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Super Eagles’ 2018 FIFA World Cup Group D opponents s Iceland and Croatia have been handed difficult draws ahead of the first UEFA Nations League.

The draw of the UEFA Nations League was held in Lausanne, Switzerland on Wednesday.

The UEFA Nations League is a new international tournament.

In a bid to improve the quality of international football and reduce the number of meaningless friendlies, UEFA has been planning the competition since 2011.

Uefa’s 55 teams will be split into four Leagues (A-D) based on their Uefa ranking, with four groups in each League.

Some of the groups will have three or four teams.

The four group winners of the top-ranked League A qualify for the Uefa Nations League finals in June 2019.

For the remaining sides there is promotion and relegation to play for, and a potential back-door route to EURO 2020.

Iceland are in League A, Group 2, and will face Switzerland and Belgium.

While Croatia, also in League A, are in Group 4 with England and Spain.

In other League A pairings, Netherlands, France and Germany are in Group 1 and League A, Group 3 has Portugal, Poland and Italy.

The first tournament is due to commence in September 2018, after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.


UEFA Nations League draw:

League A:

(Group 1)
Netherlands
France
Germany

(Group 2)
Iceland
Switzerland
Belgium

(Group 3)
Poland
Italy
Portugal

(Group 4)
Croatia
England
Spain

League B:

(Group 1)
Czech Republic
Ukraine
Slovakia

(Group 2)
Turkey
Sweden
Russia

(Group 3)
Northern Ireland
Bosnia-Herzegovina
Austria

(Group 4)
Denmark
Republic of Ireland
Wales

League C:

(Group 1)
Scotland
Albania
Israel

(Group 2)
Hungary
Greece
Finland
Estonia

(Group 3)
Slovenia
Norway
Bulgaria
Cyprus

(Group 4)
Romania
Serbia
Montenegro
Lithuania

League D:

(Group 1)
Andorra
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Georgia

(Group 2)
San Marino
Moldova
Luxembourg
Belarus

(Group 3)
Kosovo
Malta
Faroe Islands
Azerbaijan

(Group 4)
Gibraltar
Liechtenstein
Armenia
Macedonia

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/uefa-nations-league-france-draw-germany-iceland-croatia-get-belgium-england-spain/

Super Eagles head coach, Gernot Rohr, says he can’t wait for the start of the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia even as he hopes to lead the team to a respectable outing at the mundial, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN).

Rohr will handle a national team for the first time at the World Cup after masterminding the Super Eagles’ qualification for the mundial in a tough group which has”d African heavyweights, Cameroon, Algeria and onetime African champions, Zambia

“Yes, I’m impatient and a little excited too, we’re proud to have been the first Africans to qualify for the World Cup,” the German stated in a chat with French online news medium, tf1.fr.

“Now we have to make a good result at this World Cup.

“We have some hope of a good result in our first match against Croatia.”

The Super Eagles are drawn in Group D with Croatia, Iceland and Argentina.

The three-time African champions will face Croatia in their first group game at the Kaliningrad Stadium on June 16.

Their second game is against Iceland at the Volgograd Arena on June 22, while they will take on Argentina in their last group game on June 26 at the Krestovsky Stadium, St Petersburg.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/rohr-impatient-excited-ahead-russia-2018-eager-impress-super-eagles/

Kaliningrad Stadium in Russia which will host Nigeria’s opening Group D game against Croatia at the 2018 FIFA World Cup will be officially opened on March 22 2018, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN)reports.

Friendly game between Russia’s second tier league club, Baltika and German side Schalke 04 will commemorate the opening of brand new stadium.

Kaliningrad stadium has a capacity of 35,212 and will host four group matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

The group matches are Croatia vs Nigeria; Serbia vs Switzerland; Spain vs Morocco and England vs Belgium.

According to a report on sports.ru, the governor of the Kaliningrad region, Alexander Shenderuk-Zhidkov confirmed that the friend game to mark the opening of the stadium will hold on the 22nd of March.

“We agreed on March 22 as the date for the friendly match between Baltika and Schalke,” Zhidkov told sports.ru.

“We provide the hotel. The organizer of the match is “Gazprom.”

Kaliningrad is the only venue that is separate to mainland Russia.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nigerias-world-cup-venue-kaliningrad-opened-march-22/

Two Turkish clubs, Konyaspor and Karabukspor, are reportedly in the race to sign Nigeria’s midfielder Raheem Lawal who features for Osmanlispor,
[url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

Lawal joined Osmanlispor from Eskisehirspor in 2016 on a two year deal and his current deal at the clubs runs out this summer.

According to Fanatik, the clubs have made contact with the 27-year-old who is keen on a move away from Osmanlispor and his representatives.

“Lawal is on the radar of Konyaspor and Karabukspor,” a report on Fanatik says.

“Both camps are weighing a move for the Nigerian player who could leave Osmanlispor for nothing at the end of the season.”

In 2017/18, Lawal made 16 appearances in all competitions for Osmanlispor.

The Nigeria international has featured for Kayserispor, Osmanlispor,

Eskisehirspor, Mersin Idmanyurdu and Adana Demirspor since moving to Turkey in 2013. He started his career in Europe with Spanish second division side, Atlético Baleares.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/konyaspor-karabukspor-join-race-sign-lawal/

Italian club Torino are looking to sell Nigeria midfielder Joel Obi to fund the purchase of other transfers, according to reports in Italy.

The Turin club are looking to bolster their squad during the current transfer window.

According to a report in Tuttomercatoweb.com, Obi has been identified as one of the players to be sold by the club.

