₦airaland Forum

Kwara United head coach, John Obuh, is not losing sleep over his team’s failure to make it to the final of Bet9ja Nigeria National League Super Four competition, and is upbeat they can hold their own against Nigeria Professional Football League clubs when the new season gets underway, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com.[/url]

Kwara United who are back in the top flight after spending two years in the NNL lost 4-2 on penalties to Go-Round FC of Omoku in the opening fixture of the competition at the Agege Stadium on Sunday.

The Harmony Boys dominated the game,but were punished for their profligacy in front of goal.

Obuh is however unconcerned with the outcome of the game and is looking forward to a good season.

“We lost (against Go-Round) because we failed to convert our chances in the first half. There are a lot ofpositives from the game which we can be happy about even as we have some things to work on too,” Obuh tells[url] Completesportsnigeria.com.‎[/url]


“It’s not a big deal if we don’t win the competition as the sole aim of the competition is to help all the teams prepare for the new season.

“For us, I believe we are ready for the new season and well prepared to flow with the big boys in the NPFL.”

The former Golden Eaglets coach is however disappointed with the format of the competition.


“I don’t understand why we have to play two games in the competition. I believe it’s not right. We would have love a situation where we play more games to prepare us for the new season,” Obuh adds.

“We have the opportunity of playing in a pre-season competition in Port Harcourt where we would have played more games but we opted to participate in the Super Four.

” In the future, it will be good to look at the format. May be a kind of a league format where all the teams play against each other to determine the winner. “

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nnl-super-4-obuh-unworried-kwara-united-defeat-go-round-set-npfl-campaign/

Heartland team manager, Mobi Oparaku, says that the club is back to take its place among the elites in the Nigeria Professional Football League after securing promotion to the top flight, reports [url]Completesportsnigeria.com.[/url]

The Naze Millionaires were relegated to the Bet9ja Nigeria National League in the 2015/2016 season after finishing in 18th position in the NPFL table.

It was the the first time the Owerri club who are one of the most successful clubs in the history of the NPFL with five titles will be relegated in its 40 years existence.

They are however back among the big boys after winning the NNL Southern Conferences last term.

“We are back for good. Everybody know the history of this club and where we belong. What happened the previous season was disappointing (going on relegation) but we thank God we are back in the NPFL,” The former Golden Eaglets and Super Eagles defender told [url]Completesportsnigeria.com[/url] at the Agege Stadium Lagos ahead of his team’s NNL Super Four tie against Remo Stars.


“It was difficult for our fans too, but we proved our class by coming back immediately. The NPFL is a familiar terrain for us and I believe we have what it takes to do well in the new season.

” It will sound too ambitious to say we will win the title immediately but we do our best to prove to people that the Heartland of old is still alive.

“One thing I can confidently say is that we won’t be relegated again. We are surely back in the NPFL to stay.”


Heartland will host Sunshine Stars on the opening day of the 2017/2018 at the popular home ground, Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri on Sunday.

Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/oparaku-heartland-back-npfl-stay/

Al Ahly’s Nigerian striker Junior Ajayi has been named in the 2017 Confederation of African Football best XI.

The selection is based on online voting by football fans across Africa.

Ajayi is one of the three Al Ahly players listed in the 2017 African best eleven during the Aiteo CAF Awards in Accra on Thursday night.

The 21-year-old who got maried in Lagos last Saturday was in the running for the CAF African Player of the Year- based in Africa award before the category was scrapped.

The former CS Sfaxien striker was named in attack alongside reigning African Footballer of the Year award Mohammed Salah and Espérance striker Taha Yassin Kheniessi.


In goal, 33-year-old Tunisian first choice, Aymen Mathlouthi, was picked while in defence, Manchester United’s Eric Bailly was joined by Ali Maaloul (Al Ahly and Tunisia), Ahmed Fathi (Egypt and Al Ahly).

In the midfield, Wydad Casablanca’s pair of Mohamed Ounajem and Achraf Bencharki joined Feyenoord’s Karim El Ahmadi and Khalid Boutaïb from Turkish Süper Lig side Yeni Malatyaspor.
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/aiteo-caf-awards-ajayi-bailly-voted-2017-african-best-xi/

Former Super Eagles manager, Sunday Oliseh, believes Mohamed Salah deserved to be crowned the 2017 African Footballer of the Year, [url]Completesportsnigeria.com reports[/url].‎

Salah who joined Liverpool from As Roma at the start of the season has scored 17 Premier League goals this term. He was also instrumental to Egypt’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

Salah succeeded Riyad Mahrez who was the recipient of the top CAF award in 2016.

The 25 year old Salah beat his Liverpool team-mate and Senegal winger, Sadio Mane, to the coveted award. Borussia Dortmund and Gabon striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came third.

Salah, was also voted the 2017 BBC African Footballer of the Year in December.


“Fully well deserved to be crowned Africa’s best, I must say. Such a talented player,” Oliseh who came third in the 1998 edition of the Confederation of African Football Player of the Year award behind Morocco’s Mustapha Hadji and his ex-Nigeria teammate, Austine ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha tweeted through his Twitter handle, @SundayOOliseh, after Salah was announced the winner during the awards ceremony in Accra, Ghana on Thursday, January 4 2018.

Salah joined Liverpool from Serie A side Roma last summer for £34m. He has been impressive, scoring 23 goals in 29 matches across all competitions. In his 60 official games in 2017 for Egypt, Roma and Liverpool, he scored 39 goals and provided 19 assists.
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/oliseh-salah-fully-deserved-caf-player-year-award/

By James Agberebi: Super Eagles defender Kenneth Omeruo has sent a congratulatory message to Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala who was crowned 2017 Aiteo CAF Women’s Player of the Year in Accra on Thursday.

Oshoala retained her Africa Player of the Year award, her third title after finishing ahead of Chrestina Kgatlana of South Africa and Gabrielle Aboudi Onguene of Cameroon.

Omeruo took to his Instagram page to express his happiness, however urging her to keep working hard.

“Yesssss you did it again.. congratulations star girl.. you are the best. Always proud of you.. keep your head down still.. More to come,” the Chelsea defender on loan at Turkish club Kasimpasa wrote.

In the men’s category, Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah beat club teammate and Senegal forward Sadio Mane and former winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund to the award.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr lost out to Egypt’s Argentine coach Hector Cuper in the Coach of the Year category.
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/omeruo-celebrates-star-girl-oshoalas-aiteo-caf-best-player-award/

Egypt and Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah has been crowned 2017 Aiteo Confederation of Africa Football (CAF) Player of the Year.
Salah, 25, was announced as the 2017 recipient at the State House Banquet Hall, Accra, Ghana on Thursday night.

The 2017 BBC African Player of the Year winner beat club teammate and Senegal forward Sadio Mane and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Gabon and Borussia Dortmund to claim the award.

In second position was Mane while Aubameyang was third.
Salah becomes the first Egyptian since Mahmoud El Khatib in 1983 (when the award was organised by France Football magazine) to be crowned African best player.

In the category for the Women’s Player of the Year award, Super Falcons striker Asisat Oshoala emerged the winner, thereby retaining her title which she won in 2016 and has now won it three times (2014, 2016, 2017).

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr lost to Argentina and Egypt coach Hector Cuper in the Coach of the Year category while the Pharoahs of Egypt who qualified for the 2018 FIFA World Cup and were finalist at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations won National Team of the Year.

The Women’s National Team of the Year went to South Africa, 2017 CAF Champions League winners Wydad Casablanca of Morocco got the Club of the Year aaward, Zambia’s Patson Daka was presented with the Youth Player of the Year award, Legends Award went to Ibrahim Sunday of Ghana who won the CAF Player of the Year in 1971, Ahmed Yahya was awarded with Leader of the Year and President of Ghana Nana Akufo-Addo and newly elected President of Liberia George Weah were awarded with Platinum Award.

As Part of events to mark the 2017 CAF awards, past winners of the CAF Player of the Year Award were present. Also top African music stars like Nigeria’s Tiwa Savage, Phyno, Flavour, Wizkid, Olamide, Patoranking and Fali Ipupa of Democratic Republic of Congo were on hand to entertain the guests.

