month.Barcelona are currently preparing for their first LaLiga season under new coach Ernesto Valverde, who replaced Luis Enrique after he stepped down from the role.

Further changes to the Barcelona backroom staff are expected to be confirmed by the club ahead of the new season.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott has allegedly indicated that he has no plans to leave the club during the summer transfer window.

During the closing weeks of the season, Walcott made just one Premier League start for the Gunners and with reports suggesting that Arsene Wenger is looking to spend big on a winger ahead of the next campaign, Walcott’s future looks uncertain.

However, according to the Daily Star, the 28-year-old would rather fight for a starting role with the Gunners than move to a new team.

The attacker has spent the last 11 years in North London, with 104 goals being scored in 381 appearances during that time, but he is not guaranteed a role in the first XI and has made 138 outings from the bench during his Arsenal career.

West Ham United have been credited with an interest in his signature and although they would offer more guaranteed playing time, it appears that the England international intends to remain at his current club.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Chelsea striker Diego Costa has been excused from the start of pre-season training with the Premier League champions.

There is mounting speculation that the Spain international will return to former club Atletico Madrid after being told he is surplus to requirements by head coach Antonio Conte.

However, any move back to Atleti is complicated by a player registration ban for the LaLiga side, which means Costa would be unable to play for them before January.

Omnisport understands the 28-year-old is absent with Chelsea’s permission after he was granted additional leave. There is no timeframe on his return.

Costa scored 20 goals in 35 league matches last term as Chelsea returned to the summit of English football but clashed with Conte during mid-season when links to Chinese Super League side Tianjin Quanjian briefly threatened to derail their title charge.

Conte’s squad fly to Beijing next Monday for a three-game tour of China and Singapore.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Arsenal have reportedly missed out on the potential signing of Nantes midfielder Amine Harit.

The Gunners have been linked with a wide range of players since Arsene Wenger committed his future to the club for an extra two years, and it had been claimed that they were looking to bring in 20-year-old Harit after an impressive year in Ligue 1.

However, according to talkSPORT, Harit has instead decided to sign a four-year contract with Bundesliga club Schalke 04.

Last season, he made 30 appearances in Ligue 1 and his performances have seemingly convinced the German outfit to spend £7.75m on his signature.

So far, Arsenal have made two just signings this summer with Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette both penning deals at the Emirates Stadium, but Wenger is unlikely to conclude his transfer business without another major incoming.

AS Monaco duo Kylian Mbappe and Thomas Lemar have been heavily linked with a switch to North London, as has Riyad Mahrez from Leicester City.
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Liverpool forward Sadio Mane is 10 days away from returning to training as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.

The Reds provided an update on the 25-year-old’s condition on Thursday to confirm his rehabilitation is “on course”.

Mane underwent knee surgery in April after sustaining the injury in an awkward tangle with Leighton Baines during the Merseyside derby victory over Everton.

That cut short an impressive season from the Senegal international, who scored 13 Premier League goals and added five assists in 27 appearances.

“The forward has been based at Melwood working with the club’s medical team for the majority of the summer,” read Liverpool’s statement.

“His recovery plan is on schedule and Mane’s condition has looked good as he has completed outdoor sessions to step up his recuperation program.”Liverpool have eight friendlies scheduled over the next month as they prepare for their Champions League play-off tie in August, although next week’s matches against Tranmere Rovers and Wigan Athletic will come too soon for Mane.

Following those games, Liverpool meet Crystal Palace in the Premier League Asia Trophy on July 19.
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Romelu Lukaku has been backed to be a big success at Manchester United by Stoke City manager Mark Hughes.

Hughes, himself a former Old Trafford centre-forward star, as well as an ex-Everton player, believes the striker will impress if reports of an accepted £75million United bid lead to a completed transfer.

Lukaku’s impressive Premier League scoring record has the Stoke manager confident the Belgium international – also a reported target of Chelsea – will adapt to a new challenge at Jose Mourinho’s side, as the United boss attempts to replace Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“In fairness to the boy, for a number of years, he has been scoring regular goals at the top level of British football,” Hughes told reporters.

“It [United] will be a different challenge for him. Everton are a good club – I’ve played at both clubs.

“Everton are very much a family club, United, clearly since I left, it’s gone on to become even bigger on the world stage and it’s a huge entity now.

“Maybe he will find a little bit of a difference in that, but his day-to-day work will be similar and I’m sure he will be a great success there.