Recently, there were talks between Torino and Bologna over the player but the move stalled over the transfer fee.

Torino valued the player at €10m but Bologna were willing to pay €6m for his services.

Clubs in England and Spain are also reported to have expressed interest in the 26-year-old.

Obi who has endured an injury ravaged career has featured 13 times for Torino this season and scored three times.

He was on target in the club’s 1-1 away draw against Sassuolo in the Italian Serie A on Sunday.

The midfielder joined Torino from Inter Milan in 2015 for €2.2m and signed a four-year contract. His contract with the club will end in 2019.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/torino-set-offload-joel-obi/

Super Eagles forward, Victor Moses, has stated that his goal in Chelsea’s 4-0 win against Brighton in the Premier League on Saturday was long overdue.

Moses scored Chelsea’s fourth goal against Brighton in the concluding stages, latching onto a through ball from substitute Charly Musonda.

The goal was his first since finding the back of the net in the Community Shield defeat to Arsenal last August.

And the Premier League winner hopes to get on the score sheet more.

“It’s about time,” Moses told Chelsea official website.

“I was due one and I’m very pleased to get on the score sheet. It’s important to me and I want to keep on helping the team, working hard and hopefully score more goals in the future.”

Moses while expressing delight with his teammates’ performance in the weekend’s win, said their focus now is on Wednesday’s second leg semi-final against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates.

“I thought we started very well,” said Moses. “Getting the two goals early on really helped us and we showed great character. It was very important to get the three points.

“We’ve been working so hard in training, obviously on our finishing as well, and you could see that on the pitch – everybody did really well to put the ball in the net and we’re very pleased. We also defended very well from front to back.

“Once we got those two goals we wanted to control the game, which we did. We’re very pleased and now we’re looking forward to Wednesday’s game.”

Read more:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/moses-im-pleased-score-vs-brighton-long-overdue/

Nigeria forward Henry Onyekuru is hopeful of being fit in time to be able to fight for a place in the Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup squad.

The World Cup starts in June in Russia.

The 20-year-old injured his knee in December while playing for Anderlecht against his former club Eupen in the Belgian Pro League and he was told he would be out for several months.

Onyekuru has returned to his parent club Everton for treatment and he believes the “love” he has received from everybody at the Premier League club will help him “recover even more quickly”.

Onyekuru joined Everton from Eupen during the summer, before being loaned out to Anderlecht for the 2017/18 campaign.

He scored 22 goals for Eupen last season and has added nine goals in 19 Belgian top flight appearances for Anderlecht while also impressing in the Champions League against Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Celtic.
Onyekuru initially feared he was set for an extended lay-off, which would have ruled him out of the summer’s World Cup finals in Russia.

“It is amazing here,” Onyekuru told evertonfc.com. “The people are good people, always friendly and showing care. I feel love and with that love I will recover even more quickly.

“When I first got injured the whole picture was quite bad, but fortunately it was not as severe as we first feared… so, hopefully, I will be back and ready to play before the end of the season.

“The first aim is to get back and finish the season in Belgium. There will be a few weeks of the league season remaining, so it makes sense for me to end the season there and prepare for the World Cup.

“When I got knocked by the goalkeeper I felt so bad and was worried.

“But since I came here and started having my treatment I have been happy. I am smiling every day.”

Onyekuru is confident that his time at Anderlecht will prepare him for the demands of playing in England.

He added: “That is the big difference between Eupen and Anderlecht – when you play in a top club like Anderlecht you have to win.

“Of course, you do lose some games but if you do… you have to lose fighting. That will help me cope with expectations at Everton.

“My main objective in Anderlecht was to do more than I did last season and to get that Champions League experience.

“I am learning every day, so to play in that competition and against those teams was so valuable for me.

“My first aim was to sign for a Premier League club. That has been my dream since I was a little boy.

“I had a couple of offers but I said to myself, ‘it has to be the Premier League’. It is not just the game, it is the passion people in this country have for football.

“Everton is a club that wants to win and always fights. With the facilities, staff and coaches here, I think they can really help me develop even further.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/onyekuru-hopes-everton-love-will-aid-recovery-eyes-super-eagles-world-cup-squad/

Home-based Super Eagles defender, Kalu Orji, insists the players must be at their best to secure a win in today’s African Nations Championship Group C clash against Libya, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria. com[/url] (CSN)

Salisu Yusuf’s charges started their campaign in the competition with a 0-0 draw with Rwanda on Monday.

Libya currently sit at the top of the group with three points following their 3-0 victory in their first game against Equatorial Guinea.

A win against the Home Eagles will see the Mediterranean Knights book their passage into the quarter-finals, a scenario Orji has urged his teammates to avoid.

“We can’t afford to go home early like we did two years ago in Rwanda. To avoid that, we must be ready to give our best and win against Libya,” Orji told CSN.‎

“We were a bit unlucky in the game against Rwanda. We would have won the game, especially with those chances that we created.

“The coaches have made us work harder in training and we believe things will be different this time around.

“The Libyans are a very good side too and we must be ready to fight hard if we want to beat them.”

Rwanda and Equatorial Guinea will also clash in the other Group C game in Tangier today.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/home-eagles-defender-orji-cant-afford-lose-libya/

Indiana Pacers’ Nigerian star, Victor Oladipo, outshone D’Tigers star and Portland Trail Blazers guard, Al Farouq Aminu in a NBA clash early Friday morning (Nigerian time) at the Moda Center despite the Pacers’ losing 100-86, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

The defeat stretched the Indiana Pacers’ winless streak in Portland to 11 years. The last time Indiana Pacers’ won in Portland was in November 28, 2007, while the win was the Portland Trail Blazers’ fifth consecutive home game so far this season.