2017 CAF Award Winners:
Men’s Player of the Year:

Mohamed Salah (Egypt and Liverpool)

Women’s Player of the Year:

Asisat Oshoala (Nigeria & Dalian Quanjian)

Women’s National Team of the Year:

South Africa

Coach of the Year:

Hector Cuper (Egypt)

National Team of the Year:

Egypt

Club of the Year:

Wydad Athletic Club

Youth Player of the Year:

Patson Daka (Zambia and Liefering)

CAF Legends Award:

Ibrahim Sunday (Ghana)

Leader of the Year:

Ahmed Yahya (Mauritania)

Platinum Award:

Nana Akufo-Addo (President of Ghana)

George Weah (President of Liberia)
Source:https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/salah-oshoala-win-2017-aiteo-caf-best-player-awards-cuper-beats-rohr/

The January transfer window is up and running with a handful of signings already done. In this piece, https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ JAMES AGBEREBI lists five successful winter transfers involving Nigerian players over the years…

NWANKWO KANU
After just 12 games and one goal for Inter Milan, Nwankwo Kanu was snapped up by Arsene Wenger for Arsenal during the January transfer window in 1999 for £4.15 million.
Kanu went on to spend five seasons at Arsenal before departing for West Bromwich Albion in 2004 after making 119 appearances, scoring 37 goals.
While at Arsenal, Kanu won two Premier League titles (2002, 2004), two FA Cups (2002, 2003) and one FA Community Shield (1999).

WILFRED NDIDI
Following his impressive performance for Belgian top flight club Genk, Wilfred Ndidi signed for Leicester City in January 2017.
Joining Leicester, Ndidi went on to establish himself as a regular for the Foxes in his first season in the 2016/2017 campaign.
He made 17 league appearances and found the back of the net twice in the Premier League last season.
This season, Ndidi is one of six players (Kasper Schmeichel, Marc Albrighton, Wes Morgan, Riyad Mahrez, Harry Maguire) who have played all 22 league games for Leicester.

EFE AMBROSE
Efe Ambrose left Celtic for then Scottish Championship club Hibernian on loan in January 2017 thanks to his former manager at Celtic Neil Lennon.
The loan move proved the right decision for Ambrose as he found his form again, helping Hibernian secure promotion back to the Scottish Premiership.
He made 10 appearances during his loan spell and scored one goal which was in a 2-1 league win against Falkirk on 25 March.
Also, he won the Scottish Championship player of the month award for March 2017.
So far this season, Ambrose has played all 22 Scottish Premiership games for Hibernian, scoring one goal.

ODION IGHALO
In his first season in the English Premier League during the 2015/2016 season, Odion Ighalo was outstanding for Watford as he scored 15 goals in 37 games.
The following season was rather a far cry as he struggled for playing time and only netted one goal in 18 league appearances.
During the 2017 January transfer window, Ighalo joined Chinese Super League club Changchun Yatai for a reported £20 million.
And at the end of the CSL, Ighalo had scored 15 goals from 27 league appearances.

OBAFEMI MARTINS
After sojourns in England, Spain, Italy, Germany and USA, Obafemi Martins moved to Chinese Super League club Shanghai Shenhua in the winter transfer of 2016.
Martins scored nine goals in 26 league appearances in his first season, and in his second season in 2017 he scored seven goals in 13 league appearances.
And in the 2017 Chinese FA Cup final, Martins scored in both legs as Shanghai Shenhua beat Shanghai SIPG to lift the trophy for the first time since 1998.

Source: https://www.completesportsnigeria.com/happy-new-year-5-successful-january-transfers-involving-nigerian-players/

Nigeria goalkeeper, Austin Ejide believes the Super Eagles will qualify for the 2017 African Cup of Nations slated for Gabon. He also disclosed in this interview by SAB OSUJI that the players will put above 120% in every game to ensure qualification. Excerpts…

Austin, it must have been a hectic season for you in Israel. How will you describe the season just ended?

I'll say it was not a bad one for us at Hapoel Be'er Sheva, at least we have a chance to go back to Europe through the Europa League. We wanted to get much better than the previous season but all the same, we have to give God the glory that we were not entirely left empty handed.

You must have enjoyed the comradeship of your fellow Nigerians there, talking about the likes of John Ogu who is your teammate at Be'er Sheva and Nosa Igiebor and Kayode Olanrewaju.

Yeah, we are Nigerians and we usually talk to each other, we also play in the Nigeria national team and I must say we enjoy the support and companionship of each other. Despite the fact that some of us are in different clubs, we make it a point to talk to one another. John Ogu is in the same club with me, we are more or less like brothers from the same mother and we enjoy each other's company. You don't expect anything less, given the fact we play in the Super Eagles together and also here in Israel, we also play in same club.

Austin, there have been speculations you may not be part of your club, Hapoel Be'er Sheva's plans in the coming 2015/2016 season….

(Cuts in) So many things have been insinuated but the truth is that I signed for a three year contract when I joined them. The three years are now over, and I can look back and say I put in my best for them and they know that. They know what I offered and my contribution to get the club to where they are now. I must also be happy that I was part of them and gave them my all. Truth is that contracts are reviewed upwards and I have tabled my demands and it is left for them to accept or not. But as the situation stands now, my agent is on top of things. If they discuss well, fine, but if not one has to look elsewhere.

There are reports Be'er Sheva don't seem well disposed to giving you a new contract because they want an Israeli in order to balance their foreign and indigenous quota?

I have enjoyed my stay here in Israel since I came some years ago. I've as well enjoyed every bit of my playing for Hapoel Be'er Sheva, quota or no quota. They have been nice to me, the fans have shown plenty of love to me, the supporters and people there are wonderful and I really appreciate them. But you see, there are times when you stay to the point that you are now seen as an indigene. That means your tax begins to go up and all of that. And of course, you know what I'm talking about.

So, where will Austin Ejide's fans look to seeing him play this coming 2015/2016 season?

We are still on off season, but who knows, if God says Be'er Sheva, fine and good, but if He says elsewhere, that's okay by me. I want to leave everything in the hands of God and my agent is working on that too.

Let's talk about the Super Eagles and the 2017 AFCON qualifiers. Nigeria defeated Chad 2-0 last weekend in Kaduna, what are your thoughts on that?

That's the way to begin,I really commend the players, the coaches, fans and even the NFF for that. Nothing is more important than winning your first game in qualifiers like these. All of us saw what happened last year when we did not qualify. So it's nice, starting on a winning note this time around and I commend the team.

Some would argue Chad was not the kind of team to stretch a team as big as Super Eagles.

I don't agree with that, no team is cheap these days, every country raise their games especially whenever they are playing against the Super Eagles of Nigeria, so it is important we come out strong, with the desire and mentality to win and that was what the guys did and I commend them for that.

Do you think this Super Eagles team can make it to the 2017 AFCON, given the many new faces that Stephen Keshi paraded against Chad?

Let me put it this way; the Super Eagles don't have any reason not to qualify for the 2017 AFCON. We have the players with the right mentality to do the job. We missed it last time and cannot afford not to be in Gabon in 2017. We have learnt our lessons, through the hard and bitter way. The players felt bad that after winning the Nations Cup in the previous edition, we could not go to Equatorial Guinea to defend our African title. So this time around, every player has in his mind the desire to put 120% effort to ensure qualification. All the new players you talked about, are they not Nigerians? Are they not professionals? Nigeria is blessed with so many talents and the coach has the right to dip his hands and select, so we have to back the players and coach with support and prayers for us to make it to Gabon in 2017.

You were not selected for the match, that is the second time in a row that you were left out.

Yes, I was not invited when we played South Africa in a friendly. I was not also invited for the Chad game. Don't forget Nigeria has many talents and the coach can select those he needs for a particular game, so I'm not worried. As a professional and patriotic Nigerian, I have to support the team whether I'm there or not and wish and pray for them to win because those players selected are there to win and bring smiles to the faces of Nigerians.

If Chad could stretch the Super Eagles to a scoreless first half, how much of a challenge do you expect from Tanzania, who are our next opponents given the fact that the match will hold in Dar es Salam, Tanzania?