“It’s been in the offing for a while it seems. There’s been a lot of discussion in terms of which club he was going to go to.

“There’s been a lot of talk about Chelsea but it looks like he’s going to go to Manchester United.

“Given that Manchester United have lost Zlatan, they clearly had to address that and they have gone for Lukaku.”Hughes suspects Everton’s transfer-market splurge, which has seen them bring in the likes of Jordan Pickford, Michael Keane, Davy Klaassen and Sandro Ramirez, has been made in anticipation of a windfall from selling Lukaku.

He continued: “From the outside it looks as though Everton have already been spending the money they are going to accumulate. It is a big chunk of money, you have to say.”

Lukaku scored 25 Premier League goals last season, a total that saw him finish second to Tottenham star Harry Kane in the scoring charts.
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Alexandre Lacazette hopes to follow in the footsteps of Thierry Henry at Arsenal after becoming the Premier League club’s record signing.

Lacazette completed his much-anticipated switch from Lyon to Emirates Stadium on Wednesday for a fee reported to be in the region of €60million.

The 26-year-old France striker has long followed Arsenal’s progress from his homeland due to the exploits of Henry and other Les Bleus stars in London.

“I am, of course. delighted and very proud too because Arsenal is a legendary club,” Lacazette, who admires the club’s “stability” under Arsene Wenger, told the Gunners’ official website.

“Throughout my childhood, thanks to Thierry Henry and other French players, I always dreamed of playing for this club so that dream has been fulfilled.

“[I like] Arsenal’s past – I like clubs with a history. Also the fact that the manager has been here for a while shows it is a stable club, which I like.

“In addition, there are quite a few French players here, which makes it easier to settle in.

“In my opinion, Arsenal is also the club that plays the best football in England so I really wanted to play here.”Lacazette arrives in the Premier League after a prolific return of 37 goals across 45 matches in 2016-17 helped Lyon to fourth place in Ligue 1 and a run to the semi-finals of the Europa League.

“When I play I like to use my pace to link up with my team-mates. As a forward, I like to score goals of course, but that not all that I’m about,” he said when discussing his style of play.

“Every time I take a shot at goal it’s because I believe I can score. I don’t just shoot for the sake of it.

“I also try to keep as calm as possible. All that is achieved by a lot of hard work in training.”

Lacazette added: “I want to give 100 per cent in every match. I want to show I’m worthy of the shirt. I want to do everything I can to make sure we win titles.”
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Real Madrid have reached an agreement to sign full-back Theo Hernandez from city rivals Atletico Madrid on a six-year deal, subject to a medical.

The 19-year-old, whose brother Lucas Hernandez plays for Atleti, impressed during a loan spell with Copa del Rey finalists Alaves last season.

Hernandez was under contract until 2021 with Atletico but, in a statement, the club said the French youngster rejected “several” offers to renew terms, along with advances from other European clubs.

“[Hernandez was] stating repeatedly his firm desire to play for Real Madrid,” the statement read.

A fee has not been disclosed for the transfer, although Madrid sports newspaper Marca reported it was worth in the region of €26million.

Hernandez will be presented at the Santiago Bernabeu on Monday after undergoing his medical.

He played 38 times in all competitions for Alaves last term but never made a competitive appearance for Atletico despite joining the club’s academy setup as an 11-year-old.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Arsenal are getting better value with Alexandre Lacazette than Manchester United will for Alvaro Morata, according to Gerard Houllier.

Lacazette’s impending move to the Gunners will reportedly cost a club-record £52million, but Houllier, former boss of Lyon, Liverpool and France, believes that represents a good deal.

He compared the fee to United’s big-money 2015 signing of Anthony Martial and current pursuit of Real Madrid forward Morata, likening the soon-to-be Arsenal striker to club legend Ian Wright.

“If you compare his statistics to the other strikers, this season he scored 37 goals,” Houllier told talkSPORT about Lacazette.

“When you think Anthony Martial cost €80million Morata is about to cost €90m, Morata hasn’t scored as many goals as Lacazette.

“Morata has played 136 games and scored only 47 goals. Strikers are very expensive at the moment.”

Houllier believes Lacazette will be an ideal fit into Arsenal’s style and praised the 26-year-old’s track record.

“More like Alexis Sanchez than Olivier Giroud – Ian Wright is a good comparison,” he said on Lacazette’s style of play. “He is very mobile, very quick, good in short spaces, has good skill and he scores goals.