Oladipo who missed out on the NBA All-Star game starters was joint top scorer for his team in the defeat along with Darren Collison with 23 points.

The former Oklahoma City Thunder star also had seven rebounds and three assists for Indiana Pacers who suffered their 21st defeat of the campaign. The Pacers are sixth in the Eastern Conference despite the defeat.

Aminu, making his 31st appearance of the campaign, scored 12 points with nine rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes for the Portland Trail Blazers’ who recorded their 22nd win of the season to move up one place to sixth in the Western Conference.

The 27 year old Aminu has now averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds in his last four games against the Indiana Pacers.

The Portland Trail Blazers host the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday in their next NBA game at the Moda Centre where they are unbeaten in their last five games while the Indiana Pacers will look to return to winning ways at Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/oladipo-outshines-aminu-nba-clash/

VfL Wolfsburg manager, Martin Schmidt, says that Victor Osimhen is pushing hard for a starting place at the club following his impressive attitude in training sessions, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

Divok Origi has been the club’s first choice since he joined fron Liverpool with Osimhen and Landry Dimata the second and third choice strikers at the club.

Osimhen has made five substitute appearances in the Bundesliga this term, totaling just 22 minutes.

“They (Landry Dimata and Victor Osimhen) are not far off and are putting pressure on him (Origi),” Schmidt said during his pre-match press conference ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga clash with Eintracht Frankfurt at the Volkswagen Arena.

“During the training sessions, it was made clear that we don’t just have Origi up front.

“What Divock has in his favour right now is that he scored in autumn. Dimata and Osimhen are doing really well though and I have every fate in the strikers I have available to me. The squad is better balanced now.”

The Green-Whites are 12th in the Bundesliga table with 20 points from 18 games.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/schmidt-osimhen-working-hard-earn-wolfsburg-starting-role/

Nigerian forward Imoh Ezekiel will not be joining Belgian Pro League club Royal Antwerp, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) has been informed by his representative, Liammed Gafaar.

The Rio 2016 Olympics star, who terminated his contract with Turkish club Konyaspor six months after joining last summer over a breach of agreement, has been named as a potential target for Royal Antwerp, according to a report on Transfermerkez.com.

“There are lots of offers from Belgium for Imoh particularly, from Standard Liege. There are also teams from Russia and Croatia but his personal terms are stalling an immediate move,” Gafaar told CSN.

“But he won’t be signing for Royal Antwerp.

“Hopefully an agreement will be reached with a club for him to join before the transfer window closes.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/agent-ezekiel-wont-join-royal-antwerp-clubs-russia-croatia-interested/

Nigeria striker Olanrewaju Kayode is close to a switch to French club Amiens, according to reports in France.

Kayode is currently on loan at Spanish LaLiga club Girona from Manchester City but he has struggled for playing time and has not scored after 13 appearances in all competitions, 12 in LaLiga.

He has mostly played as a substitute and has registered two assists.

The Super Eagles star was linked with a move to Turkey but RMC claimed on Thursday that Kayode was on the verge of joining Ligue 1 club Amiens.

RMC insist that ‘some financial details remain to be settled’, and believe a deal is nearly done.

Kayode had issues getting back to Spain after his Christmas break in Nigeria due to paperwork hitches.

Amiens, who are 16th in the Ligue 1 table with 22 points from 21 games, just one point off the relegation zone, will be signing the 24-year-old Kayode on loan from Manchester City, before making the move permanent in the summer.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/french-club-amiens-set-seal-kayode-loan-deal/

Super Eagles defender, Shehu Abdullahi, has expressed his delight after Anorthosis progressed to the quarter-finals of the Cyproit Cup on Wednesday, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url](CSN) reports
Anorthosis held 10-man Ayia Napa to a 1-1 away draw in the second leg to advance 4-3 on aggregate. They had won the first leg 3-2.

Ayia Napa were reduced to 10 men following the sending off of Stylianos Stylianou in the 64th minute.

Anorthosis subsequently capitalised on their numerical advantage, and Douglao scored from the penalty spot on 65 minute.

Omar Rowe pulled a goal back for Ayia Napa in the 90th minute, but it was not enough as Anorthosis advanced to the quarter-finals.

Reacting to the win, Abdullahi who was in action for Anorthosis in the encounter admitted they were given a scare by Ayia Napa.

“Difficult final minutes, but we survived the scare! We are through to the quarters after first leg victory,” Abdullahi wrote on his Twitter handle.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/abdullahi-celebrates-anorthosis-reach-cyproit-cup-quarter-finals/

Home-based Super Eagles winger cum right-back, Osaso Okoro, has admitted that the team must be clinical in front of goal to stand a chance of advancing to the next round of the ongoing 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) in Morocco, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

Okoro who is making his second tournament appearance at (CHAN) also rues the scoring chances the Home Eagles squandered during their their first Group C match against Rwanda, insisting the the team was unlucky in that game.

“Sometimes games end in that wa, but we must take our chances in the next game against Libya,” Okoro, an Enugu Rangers defender told CSN from Morocco.

“We were not lucky at all, and I hope we will be luckier in our next game.”

Okoro also told Completesportsnigeria.com that the home-based Super Eagles’ next Group C opponent, Libya, will be very tough to beat on Friday.

“Libya will be tough, and we will be ready to face them because only a win can guarantee us a place in the next round.

“To beat them (Libya) we must be clinical. if we don’t take our chances, then we will have ourselves to blame.”