I want to say that beating Tanzania on their ground will not be impossible because the hosts will be the ones to be under pressure. You know that they lost their first game (3-0) to Egypt, so hosting the Super Eagles will put them under pressure from their home fans who will want them to win. So the Eagles will cash in on this to get the result we want, once the Eagles get the first goal, it will be difficult for the Tanzanians.

What are your thoughts on Flying Eagles ouster in the round of 16 of the just concluded FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand?

I thought the team would have gone beyond the round of 16. They played wonderful football after the Brazil defeat on the opening day of the group games, that one thought they would have gone beyond Germany but that's football for you. However, I am happy the team produced some wonderful talents who can do well for the country in the next level.

The Super Falcons also crashed out in the group stage of the Women's World Cup too, after holding so much promise.

Yes, one had expected them to qualify after the 3-3 draw with Sweden in the first game, but losing 2-0 to Australia was not the best because it damped the morale of the girls. I was impressed with their performance against USA even though they lost 1-0. Hopefully, in subsequent championships, they will excel because they have shown they are bridging the gap with the top countries in women's football.

It's been nice talking with you Austin, all the best to you.

Thanks, you are welcome.

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ejide-eagles-wont-be-under-pressure-in-tanzania/

FT Nigeria 2 – 0 Chad

90+3- Musa loses the ball. The ref blows the final whistle. Nigeria 2-0 Chad

90+2- Balogun stopped in his track after a Troost-Ekong through pass

90- 3 minutes added

89- Freekick Nigeria. Musa fouled. Rabiu Ibrahim dazzled earlier with intelligent footwork.

84- John Ogu for Salami (Nigeria); Monde for Madtloiungi (Chad): Substitutions

83- Danny Karl Max on for Ninga Casimir: Chad substitution

78- Odion Ighalo wins Nigeria a penalty. He will take it. Meanwhile Onazi is red-carded for unsporting reason. Ighalo scores from the spot kick. Dillah guesses right but the Watford striker puts the ball under him. Nigeria 2-0 Chad.

75- Odion Ighalo fouled by Kevin Nicaise who is now booked. Rabiu Ibrahim's kick was close but not enough

73- Salami dribbles his marker but his cross is cleared. Ball Possession: Nigeria 68-32 Chad.

71- Kenneth Omeruo yellow-carded

70- There was no Nigerian player in sight to pounce on Ahmed Musa's cut back

66- Dillah punches the ball away from Nigeria's corner.

65- Musa's good cross meets Ighalo but his shot is deflected for a corner. Omeruo is receiving treatment.

62- GOAL! Gbolahan Salami fires a thunderous shot with a half volley to bring the crowd into ecstacy. Nigeria 1-0 Chad

60- Babatunde Michael subbed by Rabiu Ibrahim and Odion Ighalo for Salami for Nigeria.

58- Musa makes to shoot but the ball taken off his boot. Leon Balogun fouled by N' Douassell. He is booked (yellow)

52- Gbolahan Salami fouled. Its not a penalty as the Eagles bench thought but just outside the box. The freekick by Aaron Samuel curled round the wall but hits the upright and bounces out!

50- A throw for Nigeria. The Eagles boss possession now but Musa's cross cut out

48- The Eagles string few passes but Kingsley Madu's shot goes off target

47- Salami's cross is caught by Chad's keeper

46-Chad keeper, Dillah deals with a tricky ball in their box

45- Kick off by Chad. The visitors' cross is caught by Enyeama.

45- Musa's cross is once again disappointing. 1 minute has been added after regulation time in the first half.

43- Mbairamadji Dillah and Eagles' Babatunde Michael collide and require medical attention

40- A freekick to Chad. Anderson Esiti committed the foul.

38- A throw-in to Chad but Vincent Enyeama produces an instinctive, superb save to keep the score at 0-0 from the Chadians' goal-bound effort.

34- Gbolahan Salami could not finish off what proves to be Nigeria's best attacking move of this match. Keeper Mbairamadji Dillah scampers back in a bid to catch the ball but the ball had gone over the bar

32- Nigerian corner. Leon Balogun jumps to head the ball but it scrapes the upright and out.

31- Aaron Salami wins Nigeria a freekick

29- Gbolahan Salami produces wonderful footwork but the ref rules a freekick for Chad rather than Nigeria after he goes to the ground

27- Gbolahan Salami's freekick not utilised. Freekick to Chad

25- Kevin Nicaise kicks ball out for Nigerian throw-in. Freekick to Nigeria after Balogun is fouled by Chad dangerman

24- Michael miscues a glorious chance but seconds later, Salami wins Nigeria a freekick. Ahmed Musa produces a great freekick but keeper Dillah tips over the bar for another

20- Kingsley Madu fouled but Nigeria lose the momentum and Chad now get a goal-kick

17- Chad create pandemonium in the Eagles defence. Yassi Mahamat; the tormentor-in-chief. They get a corner but ball then cleared

13- Ogenyi Onazi loses the ball and gifts Chad a throw-in. Enyeama saves the ball however

11- N'Douarssell flagged offside.

10- Chad get first corner of the game, Kenneth Omeruo giving away the ball. Taken by Hilarie Kedugui but the ball is headed away. Relief now for the Eagles defence

8- Kingsley Madu chests and rips a fierce shot but it was wide

7- Leon Balogun brings down Ezechuel N'Douassel

4- Ahmed Musa's cross is eventually poor after a promising move

4- A throw-in to Nigeria

3- Gbolahan Salami fouled by Ezechiel N' Doursell

2- Freekick to Chad. Aaron Samuel the culprit

1- Kick off Nigeria. Throw to the Eagles

Nigeria and Chad have never met at any level of football. Chad have never participated in any international competition in history.

Nigeria
Enyeama- Balogun, Madu, Omeruo, Troost Ekong- Onazi, Esiti, Michael- Salami, Samuel, Musa

Chad
Mbairamadji Dillah- Constant Madtloiungi, Massama Asselmo, Kevin Nicaise, Naldjim Haroun- Marius Mbaiam, Hilarie Kedugui, Yassi Mahamat- Ninga Casimir- Ezechiel N' Douassel

Nigeria FIFA ranking: 45th
Chad FIFA ranking: 79th

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/minute-by-minute-nigeria-vs-chad/

FT Nigeria 2 – 0 Chad

90+3- Musa loses the ball. The ref blows the final whistle. Nigeria 2-0 Chad

90+2- Balogun stopped in his track after a Troost-Ekong through pass

90- 3 minutes added

89- Freekick Nigeria. Musa fouled. Rabiu Ibrahim dazzled earlier with intelligent footwork.

84- John Ogu for Salami (Nigeria); Monde for Madtloiungi (Chad): Substitutions

83- Danny Karl Max on for Ninga Casimir: Chad substitution

78- Odion Ighalo wins Nigeria a penalty. He will take it. Meanwhile Onazi is red-carded for unsporting reason. Ighalo scores from the spot kick. Dillah guesses right but the Watford striker puts the ball under him. Nigeria 2-0 Chad.

75- Odion Ighalo fouled by Kevin Nicaise who is now booked. Rabiu Ibrahim's kick was close but not enough

73- Salami dribbles his marker but his cross is cleared. Ball Possession: Nigeria 68-32 Chad.

71- Kenneth Omeruo yellow-carded

70- There was no Nigerian player in sight to pounce on Ahmed Musa's cut back

66- Dillah punches the ball away from Nigeria's corner.

65- Musa's good cross meets Ighalo but his shot is deflected for a corner. Omeruo is receiving treatment.

62- GOAL! Gbolahan Salami fires a thunderous shot with a half volley to bring the crowd into ecstacy. Nigeria 1-0 Chad

60- Babatunde Michael subbed by Rabiu Ibrahim and Odion Ighalo for Salami for Nigeria.

58- Musa makes to shoot but the ball taken off his boot. Leon Balogun fouled by N' Douassell. He is booked (yellow)

52- Gbolahan Salami fouled. Its not a penalty as the Eagles bench thought but just outside the box. The freekick by Aaron Samuel curled round the wall but hits the upright and bounces out!

50- A throw for Nigeria. The Eagles boss possession now but Musa's cross cut out

48- The Eagles string few passes but Kingsley Madu's shot goes off target

47- Salami's cross is caught by Chad's keeper

46-Chad keeper, Dillah deals with a tricky ball in their box

45- Kick off by Chad. The visitors' cross is caught by Enyeama.