“He was the top scorer in France in 2014-15, the best player in the league in 2015 and has been the best French scorer over the last three seasons.

“He scores more than 25 goals every season. One thing he will bring to Arsenal is obviously goals, scoring is his main asset.

“He has good technique, is good at using short spaces and is a hard-working, modern player. He can attack, he can defend quickly.

“I’m not surprised Arsene Wenger fancied him very quickly. He will fit in their game. He will suit their passing game, the way they build up, their approach. He is very good near the box.

“He is a bit like Ian Wright. You don’t seem to see him and then suddenly he moves.”
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Heather Watson has recorded an excellent win over 18th seed Anastasia Sevastova to reach the Wimbledon third round.

The British number two has been in excellent form on the grass and she continued that in a 6-0 6-4 victory over the Latvian.

The opening set saw Watson produce arguably her best tennis all year as she dismantled Sevastova, registering three successive breaks to wrap up a bagel set in just 19 minutes.

Sevastova stopped the rot in the second and moved into a 3-1 lead with a break of her own but there was no stopping Watson, who played the kind of aggressive tennis which helped her reach the semi-finals of the Eastbourne Invitational last week.

Watson ended the match with three successive breaks of serve to book her place in the last 32 in just 61 minutes.

She could now face former world number one Victoria Azarenka, who is making her first appearance at a Grand Slam tournament since the birth of her first child.
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Antoine Griezmann insists he was not in contact with Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho before extending his contract with Atletico Madrid.

Griezmann penned a new deal last month running to 2022, having been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford.

The France international explained that his loyalty to Atletico was borne out of the club’s transfer ban – which prevents them from registering any new players until January. Despite the sanction, Diego Costa and Vitolo have been linked with a move to the Wanda Metropolitano.

Mourinho was reported to have been in regular contact with Griezmann during his pursuit of him, and it was suggested that the striker had called the United boss to tell him that he had instead opted to commit to Atletico.

But Griezmann told FourFourTwo of reports that he contacted Mourinho before signing his new deal: “No, that’s totally made up. False. It was my decision. I communicated it to the club. That’s it.

“I have stayed mainly because of the transfer ban. Atletico needed me now more than ever and I felt I had to stay. It would be dirty to leave. I wouldn’t have been myself, or the person that I feel I am today, if I had left this club in that way.”I spoke to Diego Simeone about the situation, our options and how he wanted me to stay to work out what we could do. Then we finalised everything with [chief executive] Miguel Angel Gil.

“I have too much respect for this club and the people in it to leave now because, just like Real Sociedad, they’ve given me everything.”

Despite signing terms for the next five years, Griezmann is not thinking beyond the upcoming LaLiga season, with United potentially set to launch another bid in 12 months’ time.

“To be honest, I don’t know,” he added on his future. “I’m going to be playing for Atletico next season and after that we’ll see.

“All I am thinking about now is Atletico Madrid. I think it’s absurd to talk about something that is more than a year away.”
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The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is yet to accept the proposed new date by FIFA for the 2018 World Cup qualifying tie against Cameroon in Uyo.

FIFA shifted the date for the clash at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo from the original date of September 1st to the 30th of August due to issues bordering on Television broadcast.

Nigeria has, however, not replied FIFA over the new date communicated to them last week as they hope to persuade FIFA to see reasons why the game should not be moved forward.

Informed sources at the NFF said that a fresh request for the tie to hold on the 1st of September will be submitted later this week to FIFA for consideration.

Part of the reason why the NFF want the game to be played on the 1st of September is to have a full house at the Stadium, which is not guaranteed if the tie is played on a Friday, which happens to be the 30th of August date announced by FIFA.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/nigeria-news/

Lyon striker Alexandre Lacazette has reportedly arrived at Arsenal’s training ground to undergo a medical, before putting pen to paper on a five-year deal.

The Gunners have reached an agreement to sign the France international, who will officially become their record signing – worth around £52m – in the next 24 hours.

Les Gones president Jean-Michel Aulas revealed on Sunday evening that negotiations were at an advanced stage, and it has been widely reported the 26-year-old is now at Arsenal’s London Colney HQ.

Former West Ham United target Lacazette, who was due to join Atletico Madrid this summer prior to their transfer ban being upheld, is expected to link up with his new teammates ahead of their pre-season trips to Australia and China.