Libya kicked off defeated Equatorial Guinea 3-0 in their first game, and a win over the the Home Eagles will seal their place in the quarter-finals.

Nigeria’s Home Eagles are joint second with Rwanda behind group leaders, Libya, who have three points from thei first game. Equatorial Guinea, without any point yet, are rock bottom in Group C.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/home-eagles-defender-okoro-must-clinical-goal-vs-libya/

Portland Trail Blazers’ forward, Al-Farouq Aminu, is pleased to see his side snap a three game losing streak on Wednesday, defeating the Phoenix Suns 118-111 at the Moda Centre, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

The game was Portland’s first game at home after a four-game road trip. The Blazers lost three games on the bounce, to Houston Rockets, New Orleans and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Making his 30th appearance of the campaign, Aminu scored 14 points with nine rebounds and one assist in 28 minutes for the Portland Trail Blazers’ who recorded their 21st win of the season.

The Portland Trail Blazers are now seventh in the NBA Western Conference.

“I had a dream that came true today cause of me and my teammates. A blazers win!!!! #farouqisonfire��� #str8_shooters #str8up #ripcity,”Aminu wrote via his official Instagram page @chiefhasarrived.

The Portland Trail Blazers host the Indiana Pacers on Thursday in their next NBA game at the Moda Centre where they are unbeaten in their last four games.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nba-aminu-celebrates-portland-trail-blazers-end-three-game-losing-streak/

Super Eagles head coach Gernot Rohr has officially signed a new two-year contract extension with the Nigerian Football Federation, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

Rohr was appointed Super Eagles head coach in August 2016 and has steered the team to the Russia 2018 World Cup, winning four games and drawing one in a qualifying group that also had Zambia, African champions Cameroon and Algeria. His previous deal will run out in July 2018.

The German put pen to paper during the a partnership ceremony between the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and beverage giant Coca-Cola at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos on Wednesday.

The beverage giants signed a five-year deal worth $4 million to become the official soft drink partners of all Nigeria’s national team.

The Super Eagles amassed a total of 13 points from six games during their 2018 World Cup qualifying campaign to finish as group winners.

Rohr will be hopeful that the five pre-World Cup friendlies lined up for his side (against Poland on March 23, Serbia March 27, DR Congo on the May 25, England on June 2 and Czech Republic on June 6 (Austria) ahead of the World Cup in Russia will help his side qualify for the round of 16 from Group D which houses Croatia, Iceland and Argentina.

Since Rohr took charge of the Super Eagles, he has recorded seven wins, drawn four and lost one game.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/rohr-officially-signs-new-two-year-super-eagles-deal/

PLATEAU UNITED LAY DOWN A MARKER
Champions Plateau United proved their title win last season was no fluke by claiming an impressive 1-0 win against Nasarawa United in Lafia. Rapheal Ayagwa’s 87th minute strike gave the Jos club the win.
Kennedy Boboye’s men were on the the back foot for the majority of the game with goalkeeper Okiemute Odah in fine form. They also stood firm in the face of hostile reception from the home fans.
They will look to build on the win when they host Rivers United in another tricky contest at the Jos Township Stadium on Wednesday.

LITTLE JOY FOR NPFL NEW BOYS
The quartet of Heartland, Go-Round FC, Kwara United and Yobe Desert Stars failed to record a win on the opening day of the season.
Heartland were held to a 0-0 draw at home by Sunshine Stars who defeated them 3-0 the last the two teams met at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri in 2015, while Go-Round were handed a 1-O defeat in their debut game in the Nigeria Professional Football League by Wikki Tourists.
Kwara United were humbled 2-0 by Niger Tornadoes at home with Yobe Desert Stars going down to a 2-1 defeat against FC IfeanyiUbah.

EL-KANEMI WARRIORS’ PORT HARCOURT NIGHTMARE CONTINUES
El-Kanemi Warriors’ previous nine trips to the Yakubu Gowon Stadium, Port Harcourt ended in defeat and even though they put up a spirited fight this time around against Rivers United, they ended up losing by 1-0 courtesy of Ivorian striker Guy Kuemian’s 66th minute strike.
The Maiduguri club will hope for better luck next time.

KENNEDY BOBOYE EXTENDS OPENING DAY UNBEATEN STREAK
Plateau United head coach, Kennedy Boboye, has never lost an opening day fixture in the Nigeria Professional Football League and he extended the impressive run by guiding his team to an away win against Nasarawa United on Sunday.
Boboye escaped defeats on match day one during his stints at Sunshine Stars and Abia Warriors. He did same in his first season with Plateau United.

MFM STRUGGLE WITHOUT ODEY, OLATUNBOSUN
Last season’s runners-up MFM FC may find the going too tough this season going by their performance in Umuahia against Abia Warriors on Sunday. The Olukoya Boys are yet to find a suitable replacement for last season’s top scorer Stephen Odey, now with FC Zurich of Switzerland, and other top stars who left the club at the end of last season.
With Sikiru Olatunbosun also missing in action against Abia Warriors, Fidelis Ilechukwu’s men lacked cutting edge upfront and the end product was a disappointing 2-0 loss against the hosts.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/5-major-talking-points-npfl-matchday-one

Super Falcons forward, Asisat Oshoala, has been appointed a sports ambassador by the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

Oshoala who was named the 2017 African Women’s Footballer of the Year last week at the Aiteo CAF Awards in Accra Ghana, the third time she won the top honour, expressed her delight in a Tweet she posted along with a picture via her Twitter handle on Thursday.