45- Musa's cross is once again disappointing. 1 minute has been added after regulation time in the first half.

43- Mbairamadji Dillah and Eagles' Babatunde Michael collide and require medical attention

40- A freekick to Chad. Anderson Esiti committed the foul.

38- A throw-in to Chad but Vincent Enyeama produces an instinctive, superb save to keep the score at 0-0 from the Chadians' goal-bound effort.

34- Gbolahan Salami could not finish off what proves to be Nigeria's best attacking move of this match. Keeper Mbairamadji Dillah scampers back in a bid to catch the ball but the ball had gone over the bar

32- Nigerian corner. Leon Balogun jumps to head the ball but it scrapes the upright and out.

31- Aaron Salami wins Nigeria a freekick

29- Gbolahan Salami produces wonderful footwork but the ref rules a freekick for Chad rather than Nigeria after he goes to the ground

27- Gbolahan Salami's freekick not utilised. Freekick to Chad

25- Kevin Nicaise kicks ball out for Nigerian throw-in. Freekick to Nigeria after Balogun is fouled by Chad dangerman

24- Michael miscues a glorious chance but seconds later, Salami wins Nigeria a freekick. Ahmed Musa produces a great freekick but keeper Dillah tips over the bar for another

20- Kingsley Madu fouled but Nigeria lose the momentum and Chad now get a goal-kick

17- Chad create pandemonium in the Eagles defence. Yassi Mahamat; the tormentor-in-chief. They get a corner but ball then cleared

13- Ogenyi Onazi loses the ball and gifts Chad a throw-in. Enyeama saves the ball however

11- N'Douarssell flagged offside.

10- Chad get first corner of the game, Kenneth Omeruo giving away the ball. Taken by Hilarie Kedugui but the ball is headed away. Relief now for the Eagles defence

8- Kingsley Madu chests and rips a fierce shot but it was wide

7- Leon Balogun brings down Ezechuel N'Douassel

4- Ahmed Musa's cross is eventually poor after a promising move

4- A throw-in to Nigeria

3- Gbolahan Salami fouled by Ezechiel N' Doursell

2- Freekick to Chad. Aaron Samuel the culprit

1- Kick off Nigeria. Throw to the Eagles

Nigeria and Chad have never met at any level of football. Chad have never participated in any international competition in history.

Nigeria
Enyeama- Balogun, Madu, Omeruo, Troost Ekong- Onazi, Esiti, Michael- Salami, Samuel, Musa

Chad
Mbairamadji Dillah- Constant Madtloiungi, Massama Asselmo, Kevin Nicaise, Naldjim Haroun- Marius Mbaiam, Hilarie Kedugui, Yassi Mahamat- Ninga Casimir- Ezechiel N' Douassel

Nigeria FIFA ranking: 45th
Chad FIFA ranking: 79th

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/minute-by-minute-nigeria-vs-chad/

Super Eagles defender, Godfrey Oboabona has informed http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/ that they are in the country to give their best against Chad in the June 13 African Cup of Nations qualifier, saying they have learnt.
The Turkey based former Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure defender, who is one of the fifteen foreign based players invited by Coach Stephen Keshi for the 2017 AFCON qualifier, also told Complete Sports that they will give their best to make Nigerians happy this time around.

“It was painful that we could not make in 2015 but I must tell you that we have learnt from that and we are ready to do our best to make sure that Nigeria makes it this time around. Coming early to camp is a sign that all the players are here for business”, says the Nigeria international.

“We are not going to take it lightly with Chad, we will see every game as a Cup final and that is the resolve of the players here in camp. We have met the coaches and we have both agreed that Nigeria must be at the next edition of the African Cup of Nations in Gabon.

While being asked what caused the team’s failure in 2015, the former Sunshine Star defender said he has put that behind him and is looking forward to what he wants to achieve with the team at the 2017 edition.

“I don’t want to talk about the past, we are here to beat Chad and that is exactly what we are going to do. I must also tell you that we are not also going to underrate any team in the process of qualifying for the AFCON" he sums up.

Former Nigeria captain, Peter Rufai, tells SAB OSUJI in this interview that the Flying Eagles will break the Brazil jinx in the opening match of Group E in the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup finals.
Rufai also posits that the Nigeria U-20s can lift the trophy…

What are your thoughts on this present Flying Eagles squad coach Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade have taken to the FIFA U-20 World Cup finals in New Zealand?
I see the team as one that can go places. They have been consistent right from the U-17 level. At that stage, we all saw what they achieved, winning the U-17 World Cup in Dubai,UAE, two years ago. Having graduated to the U-20 level too, we saw how they won the AYC title in Senegal a couple of months ago. And if you add these to their performance in Germany where they went for a three-week camping tour, won all three trial games, then you can begin to say this team can make Nigeria proud at the championship.

They will begin their campaign late Sunday night (early Monday morning) against Brazil in group E, what are your expectations?
I'm expecting victory from the team. I know they can do it because the team Manu Garba has put together, for me, is very solid. The players are hard working and individually skillful, recall Bernard Bulbwa's goal against Senegal in the AYC final, how he side-picked the ball, turned and shot right from the edge of the box. So the potentials in the team are not in doubt, their mental strength, team spirit and cohesion as well as commitment are ingredients that single out a good and ambitious side and the team has all these qualities.

Nigeria has never won this FIFA U-20 World Cup before, doesn't this fact or jinx scare you especially when they have Brazil to contend with in our group?
We have not won the Cup before but I have noticed some exceptional qualities in the team just as I said earlier. This makes me confident. Of course I believe in the technical prowess of coaches Manu Garba and Nduka Ugbade which they have proved over time. I know there is always a first time in anything in life. It is very possible.

Are you saying the team can win the World Cup in New Zealand?
First, I expect them to put up a good performance, take every opponent as a champion they just have to edge out. They should also see themselves as champions, which they are. They should knuckle down, take the games as they come, and if they do this they are bound to reach the final and once they are in the final, certainly they will come home with the Cup.

Wonderful permutation, Flying Eagles, World Champions in the making. But does it occur to you that Nigeria has never beaten Brazil at this level of World Cup championship? Don't you think this jinx may constitute a problem for the Flying Eagles?
No, they are not a threat, rather I see it as a challenge that will inspire the team. Nigeria, at whatever level of the national team, get stronger and tougher in games against perceived difficult oppositions and I can see this playing out again in New Zealand when we meet Brazil. Difficult games bring out the best in our teams and this cuts across our various national teams. I see this making the players very serious, determined and more committed to prove to the World, including Brazil, that they are not in New Zealand for sight-seeing but to defend themselves and the green-white-green jersey and bring glory to their fatherland.


Tell me what really happened that you did not play for Nigeria at the U-20 level…
Actually I was invited to the camp but school activities didn't allow me. That was in 1977. Father Tiko was in-charge of the senior national team then as well as being in-charge of the Flying Eagles. It was during the preparation for the first edition of the championship held in Tunisia. I reported to camp but had to go back to school because of examinations. I would have loved to be part of the team, especially since that was the first edition of the championship but then I chose the right path and I have no regrets about it.

Certainly you must have been sad missing out of the squad even though Nigeria did not qualify for the championship proper in Tunisia?
I would have been sad if I had missed it as a result of lack of form or non-invitation. But because I missed out based on academic pursuit which is also good as my parents advised me so I don't have any regrets at all.

Stephen Keshi has finally been restored as Super Eagles coach. What are your thoughts abouts that?
First and foremost, I've to commend the Nigeria Football Federation and Stephen Keshi as well as his manager for finally coming to an amicable resolution of the Super Eagles contract issue. I also commend all those who in one way or the other, ensured that peace reigned in Nigeria football for Super Eagles to move forward. Having said that, I must say that I'm happy over Keshi's coming back as Super Eagles coach; that's number one. Secondly, I will say that Keshi has shown a lot of patriotism to this country. As a player, he showed his patriotism to Nigeria and has repeated that now as a coach. Another coach would have opted out during the period of dispute, to take up appointment with another country even with less pay but he did stood firm and interested in serving his country. He wants to use the opportunity of his second coming to try to make up for our not qualifying for the last Nations Cup.The NFF has also done well by keeping faith with him.