Lacazette has scored 129 goals in 275 appearances for Lyon and will become Arsenal’s second arrival of the summer.
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Casemiro thinks Cristiano Ronaldo is happy at Real Madrid and hopes he will not have to play against the Portuguese superstar in the future.

Four-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo is said to be considering his future in Madrid amid scrutiny over his tax affairs from Spanish authorities.

The 32-year-old has refused to comment on the reports, instead focusing his attentions on the Confederations Cup campaign with Portugal, in which they finished third, and the birth of his twins.

Casemiro is confident he will stay at the Santiago Bernabeu, stating it would be tough to go up against another team with Ronaldo in their ranks.

“Of course, we want Cristiano to stay with us. He is the best in the world,” said Casemiro.

“There is no explanation for what he has done for us.

“He is happy at Real Madrid and does not need to comment further.

“Playing against the best in the world is complicated, so I hope he does not leave.”

Casemiro was speaking after being honoured in his hometown of Sao Jose dos Campos for his sporting achievements.

He praised the impact Zinedine Zidane has had on his career, the Frenchman making him an essential part of a team that has won two Champions League titles and LaLiga.

Casemiro said: “Footballers are always learning new things. This year was the best of my career, but I am aware I need to keep growing and I want to continue growing with Real Madrid.

“For me it’s a pleasure to be trained by Zidane. I am just very thankful for all he has been asking me to do and for helping me to evolve.”
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Having defeated Manny Pacquiao, Jeff Horn is hopeful of securing a bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr once the American has fought Conor McGregor.

The Australian secured a shock points win over Pacquiao in Brisbane on Sunday, although the unanimous verdict was questioned by many in the aftermath.

Horn was quick to shrug off the critics after achieving what he described as “climbing the Pacquiao mountain” and he has quickly turned his attentions to scaling another, more formidable, summit.

The undefeated Mayweather will come out of retirement to take on UFC superstar Conor McGregor in a mega-money bout in Las Vegas in August, but Horn is hopeful of being the American’s subsequent opponent.

https:///MS7Oosjl9C pic.twitter.com/IqEBbEcv5W

— Floyd Mayweather (@FloydMayweather) June 29, 2017
“I hope so. I’m world champ now. And he has been out of action and coming back to have a fight with Conor McGregor,” Horn said.

“It will be a good test for him to cement his record in history to fight another boxer for his title.

“I would prefer to come back here to fight in Queensland or Australia, but, look, there is always a chance that the fight could possibly be made in America.”
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Germany coach Joachim Low said his youthful Confederations Cup squad would go down in history after their triumph in Russia.

A first-half goal from Lars Stindl saw Low’s men to a 1-0 win over Chile in Sunday’s final, giving the proud nation their first Confederations Cup crown.

Low said the achievement, secured without many of Germany’s first-choice stars, would never be forgotten.

“It is worth a lot, because Germany has never won this trophy in our history,” he told a news conference.

“So this team and this victory will go down in history. The team absolutely deserved it and that’s why we’re all super happy.

“It’s heavier than the World Cup.”

Champions. #ConfedCup #CHIGER pic.twitter.com/El8pRTKFVm

— #ConfedCup (@FIFAcom) July 2, 2017
Joshua Kimmich was similarly delighted, saying Germany had proved their doubters wrong in Russia.

“Myself and the team are all extremely proud of the title. Nobody really counted on us and we were able to beat great nations,” the Bayern Munich midfielder said.

“You could see how much it meant to the Chileans as they were so sad in the end.

“We’ve had the better ending and it is amazing to get the cup with this squad. We will party hard.”
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/

Arsenal have reportedly registered an interest in signing Sporting Lisbon pair William Carvalho and Gelson Martins.

Since the end of last season, the Gunners have continually been linked with players from France’s top flight with Kylian Mbappe, Alexandre Lacazette and Thomas Lemar all said to be on Arsene Wenger’s radar.

However, according to A Bola, Arsenal are considering a £70m offer to try to sign Carvalho and Martins from Sporting ahead of the new campaign.

Defensive midfielder Carvalho has been linked with a transfer to the Premier League for a number of years and after making over 150 appearances for Sporting, the 25-year-old could finally move on this summer.

Liverpool have been credited with an interest in 22-year-old Martins – who impressed in Portugal’s top flight last season – but they will allegedly face competition from the North London outfit who must identify potential replacements for Alexis Sanchez in the event that the Chilean is sold with just a year remaining on his contract.
Read More Sport News:https://www.sportlineng.com/more-news/