“Meet the newly appointed Lagos State Sports Ambassador (Asisat Oshoala). God bless Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, God bless Lagos State. Itesi Iwaju Ipinle Eko Lo Jewa Logun…..AMBO LE’KAN SI. AkinwunmiAmbode #ProudLagosian #FatherFather @followlasg.”

Oshoala had a stellar debut season in China with Dalian Quanjian, winning the Women’s Chinese Super League and Cup title.

She also scored 12 goals to finish as the top scorer in the Women’s Chinese Super League and was named the league’s best player.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/oshoala-relishes-appointment-lagos-state-sports-ambassador/

New Aberdeen signing, Chidebere Nwakali, has vowed to give his best to the club after agreeing a six month loan deal with the Scottish side from Manchester City in the current January transfer window, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

Nwakali who will play for the Reds until the end of the season featured in a test game for the club in their 2-0 loss to Uzbekistan’s Locomotiv Tashkent in Dubai on Sunday.

The 21 year old was free to play in the match as it was not classified as an official game, and he was impressive playing in the holding midfield role according to reports.

Nwakali who previously featured for IK Start and Futbol Sogndal both in Norway last year, is pleased with with the opportunity handed him by both clubs to further his fledging career.

“I’m so happy for this move and it’s another year and another challenge for me,” Nwakali wrote on his Instagram wall.

“I thank the people at Manchester City and at Aberdeen for the opportunity. I promise to give my best and nothing else.”

Nwakali was called up to Nigeria’s senior national team against Algeria in a 2018 World Cup qualifier and and an international friendly against Argentina in November last year.

The 21 year old midfielder is looking to get more regular playing to stand a chance of making Nigeria’s squad to the World Cup in Russia.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nwakali-aberdeen-switch-offers-big-challenge-will-give-club-best/

Undefeated world heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua, will face New Zealand’s Joseph Parker in a unification clash in Cardiff on March 31, the Nigerian-born Briton announced in a video on his Twitter account on Sunday.

Joshua, who holds the World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) belts will fight Parker, World Boxing Organization (WBO) champion, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales following weeks of intense negotiations.

In his last fight inside the Principality Stadium in October, Joshua claimed a 10th-round stoppage victory over Cameroonian-born French boxer Carlos Takam.

Joshua, 28, says he hopes to take another step towards becoming the undisputed world heavyweight champion.

“I like to fight. It’s like one step closer to adding a strap to my legacy. It’s my main objective, and it’s showing I’m never shy of a competition,” said Joshua, who is a Sky Ambassador.


“He’s (Parker) a respectable competitor, he is the WBO heavyweight champion of the world, so it’s like one step closer to adding a strap to my legacy.

“That’s what makes it exciting.”

Parker, 26, who is also undefeated, vowed to rip away Joshua’s two world titles by racking up his 25th straight victory.

“Anthony Joshua is in for a huge shock,” Parker said. “A couple of months ago I heard him say ‘why should I be worried about this little kid from New Zealand’?

“Well, now he’s about to find out. The world is about to find out whether AJ can really take a punch. My entire existence is now devoted to proving what the boxing world already knows.”

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn says it is going to be a classic.

“I’m delighted to get this fight made – it’s been a long time coming,” Hearn. “Champions should fight champions and AJ continues to step up to the challenges.

“It’s the first time in history that two reigning heavyweight world champions have met in Britain. It’s a classic match-up between two young, fast, undefeated belt holders and it’s going to be an explosive fight.

“This is another huge unification fight for Anthony as he continues to make history in the quest to become undisputed world heavyweight champion.”

Parker’s promoter David Higgins predicted that his fighter will ruin the perfect record of Joshua.

“Joseph Parker is the absolute epitome of the Kiwi sporting battler,” said Higgins. “It has been said that he is punching above his weight, but he didn’t become WBO heavyweight champion by being lucky.

“He’s never been stopped, never even been wobbled in the ring. He’s consistently fought fighters in the world’s top 10 and he’s beaten them all easily. It certainly won’t be a shock to me when he beats Anthony Joshua and takes his titles back home to New Zealand.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/joshua-parker-boast-unification-bout-confirmed-march/

Super Eagles defender, Shehu Abdullahi, was in action for Anorthosis who were forced to a 1-1 away draw by Apollon Limassol in the Cyprus top flight on Sunday,[url] Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

Abdullahi was in action for 90 minutes for Anorthosis in the encounter.

The draw means Anorthosis drop from the top position in the league table to third on 41 points, two points adrift leaders AEK Larnaca.

In the German Bundesliga, Nigeria young striker Victor Osimhen was an unused substitute for Wolfsburg who held Borussia Dortmund to a 0-0 away draw.

It was Wolfsburg’s first game in the second half of the season.

Osimhen’s last league game for Wolfsburg was in a 1-0 away loss to Cologne on December 16, 2017 when he came on in the 81st minute.

And in the Portuguese Primeira Liga (first division), Oghenekaro Etebo featured for 90 minutes in Feirense’s 3-1 away loss to Tondela.

The defeat was Feirense’s 11th (five wins, two draws) which makes them the second team in the top flight alongside Estoril with the most defeats so far in the league.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/roundup-abdullahi-features-anorthosis-draw-etebo-suffer-defeat-feirense/

Katsina United midfield star, Destiny Ashadi, has been declared a major doubt for Nigeria Professional Football League opening day clash against Kano Pillars at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Saturday, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN).

Ashadi who was one of the shinning stars for Katsina United in the NPFL last season, suffered an ankle injury in a pre-season game against Wikki Tourists and recently returned to training.

The injury also stopped him from linking up with the home-based Super Eagles’ training camp ahead of the 2018 African Nations Championship ‎(CHAN).