Chad is Nigeria's first opponent in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers.Are you looking forward to that game in Kaduna? Is that match going to be easy for the Super Eagles?
Chad will not be an easy opponent. But I must also say that it is one match we will comfortably win. Yes, we have had our ups and downs in the game in recent times but that's not enough for anyone to think that a team like Chad will come here to trample on our Nations Cup aspirations. Of course, it is important not to underrate any opposition but Chad should not be the team to scare us. They know at the back of their minds that they are coming to play against a giant of African football, a team which has been involved in the Nations Cup for long and a team that has won the championship three times. They should be the ones to be afraid us and respect us, so I'm not afraid of them and statistics show that irrespective of the travails we have had in recent times, Nigeria football and that of Chad should not be placed on same pedestal based on the quality of players available to both countries.

What about Tanzania, an East African nation who are Nigeria's next group opponents after Chad?
Same is applicable to Tanzania. They will all come to flex muscles against the Super Eagles but determination alone is not enough and never a guarantee for victory over the Super Eagles. They will only come to try their luck but expecting victory means stretching their luck too far.

But we have had cases in the past when these underdogs defeated the Super Eagles. The most recent being Congo who defeated the Eagles in Calabar in the 2015 AFCON qualifiers. Don't you fear such may repeat itself again because this is football where even the unexpected does happen?
We lost to Congo because they had a good tactician in Claude Le Roy who knows African football and its players too well.He has all it takes to coach any team, so if you are playing against his team you don't need to say because his team is coming from a small country and not known in the game. Le Roy as a coach will be the determing factor. But in all of these, I don't have any worry whatsoever about Chad and Tanzania. However, if any of these two teams have a tactical guru like Le Roy then we should have cause to worry.

The Super Eagles are in the same qualifying group with Egypt. They have won the AFCON more than any other country on the continent. Perhaps you may have some concerns when Nigeria meet them later in the course of the qualifiers.

The Pharaohs of Egypt are not an easy side to knock down. The few times I played against them, we have had to come from behind to win or draw though we later won on penalties at some point. So I can say they are not a side to be underrated or overlooked. Egypt is a team we have to put on all our tactical thinking caps to overcome. This is where I'm calling on the NFF and the Super Eagles coaches to come together to map out a strategy that can guarantee victory for the Eagles. Egypt don't just play based on the present strength of opponents, they bring to fore past record of matches they have played against the opponents, study them and perfect their strategy. This forms part of their preparations and if on our side we can get all these facts together, then this will help the team a lot.

NFF has a technical study group headed by Austin Jay Jay Okocha, do you think they can come in here ?

For sure, it's going to help because the group is bound to bring back good news if and when they are sent to evaluate opponents strengths and weaknesses. So I think this will help also in the developmental aspects as well.

You retired from active football after the 2002 FIFA World Cup in Korea/Japan. Since then no one has seen your face near the national teams coaching, what's the reason?

I can only say if the authorities believe I'm needed, if they think I have something to offer the country as regards coaching, if they think I have value to add to the national team, if they know the value that I can bring to the development of Nigeria football, if they know what it means to acquire knowledge after playing career, if they really know what value and respect means they will call for those of us who possess all these qualities. But I thank God Almighty that I have been busy all this while with youth developmental programme which I thought was wise to give to my country after my career in Europe. I love the grassroot developmental programme I'm running across the nation through the support of corporate bodies and also giving seminars across the nation and abroad as well. I have also been engaged in giving youths motivational talks across the country and abroad as well as engaged in my football academy, Star-Ruf Football Academy which is managed by experts.


Tell us more about this Star-Ruf Football Academy

Well, it has to do with imparting footballing knowledge to the younger ones, for them to make a career in football and keep away from social vices. In this regard I set up an academy, STAR-RUF ACADEMY which also has a branch in Europe, Spain to be specific. It is aimed at impacting on youths that want to take football as a profession. I am an instructor in the basics of the game, I decided to set up one here in the country. I have a diploma in how to establish and manage an academy, how to coach youths and put them on the right track to pursue a career in football.

How many students or apprentice footballers do you have in Star-Ruf Academy at the moment?

We have 40 players in the senior category, we have 20 players in the U-13 category and 40 players in the U-15 category.

How do you run this academy, I mean in terms of training or do you handle the training aspect all alone by yourself?

No, Star-Ruf Academy is set up and run along professional lines. We have a management structure that has administrative manager, sports secretary and all that. In terms of coaching, coach Loveday Omoruyi is the head of coaching, he is a professional coach, my former teammate at Stationery Stores of Lagos, former national team player and has coached Gateway United, Zamfara United, Jasper United, Bendel Insurance and even coached in Benin Republic. All that I do is provide them the coaching syllabus.

How do you deal with players' urge for overseas contracts?

This is one area Nigerian parents have to really show understanding. Yes we prepare players for higher stakes in their careers especially going on trials in Europe. But then, it's not an over-night thing, we prepare them especially players in the senior team and based on their performances and form, we begin to either take them to clubs in Nigeria or Europe. Unfortunately many of them want immediate travels irrespective of whether they are good and ready enough for such trials or not. You will be wasting a lot of money taking unfit player to Europe and at the same time lowering the vault on the quality of Nigerian players as well as your academy players if you take players that don't measure up to European standards out for trials and I want parents to understand this.

Source: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/rufai-brazil-are-no-threats-to-flyingeagles/

–Time to win Nigeria jersey and face-cap


The Barclays Premier League in England has ended and attention shifts to the FIFA U20 World Cup in New Zealand.

The Flying Eagles will play their first game of the 2015 U20 World Cup against Brazil early Monday morning, precisely 2am (1pm Monday, in New Zealand).

This is your chance to win big as you have your say in preview of this match. Two top winners selected after this Nigeria's U20 World. Cup opener will win two authentic Super Eagles jerseys and two more readers will get two face-cap each as consolation prizes.

The Nigerian U20 side are yet to defeat Brazil at the U20 World Cup in four previous meetings: three defeats and one draw, since 1983.

Do you think the Flying Eagles will defeat Brazil for the first time at this level? Who will be the players to watch on both sides and what is your score prediction for the game?

Simply post your comment (preview) on this match through the 'Leave A Reply field' at the bottom of this page.

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The home-based Super Eagles squad will on Tuesday play a friendly match in Katsina to open a brand new stadium in the Katsina State capital, the Nigeria Football Feceration website confirmed on Saturday.

The Eagles will face Katsina selected side, with kick-off set for 5pm.

The new Karkanda Stadium, which will be declared open on that day, has a capacity of 35,000 and an artificial playing turf. It was only recently completed by the Katsina State Government under the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema.

The Super Eagles, currently camped in Abuja for preparations ahead of the 13 June AFCON qualifier against Chad in Kaduna, will have a feel of the new pitch on Monday before playing the friendly on Tuesday.

They are expected back in Abuja on Wednesday.

Read More: http://www.completesportsnigeria.com/nff-confirm-eagles-for-katsina-stadium-friendly-2/

With most Super Eagles players either not getting regular playing time for their clubs or failing to sign for top clubs, Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has stated it is not in his power to determine how the club careers of the players will go.

It hasn’t been the best of times for many Super Eagles players as most of them struggle to play regularly for their clubs, even when playing for less fancied sides, and Keshi acknowledges the issue, but says he cannot do anything about it.

“I can’t control their performances for their clubs or how often they play,” he says. “It is a personal thing, it’s about personal excellence and it depends on the individual.

“If you think you have to work harder to become better, it is left to you as the player, I cannot control that.

“Although I talk to them one on one, if I think they are not doing well enough for their clubs then I’ll say so but it is not my job to be on their necks everyday about it.

“They’re all adults, they’re professionals and they should live up to a professional level and that is it,” he stated.