“Destiny is fine, but it is advisable not to rush him. He has resumed full training with th rest of the team, and he may not be available because of his level of fitness,” the team’s doctor , Abu Sufian told Katsinaunited.com.

“I can categorically state here that he is fit, but not for Saturday’s game. Hence he may not be available for the game.”

Ashadi scored five goals and provided nine assists for the Chanji Boys last season.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/katsina-united-hotshot-ashadi-doubtful-league-opener-vs-kano-pillars/

As the stage is set for the kick-off of the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) this weekend, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com’s[/url] JOHNNY EDWARD outlines five reasons Salisu Yusuf’s men should be considered the favourites to win the title.

1. Wealth Of Experience

The Home Eagles’ experience at the 2017 WAFU Cup of Nations in Ghana will come in very handy during the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament in Morocco. Salisu Yusuf’s side reached the final of the tournament in Ghana after a slow start, but lost to Ghana 4-1.

Since footballers are creatures of habit, a little inside knowledge of how they capitulated in the final will be more than welcome for the ten players who were in that squad. Knowing the expectation of fans back home, the team will be eager to banish the horror their poor showing in the final of the WAFU Vhp against Ghana by surpassing their previous achievement when they battle, Rwanda, Libya and Equatorial Guinea in the group stage. Also, knowing that a good outing could hand them a 2018 World Cup chance could be a huge motivation to the squad.

2. Coach Yusuf’s Ambition To Succeed


Salisu Yusuf’s first task will be to guide the team past the group stage in his debut appearance at the competition as head coach, a feat his former boss, Sunday Oliseh could not achieve in the last edition of the tournament staged in Rwanda.

Yusuf will use the lessons learnt in the last tournament in Rwanda where the Home Eagles failed to advance to the quarter-finals, to guide his team to glory in Morocco.

Also, he will be ambitious to bag his first major laurel as a coach with the Home Eagles, having led the team to the final of the West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations in Ghana last year.


3. Good Blend of Young And Experienced ‎Players

Nigeria’s squad depth has been supplemented with an injection of fresh legs. From the 2017 WAFU Cup squad. Adeleye Olamilekan, Emmanuel Ariwachukwu Chima Akas, Samuel Mathias (El-Kanemi Warriors); Destiny Ashadi, Kingsley Eduwo, and Ubong Friday have all been left out with the likes of Sunday Faleye, Nura Muhammed, Ikouwem Utin, Abdullahi Musa, Peter Eneji and Ifeanyi Nweke among those expected to fill their size able boots.

Combining these youngsters’ eagerness to impress with the experienced heads like Rabiu Ali, Osas Okoro, Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Anthony Okpotu, the Home Eagles could well be on a road to success in Morocco.

4. No Much Pressure of ‘Favorites’ Tag

Judging from how Nigeria have fared at the tournament since making their debut appearance, the Home Eagles are not widely touted as the favorites to win this championship in Morocco, and this will allow the team play with more freedom and less pressure.

Teams like DR Congo who have won the tournament twice, 2014 winners Libya, Angola who reached the final in 2011 are amongst the countries tipped to excel

5. Strength In Depth Of The Squad

The players who made Coach Salisu’s squad all have proved to be one of the best legs in their respective positions.

The Home Eagles are going into the CHAN tournament with 13 new players who were not part of the 2017 West African Football Union (WAFU) Cup of Nations in Ghana, but these newbies performed brilliantly for their respective teams in the Nigerian Professional Football League last season.

This is because the regular players in the squad all joined new teams in Europe to further their career abroad while some were ruled out due to injuries.

The players in the squad are Theophilus Afelokhai (Enyimba FC), Kalu Orji Okogbue (Rangers International), Ikouwem Utin (Enyimba FC), Abdullahi Musa (Wikki Tourists); Timothy Danladi (Katsina United), Ifeanyi Nweke (Kano Pillars),Ibrahim Mustapha (Enyimba FC), Emeka Ogbuh (Rivers United). Others are Sunday Faleye (Shooting Stars), Nura Muhammed (El-Kanemi Warriors), Emeka Atuloma (Rivers United), Augustine Oladapo (Enyimba FC) and Ekundayo Ojo (Sunshine Stars).

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/5-reasons-home-based-super-eagles-can-win-chan-2018-%e2%80%8e/

Changchun Yatai striker, Odion Ighalo, is ready to listen to offers from English Premier League (EPL) clubs who meet a £20m release clause in his contract, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN) reports.

The 28-year-old joined Changchun Yatai last year from Watford for £20m and still has three years left on his contract.

Ighalo who recently rejoined his Chinese Super League side, Changchun Yatai for pre-season, has been contacted through his representatives by two EPL teams, according to a report on Skysports.‎

The Nigerian striker scored 15 goals in 27 appearances in his debut season with seven assists for Changchun Yatai.

Odion has previously featured for Udinese, Cesena and Granada before joining Watford in 2014.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ighalo-open-transfer-negotiation-epl-return/

Two- time world champions, Argentina, will begin their preparation for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia with two friendly matches in March against Italy and Spain

According to online news outlet, Ole.com.ar Albiceleste will come up against Italy who failed to qualify for the mundial in Basel on March 23, while their encounter against Spain which will take place four days latter is billed for Madrid.

The Argentina Football Federation are also working on the possibility of having the team play a farewell game on May 30 at La Bombonera before heading off to Barcelona for a one- week training camp at the Joan Gamper Sports Centre on the outskirts of the city.

Reports earlier suggested that the friendly affair will be against Bolivia in Buenos Aires.

A training match with Israel as the probable opponent is planned for June 8 before leaving Spain for their Bronnitsy training centre base camp in Russia the next day.

Jorge Sampaoli’s men are drawn in Group D along with Nigeria, Croatia and Iceland.

The South Americans will face the Super Eagles in their third group game on June 26 at the Krestovsky Stadium in Saint Petersburg.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/super-eagles-world-cup-foes-argentina-face-italy-spain-friendlies/

Nigeria’s home-based Super Eagles and Cameroon played a 0-0 draw in a tune-up game in Rabat, Morocco on Wednesday night ahead of the 2018 Africa Nations Championship (CHAN) taking place in Morocco.

The Indomitable Lions bossed the early part of the first half despite it being a cagey affair.

In the 23rd minute, Cameroon’s early edge in the game was almost rewarded but goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa made a brilliant one-on-one save after the Eagles defence was sliced open.

The Eagles gradually started getting back into the game and thought they had taken the lead on 40 minutes but Gabriel Okechukwu’s effort was flagged off for offside.

The second half saw the Eagles make a host of changes which with Ezenwa going off for Dele Ajiboye among the changes.

The second-half was not different as both teams found it difficult to break the deadlock.

And in the last minutes of the game Ajiboye made a finger tip save from a header off a corner to keep the score at 0-0.

The 2018 CHAN will be held from January 13 to February 4.

The Eagles are in Group C alongside Rwanda, Equatorial Guinea and 2014 CHAN winners Libya.

Cameroon are in Group D with Angola, Burkina Faso and Congo.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/home-eagles-draw-cameroon-chan-warm-game/

Nigeria defender, Tyronne Ebuehi, is keen to extend his stay at Dutch outfit ADO Den Haag, but insists the club must show desire to keep him by offering him what he rightly deserves, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN).

Ebuehi who has been capped twice by Nigeria is in the final six months of his contract at the club, and both parties are in talks over a new deal.

The right-back has also been linked with a move to English championship club Norwich City and Portuguese outfit Benfica.

”I do not think the offer I received is very great. I need the club to appreciate me more,” Ebuehi told Omroepwest.nl at the club’s training base in Belek

“I’m enjoying myself here and I do not want to leave. I still learn every day, am happy with the players and trainers and if I can sign here, I would really like to do that. But I am also just honest. I do not think the offer I received is very good.”

The 21-year-old also debunked speculations he has signed a pre-contract with Norwich City and that he attended the club’s Emirates FA Cup clash against Chelsea last Saturday.

“The most important thing now is the training camp. Of course I see messages on social media, so I cannot say that I do not care about it at all,” Ebuehi stated.

“I think some rumours are pretty funny. Maybe I signed the contract in my sleep.”
Ebuehi further stated that he was not motivated by money as he seek to sort out his future.

“I am not someone who now plays football for money. That is something that comes later. The most important thing for me is my development. I have to be better and I want to achieve the highest possible level,” he admitted.

“At the end of my career, I want to say that I have made the most of it, but as I said before, the rating can be better for someone who has played so many matches. ”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ebuehi-demands-pay-rise-extend-ado-den-haag-stay/

Super Falcons midfielder, Ngozi Okobi, believes linking up with Swedish club Eskilstuna United will make her a better player, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria. com[/url] (CSN)

Okobi joined Eskilstuna United from another Swedish outfit Viitsjo GIK where she spent two seasons.

“I look very much forward to coming to Eskilstuna, which is a top club. The team wants to play good football and keep the ball within the team,” Okobi told the club’s official website.

“My goal is of course to be an even better player and to help the team to as good a position as possible in the league.

“I’ve also played in Washington Spirit in the United States of America and Damallsvenskan (Swedish League) is very classy.”

Head coach of Eskilstuna United, Johan Bennas, is also delighted with the Okobi’s arrival at the club and hopes she ‎plays at her best for the club.

“In Ngozi Okobi, we have a technical player with offensive qualities who is always calm on the ball. She has good feet and and and we look forward to working with her.

” She has great potentials and we believe we have not seen her best yet in the Damallsvenskan but we are convinced she will be at her best here.

The 24-year-old has been capped 27 times by Nigeria and has scored our goals.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/super-falcons-star-okobi-set-new-challenge-swedish-club/

Former Arsenal and Chelsea stars, Ian Wright and Dennis Wise, has faulted Arsene Wenger’s decision to start Alex Iwobi ahead of Walcott and Alexis Sanchez in Arsenal’s 0-0 away draw at Chelsea in their first leg semi-final clash of the Carabao Cup at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] reports.

Iwobi was filmed clubbing just 48 hours before featuring for the Gunners in their 4-2 FA Cup loss to Nottingham Forest at Ashton Gate last Sunday.

And despite that incident,the Nigeria international was picked ahead of the pair for the clash against Chelsea, and Wright thinks Wenger’s decision showed he had lost control at the club.

“For a youngster to come into a club like Arsenal, and thinks he is OK to go out less than 48 hours before a game, it says there is something wrong in the dressing room,” Wright said on Sky Sports’ The Debate.

“You can’t have a player thinking he can do that and still play again (against Chelsea). What message does that send?

“In the current climate with Arsenal going through what they are, experienced players wanting to leave, no leadership, for that to happen.

“Arsenal have got to find what they are losing. People laugh and see us as a joke. It feels like he is losing control.

“Mourinho wouldn’t have that and I don’t think a United player would do it.

“When we were playing, you didn’t read about players doing that. Sir Alex Ferguson went to people’s houses and threw players out for having a party.