A good number of the current Super Eagles players have recently struggled to gain regular playing time for their clubs, with only a handful of them playing week in, week out for their clubs.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/keshi-i-cant-control-players-lack-of-game-time/

–Football veterans take Nigeria president-elect to task on football development as the NFF contract talks with Stephen Keshi remains at the crossroads

Completesportsnigeria.com sets up a Jury amidst the unending Super Eagles coaching job palaver. The NFF, still awed by the influence of the presidency in recalling out of contract coach Stephen Keshi after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, still can’t do without the dissent Big Boss who later made a public apology on Saturday. How intriguing! And our jury returned almost unanimously with a proactive recommendation: that Nigeria’s president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) must learn from the mistake of the incumbent, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, and not interfere in the affairs of the Nigeria Football Federation, instead must provide the enabling environment for the development of football, nay sports in Nigeria. Adegboye Onigbinde, Adokiye Amiesimaka, Felix Owolabi and Mike Umeh spoke to Completesportsnigeria.com about moving Nigerian football forward without any presidency interferance.

Buharism

Nigerian football, nay sports fraternity are already looking forward to seeing what the president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari’s slant for or against sports will look like after assuming office on May 29. But particularly, the larger population of the football-crazy Nigerians has been expectant. There is a consensus that Nigerian football which has plummeted terribly needs a serious revamping.

Buharism is the sobriquet ascribed to Buhari’s military regime of December 1983 to August 1985, for its peculiar no-nonsense and steadfast approach to issues in governance. Nigerians who voted him in massively now hold that firmness of character in his honour and expect that the retired General will uncork that formula yet as a civilian Head of State, to sanitize Nigeria. And the ailing Nigerian football is virtually begging to feel the sweeping effect of Buharism and spring back to life. But “how” is is the concern of Completesportsnigeria.com’s Jury in this discourse.

Most of our jury members condemned the the mistake of the incumbent head of state: going too far in meddling in the affairs of the NFF, influencing the body to recall Stephen Keshi for his Super Eagles contract extension. About nine months after that presidential ‘mediation’, the NFF and Stephen Keshi are yet to find a common ground to formalize a new contract. And Nigerian football has suffered the setbacks induced by the prolonged saga.

buhari-golden-eaglets
Buhari’s crown: Golden Eagets with the FIFA/JVC U16 World Cup title in 1985


Ambitious General

Unknown to many, President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari is an ambitious football lover. Leadership newspaper on January 22, 2015 quoted General Buhari’s secondary school classmate: former Inspector. General of Police, Alhaji Ibrahim Coomassie as saying that the President elect Will grab any good opportunity to express his love for football.

Coomassie said: “…While we were in school, Buhari was the head boy. He loves playing football. We were all close friends in school. After we finished secondary school, General Buhari decided to join the military, I joined the police and Justice Abdullahi decided to go to the university…”

As a military Head of state, Buhari had the honour of motivating the national team, the Green Eagles to Silver medal brazil_2003_friendlyfeat at the 1984 Nations Cup hosted by Côte d’Ivoire. Nigeria’s cadet team, the Golden Eaglets made Buhari’s government proud by winning the first ever cadet (now U-17) World Cup in China. In fact, Buhari reportedly nicknamed the Ngeria’s national U17 side the Golden Eaglets when he staged a reception in honour of the triumphant team captained by the current Flying Eagles assistant coach, Nduka Ugbade.

General Ibrahim Babangida’s military setup dethroned Buhari’s regime immediately after that cadet World Cup triumph.

Another pointer to Buhari’s unwavering love for football was recorded when he turned up at the Abuja National Stadium on June 11 2003 (during General Olusegun Obasanjo’ regime), to cheer the Super Eagles during an international friendly match with Brazil.

General Buhari’s All Progressives Congress (APC) manifestos during their 2015 Presidential electioneering campaign may have been silent on sports, but there is no ruling out the possibility of his innate passion for football holding sway after assuming office at Aso Rock.

Warning

Our jury cautions the president-elect, Muhammad Buhari to desist from being over-ambitious this time around as the civilian President, to avoid derailing Nigerian football the Jonathan way.

Former Super Eagles and CAF Instructor, Adegboye Onigbinde condemns in strong terms the ‘interference’ of President Jonathan over who becomes the national team coach. And he hopes the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari does not meddle in the affairs of the national team in the same vein.
onigbinde-keshi“No preeident in the world can go into all aspect of governance. We have qualified people who can run our football,”Onigbinde, a former FIFA instructor and member of FIFA Study Group begins unequivocally on the floor of Completesportsnigeria.com Jury.

“That was why I said it was a shame that the (current) president of Nigeria will decide the appointment of a coach for the national team.

He continues: “At a point, the president said they should allow Keshi to continue as the coach of the national. A president coming to that level? It means that the people who are directly in charge are missing few things.

“When did you hear that the Prime Minister of England or the queen of England came down to run football for their country? No president have to come in to say that a coach should be allowed to continue. And that was why when that instruction came, I sent a text message to Keshi that if I were you, I will thank the president profusely and bow out.

“I said this (to Keshi) because the president will not come down to work with you, there are people who will work with him, but we have been on the matter for over eight months now.

Former NFF Vice-President, Chief Mike Umeh Corroborates: “Talking about national team coaches, and more specifically, the Super Eagles as has been reported in the media, no, the government should not interfere in who becomes the national team coach – that is not the duty of the President or the National Sports Commission.

On his part, 1980 AFCON winner Felix Owolabi posits that the president should limit himself to providing the enabling environments for football to develop rather than direct involvement in the decisions of the federation.

“It is a profession that has made me, and I will not have any course to regret it. So this is where we have to look into it and get the best person with the personality that will manage the position. So it will be better if the president-elect will have interest so that he will put the right person there as minister, that should be the only focus of the president.”

One time Green Eagles Captain and former Rivers State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Adokiye Amiesimaka agrees that a president should have no business with the decisions of a sports body like the NFF, but is not convinced that President Jonathan actually dabbled into it as has been widely reported.

Keshi_honouredAmiesimaka insists: “President Jonathan never said that he imposed Stephen Keshi on the Nigeria Football Federation as the Head coach of the Super Eagles. It’s just the press that have written a lot of things. That was not the situation.

“Why not ask Amaju Pinnick (NFF President) who is stopping you from taking a decision on hiring or firing a national team coach. If they have to hire Keshi. they should hire him, and if they have to fire him, they should fire him.

“The NFF is not even properly incorporated. That is what they have to do just like FIFA which is not created by Swiss law, but are only incoroprated in Switzerland because that is where they are based.”

Adokiye’s Blueprint

Adokiye Amiesimaka flaunts his football development blueprint for the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd).

“The question is going back to the basics. We need to get a youth development programme that works. Its not about Adokiye-Amiesimakahaving a competition and bringing players together, preparing two months to the competition. I mean preparation at the grassroots level,” the one nicknamed Chief Justice of football offers on the Completesportsnigeria.com Jury.

“We want to be the best in the world, but we don’t know what it takes to be there. You start from level A.

“The press is part of the problem. You focus too much on results and not preparation. If you want to produce a professor in Law, you start from the nursery school, then to the secondary school, perhaps High School, then the University. When you identify talented players, you need to take them through their formative years. That is the case in Europe and South America, but not at the expense of their education though.

Amisimaka quips: “As it is now, are the Super Eagles not strong? Are we not one of the most powerful teams in Africa.”

He continues seriously: “You see, we dream a lot in this part of the world. We say we are one of the best teams in the world, one of the best to be reckoned with; that is not true. That’s a wishful thinking.

“I’ve been asked this question a lot of times, but nobody wants to do the needful and I feel it is a waste of time. Yes, we have potentials but we now sound like broken records.”

Onigbinde’s Optimism

Onigbinde is pointing to the way forward with a firm optimism that the new president-elect will affect football and sports in general positively, going by the retired General’s reputation of steadfast action.

Adegboye Onigbinde, match commissionerKabiru Abubakar@BackpagePix“I want to congratulate the president-elect. We all know who he is and the type of person he is. One is expecting a lot of things in terms of development, especially in our sports. He is a sportsman.

“If you permit me to be sentimental here, I remember the type of support he gave us in 1984 in Cote d’Ivoire at the Africa Cup of Nations. Buhari (as military Head of State) sent a personal message of goodwill to me before we played the final which unfortunately we lost (against Cote d’ Ivoire).

“He is a silent burner. He is not the boisterous type. He is very effective and active, and that is why one is expecting a lot of improvement in our sports in particular,” Onigbinde submits to Completesportsnigeria.com Jury.

Owolabi’s Agenda

Owolabi expects General Buhari to ring the right changes at the federal level of sports administration if he must get it right with his football and other sports development agenda in Nigeria.

buhari-1“For a very long time, the sports fraternity has clamoured for a better reference as far as our sports is concerned. What I mean is that when you have a new government like this, the sports family will want to expect that when they are choosing who is who, like the minister of sports, it should be people who are relevant to the course of sports,” Owolabi states.

“For example in Europe, a minister is made the head of works or something like that, accordingly in his area of specialization. But in Nigeria, you pick a medical doctor to be a sports minister. These are some of the problems we have been facing. So, you will find out that we are not moving ahead, instead we are always stagnant.

“Unfortunately,cwe don’t have a blueprint on the way forward for Nigerian sports, different administrations with different view, especially on how to run football, which is not supposed to be the case. In a nutshell, let us put it to the new government, that it should be a challenge to them that they are coming to make a reform.”

Umeh’s Blueprint

Mike Umeh wants the President-elect to make football and sports in general benefit from the private sector participation.

“I expect the President-elect to reorganise Nigerian sports and football in particular. Sponsorship is key in sports. And to curtail government interference in Nigerian sports, we need the active participation of the private sector. That is where the enabling economical environment in the country will help sports. In some parts of the world, there areMike Umeh laws that compel multinational organisations to set aside certain percentage of their profit for sports development.

“The incoming President is known to be a disciplined and focused man. We hope that he will bring the change that will move our sports forward.

Speaking further on the idea of the Presidency having a direct say in the affairs of sports bodies, Umeh adds: “Are you saying that we should not have a sports minister or that accountability is not a key word in sports?

“There should be checks and balances and we expect fairness by the sports officials. “

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/experts-buhari-must-not-hijack-eagles-like-jonathan/

On loan Stoke City forward, Victor Moses, reportedly rejected a chance to return to Chelsea during the January transfer window.

Moses has revived his Premier League career with the Potters and Stoke are ready to open talks with Chelsea over a potential £5million summer move.

His return to form has been so impressive that Mourinho offered him the chance to join Chelsea’s title challenge in the new year.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Mourinho wanted to terminate the season-loan arrangement prematurely and bring him back to Stamford Bridge, as he moved to strengthen his title-chasing squad.

However, Moses had fears of being put on the bench if he goes back to the Blues, rather than getting a regular run of games he is currently enjoying at Stoke and his refusal forced Chelsea to sign Fiorentina’s Juan Cuadrado.

A £9million signing from Wigan in August 2012, Moses will be targeted by Hughes for a permanent move at the end of the season and Stoke are hopeful of reaching an agreement.

Chelsea have received significant loan fees from his spells with Liverpool and Stoke and are likely to let him leave.

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/

–West Brom and Super Eagles star speaks on life before stardom.

Having left home at 16 to pursue football against his mum’s wishes, Brown Ideye is thankful he can smile now. So much so he is able to give a highly animated impression of her watching him play for West Bromwich Albion.

Squinting to study an imaginary television back home in Nigeria, his arms flap wildly. ‘Don’t kick him!’ he shouts, mimicking his mother Teresa’s voice. ‘Ref can’t you see!’ he jabs his fingers.

‘Each time West Brom play my mother is wearing my shirt, sitting down in front of the telly, and she is like this,’ Ideye laughs.

It is quite some turnaround given she banned him from playing the game as a 14-year-old through fears he would get caught up with criminal gangs on the streets of Lagos.

After his father Joel died, she even sent him to her sister’s remote village eight hours away to keep him from football and, as she saw it, trouble.

A decade later Ideye, 26, is West Brom’s £10million record buy and, after initial difficulties, beginning to make good on his price tag.

He faces Aston Villa in the FA Cup quarter-final today, looking for revenge on the local rivals who triumphed in a dramatic Premier League match on Tuesday night.

He scored two goals in the last round to do more than any in the 4-0 destruction of West Ham United, and is allowing himself dreams of Wembley.

A May date at the grand stadium might present the chance for his mum to support her son in person for the first time. ‘In summer it’s possible, right now it’s cold for her,’ he says. ‘I want us to get to the final. If we do then I can arrange it.’

Had she got her way all those years ago, however, Ideye would not be a Premier League player. ‘It’s hard growing up in Lagos,’ he says. ‘There is always a story to tell in a city like that. My friends were involved in crazy stuff. They were bad boys of the area. I was picked up once by the police.

‘My mum stopped me going out with them. She was upset. Each time I told her I wanted to play football she would say, “No you’re going to be with your friends.”

Ideye was sent to live with his aunt but eventually ran away to train with his old coach and finally told his mum he wanted to make a 200-mile trip to Bayelsa State to play regularly. ‘She didn’t accept. That’s how I left. I went to Bayelsa State then Ocean Boys. Then bam, bam, bam.’

The bams are Neuchatel Xamax in Switzerland, Sochaux in France, and Dynamo Kiev in Ukraine, where he scored 33 goals in 74 games and earned most of his 24 Nigeria caps.

Once he had signed professional forms, Ideye patched up his relationship with his mum. Tears flowed. ‘When I got the contract in Switzerland I went back home, sat with my family and had breakfast, dinner, lunch, everyone happy.

‘Afterwards she called me into her room and said, “I’m sorry about everything, your dad is late and I am the only person who can guide you. I looked at what your friends were doing and believed if I left you that is how you’d become.” I said, “I get that.” She started crying. She could not believe she tried to stop me becoming what she is enjoying today.’

Having looked well short of his pedigree in the opening months of the season and on the verge of a cut-price deal on deadline day to Qatar side Al-Gharafa, a glorious spell of four goals in six days (three games) followed.

Cultivating an understanding alongside Saido Berahino and with guidance from Tony Pulis, Ideye looks to have found his feet in England. ‘I took a lot of time to adapt,’ he admits. ‘I was overwhelmed that I am the record signing. I put a lot of pressure on myself. People are not patient.

‘The game doesn’t turn out the way I want, I become frustrated, I keep on pushing when I am supposed to calm down. Things were going so fast.

‘As for the social media, you can’t expect everyone to like you. They will say what they want. I don’t see what can shake me given what has happened before.

‘It’s inspiration. They are pushing me to my success. I like people criticising me.

‘That one week turned out to be something I dreamt. I felt this day would come. Getting back to the Brown Ideye people know.

‘One day the people who are saying, “He’s no good” are the same people who will say, “Don’t let him go.”

He hopes to be running in celebration at Villa Park, performing the somersault tumble that marked his last goal. ‘I always did that when I was a child,’ he says. ‘When you’re excited you find yourself doing things you don’t plan. The fans love it so I will keep on doing it.’

#BrownIdeye

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/ideye-my-mum-tried-to-stop-me-from-playing-football/

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba says his son wants to play for England. Son Isaac, 15, has played for Chelsea’s U14 team.

“My son was playing for Chelsea and I asked him which nationality do you want to play for,” father 36-year-old Didier told Sports Illustrated.

“He’s French, but he said he does not want to play for Ivory Coast or France, he wants to play for England.

“Even when I was in China, I said to them (his children), do you want to come and live with me, but they said that they would come to see me on holidays.”

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/drogbas-son-wants-to-play-for-england/

Super Eagles defender, Elderson Echiejile has admitted he is engaged with to his long time girlfriend, Annabel Akpala, a 500level medical student of the University of Port Harcourt.

The AS Monaco defender who is poised to make his 11th Ligue 1 start against Montpellier this weekend told Complete Sports that he proposed to Annabel, the youngest sister of Karabukspor forward, Joseph Akpala, who is also a model, in Benin Republic eight months ago after he was dropped from the World Cup squad on account of injury.

“That happened after the World Cup and I’m happy with it,” he said.

The 27 year old also admitted he proposed to her with a 3-stone diamond ring and could tie the nuptial knot in the summer.

“I’m fully focused with Monaco but let’s see what happens this summer.”

Recall that Annabel was the winner of the Most Beautiful Girl Pagent in Port Harcourt, Rivers in November 2014.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/echiejile-engages-akpalas-sister/

–ex-international not interested in Keshi’s post

Former Nigeria International, Sunday Oliseh has ruled out any chance of taking up the senior national team handler’s job.