“It’s just something you don’t do.”

Former Chelsea legend Dennis Wise also backed Wright’s view and believe Wenger sent the wrong message to the rest of the Arsenal squad starting Iwobi in the game at Stamford Bridge.

“If I was one of those players on the bench, knowing what he had done, I would be upset. It doesn’t send the right message,” Wise said during his post match analysis of the game.

“Sanchez and Walcott are on the bench. Is it because they are going or for a tactical part? I would have put either of them in front of Iwobi.”

Meanwhile, Wenger has branded Iwobi’s actions “unacceptable” and he confirmed Iwobi would be fined if he was found to have breached Arsenal rules.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/wright-wise-blame-wenger-starting-iwobi-arsenals-carabao-cup-draw-vs-chelsea/

South Africa U-20 women’s coach Maud Khumalo has expressed optimism that her players are battle ready to slug it out with Nigeria’s Falconets for one of Africa’s two tickets to this year’s FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup in France.

The 2018 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup will run from 5 August to 24 August in France.

The Basetsana of South Africa (South Africa’s U-20 women’s team) will host the Falconets in the first-leg play-off round inside the Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Saturday.

To get to the play-off stage, the Falconets who have participated in all eight editions of the competition which started in 2002 in Canada, overcame Tanzania and Morocco 9-0 and 6-2 on aggregate in the first and second rounds respectively.

South Africa, who have never qualified for the tournament before, brushed past Namibia and Burundi 9-0 and 5-2 respectively also.


“The mood in camp is very positive in the sense that the girls are relaxed,” Khumalo told South Africa Football Association (SAFA) official website.

“They are open minded and they know what they are up against. This is a challenge we need to face and they are ready for it.

“As a coach I need to take any form of pressure and make sure it doesn’t go through to the players. Some of them are young and have never played against Nigeria before. But it is a blessing in disguise because I have some of them who have played Nigeria before and they’ve grown within the game.


“It is a blessing in disguise like I said because before they play against Nigeria without knowing what they are up against. But now they know what they are up against and they are willing to give their best and also they are will to fight tooth and nail to get this spot to go to the World Cup. It is also for them to get to the world stage to get exposed. It is a lifetime opportunity for some players so they are going to give their best.”

She stated that mixing education and football has not in any way affected her players as they are focused on the task ahead.

“Pressure is always going to be there but it’s how you react to it,” she said. “Both education and football are very important. Education and football is what makes these players enjoy what they are doing. And congratulations to the matriculants, it shows they’ve got zeal to make things work.

“For me as a coach it was not easy but I managed to make them relax and make them see what is important. For now they are much more relaxed and their attention is okay and they are focused on what is ahead, they are ready to compete. There’s nothing like pressure coming from studying even though we have another player that is suppose to write her exam in the university. But she is in the right frame of mind (for the Nigeria game).

And on her confidence going into this weekend clash, she said: “In my team I have mental strength and teamwork. That will make us go through.”

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/south-africa-coach-u-20-wwc-qualifier-lifetime-opportunity-beat-nigeria/

Nigerian striker forward Fred Friday has joined Dutch club Sparta Rotterdam on loan from AZ Alkmaar for the rest of the season, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] (CSN).

The 22-year-old joined AZ Alkmaar from Lillestrom of Norway in 2016 and scored 18 goals in 37 league appearances for the club, prompting interest in his services from other clubs.

Sparta Rotterdam’s technical adviser Leo Beenhakker explained why the club went for the Nigerian.

“Fred was at the top of our list to reinforce the attack and we are glad that we have now made it official and he will join us,” the former Netherlands coach told the club’s official website.

The player who is on a training tour with AZ Alkmaar in Estepona, Spain is now expected to make a short trip of 35 kilometers to Sotogrande where Sparta Rotterdam are having their own camping exercise ahead of the start of the second stanza of the Dutch Eredivisie.


He is in line to make his debut for Sparta Rotterdam against Vitesse Arnhem next week Tuesday.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/sparta-rotterdam-signed-fred-friday-loan/

Super Eagles forward Alex Iwobi was rated poor for his performance in Arsenal’s shock 4-2 away defeat to 10-man Championship club Nottingham Forest in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup on Sunday.

Iwobi was brought back into the Arsenal first eleven against Forest after sitting out the thrilling 2-2 draw against Chelsea in the Premier League last Wednesday.

But despite playing the full 90 minutes, Iwobi could not prevent Arsenal from crashing in the third round for the first time since 1996.

And according to mirror.co.uk’s Arsenal player ratings, Iwobi got four out of 10 for his disappointing performance.

And commenting on Iwobi’s performance, the paper wrote: “Another poor performance from a player horribly out of form. Played in a deeper role than normal but couldn’t influence the game.”


Other Arsenal players who were rated four were Theo Walcott, Mohamed Elneny, Joe Willock and Mathieu Debuchy.

The two players who got good ratings were David Ospina and youngster Reiss Nelson, while Danny Welbeck who got Arsenal’s second goal and Ainsley Maitland-Niles both got five.

The worst rated players were defensive duo Per Mertesacker and Rob Holding who were rated three.


Arsenal player ratings vs Nottingham Forest:

David Ospina (6)

Rob Holding (3)

Per Mertesacker (3)

Mathieu Debuchy (4)

Reiss Nelson (6)

Ainsley Maitland-Niles (5)

Joe Willock (4)

Mohamed Elneny (4)

Alex Iwobi (4)

Danny Welbeck (5)

Theo Walcott (4)

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/iwobi-walcott-metersacker-get-low-rating-arsenal-defeat-forest/