The 40-year-old ex-footballer-turned Football Analyst and motivational speaker admitted the craving to make himself available for the job since he’s ‘well qualified’.

However, the AFCON 1994 winner explained that his need to fulfill other ambitions and the pressure that comes with the job of the Super Eagles hot seat makes any interest in the position less appealing.

” So many people have been asking me , why don’t you go and Coach the Super Eagles? Well,I want to live long.

” In as much as I know I’m very much qualified for it, I love my Country and the proof of this abounds, but I’ll rather share my experience and allow my thoughts and knowledge reach a vast majority.”

#SundayOliseh

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/oliseh-rules-eagles-job/

[img][/img]Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo has been voted the best player in the 23-year history of the English Premier League. Ronaldo played only six seasons for Manchester United from 2003 to 2009.

According to a report in mirror.co.uk, a survey conducted by Usurv placed Ronaldo above Arsenal legend Thierry Henry and Manchester United veteran Ryan Giggs, who finished second and third respectively.

Ronaldo joined the Red Devils in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon for a fee of 12 million pounds.
The FIFA Ballon d’Or holder had a fine run at Old Trafford which saw him find the back of the net 118 times in 292 games. His exploits saw him named the World Player of the Year in 2008 after inspiring United to a UEFA Champions League triumph.

Real Madrid brought Ronaldo’s stint at the Premier League to an end in 2009 when he joined them for what was then a world-record fee of 80 million pounds.

In the survey, as many as 1,000 members of the public were given a choice of 10 players to vote from and invited to select who they thought was the best in the Premier League’s history.

Ronaldo beats other 9 players namely Henry, Giggs, Eric Cantona, Gianfranco Zola, Dennis Bergkamp, Steven Gerrard, Alan Shearer, Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira to the award.

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/ronaldo-voted-best-epl-player-ever/

Reading have completed the signing of former Everton and Middlesbrough striker Yakubu on a short-term deal.
Now 32, the ex-Nigeria international had been plying his trade in Qatar with Al Rayyan, but was available to Steve Clarke as a free agent.

Yakubu first came to England on loan to Portsmouth from Maccabi Haifa, before joining the club on a permanent deal in 2003.

From there, he had spells as Middlesbrough and Everton, where he scored 25 goals at each, before securing a move to Blackburn in 2011.

He left England two years ago to continue his career at Guangzhou in China, but has now returned to play in the Championship.

Yakubu becomes Reading’s third arrival in the January window, following the loan signing of Chelsea starlet Nathaniel Chalobah and Slovenian left-back Jure Travner.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/yakubu-joins-reading-short-term-deal/

Nigeria’s most modern stadium is nominated to become Stadium of the Year 2014. Everyone can help their favourite stadium reach for success.

The Akwa Ibom International Stadium is among venues nominated for Stadium of the Year award. The current edition includes 32 major stadiums opened in 2014. 8 are located in Brazil, three in the USA, while Hungary and Poland each have two nominees.

“It’s great to see a new stadium for Nigeria to be proud of. Its white outer cladding and illumination also make it stand out globally and become a true landmark for Uyo,” says Grzegorz Kaliciak, founder of StadiumDB.com, organizer of the competition.

Now stadium enthusiasts from around the world can vote to select their Stadium of the Year. Each Internet user may vote only once by selecting five most favourite stadia. Within the first 4 days over 25,000 people have given their vote through dedicated online platform. The vote is open until February 17.

A separate vote is ran by the competition Jury, consisting of famous architects from five countries. Bob van Bebber and Mike Bell from South Africa designed stadiums of the 2010 World Cup, while Bruno Campos from Brazil was one of the architects of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The Jury also consists of John Bontinck (Belgium), Bryan Roe (Ireland) and Serban Tiganas (Romania).

The Public Vote and Jury Vote awards will both be announced on February 19.

Stadium of the Year is held every year in January and February by Stadiony.net and StadiumDB.com, two websites dedicated solely to sports stadiums. Current edition is already the fifth one. Previous winners include Aviva Stadium (2010), PGE Arena Gdansk (2011), Gremio Arena (2012) and Ghelamco Arena (2013).

Stadium of the Year is not a commercial competition. It’s an independent project organized to establish the most appreciated stadiums worldwide. Should you require any further information about the competition or have additional questions, please contact Michal Karas at Michal@stadiumDB.com.

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/akwa-ibom-stadium-nominated-stadium-year-award/

The 30th edition of the African Cup of Nations kicks off (today) Saturday, 17 January 2015.

The tournament which is being hosted by Equatorial Guinea after Morocco withdrew as hosts due to fears over the Ebola disease outbreak in parts of the continent will not have defending champions, Nigeria, defend the title they won in 2013.

The Super Eagles failed to qualify from a relatively easy group and many African football experts are already ruing the absence of the team still handled by out-of-contract Stephen Keshi.

How do you see the 2015 AFCON panning out: Do you think the quality of football on show will be low?

Is it more ‘comfortable’ watching a tournament without your own team (Super Eagles) which saves you nervous moments?

Is the AFCON miss a blessing in disguise in the face of the Ebola threat, or should the Federal Government of Nigeria have accepted to host the tournament when Nigeria’s qualification chances was floundering?

How can the Nigeria Football Federation and technical crew of the Super Eagles and indeed other Nigerian national teams avoid such embarrassing qualification situations in future?

Send in your views and opinions on this topic using the ‘Leave a Reply’ field at the lower part of this page. Please, provide your authentic email address in the required field before posting your comment. Your comment will show here in few minutes after the moderator has approved it.

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/will-africa-miss-super-eagles-2015-afcon/

–Swiss based star explains change in nationality

FC Biel-Bienne of Switzerland midfielder, Steve Ukoh who is currently with the Super Eagles of Nigeria in UAE ahead of the friendlies with Ivory Coast and Sudan has given reasons why he chose to play for Nigeria.

Steve Ukoh, 23, who met his Eagles team mates for the first time in UAE has played for the Swiss national U-16,17,18,19 and 20 teams, he revealed that he chose to play for Nigeria when he was approached after a game in Switzerland.

“I was approached by Nigeria after a game in Switzerland, before then I never thought I’ll play for Nigeria it’s an honor for me to be here with the Super Eagles in UAE and I’m looking forward to playing in the two friendlies,”said Ukoh.

Born from a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother, Ukoh recalled that it’s been over two decades since he last visited Nigeria.

“My father is a Nigerian but my mum is from Switzerland and she cooks a lot of Nigerian food. The last time I was in Nigeria was around twenty one years ago, I was well received when I joined the Eagles and it’s like a big family and I’m happy.

“I know some Nigerian foods like Ogbono, Egusi, Bitter leaf, Pounded yam. My parents cook a lot of Nigerian food at home so I’m very familiar with Nigerian food.

Steve Ukoh who is expected to play a part in the friendlies stated that he is looking forward to a future invitation.

“I’ll give my best at all times and I’m looking forward to playing for Nigeria many times. I’m looking forward to a future invitation to the Super Eagles, I’m very happy here and I hope that by the grace of God this will continue”, Ukoh concluded.

Source: http://completesportsnigeria.com/ukoh-switched-nigeria/

.........

The year 2014 was an eventful one in Nigerian sports.

In football, the Super Eagles of Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2015 African Cup of Nations which begins in Equatorial Guinea in two weeks time despite being African champions.

However the women's senior national football team, the Super Falcons won the African Women Championship for a record 7th time in nine editions while the U20 women side, Super Falconets won silver at the FIFA U20 Women World Cup where striker Asisat Oshoala emerged as the Most Valueable Player.

Nigeria had its best showing at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow as many athletes like Blessing Okagbare broke various records, and also in other Championships.

Aruna Quadri became the first African and black table tennis star to be ranked 30th in the world.

In 2015, the African continent will witness the All African Games in Congo Brazaville. The Nigerian U17 and U20 men's football national teams will campaign in the African Youth Championships and hope to qualify for the FIFA World Cups in both cadres.

The Super Falcons will represent Africa as champions alongside Cameroon and Ghana in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada.

So what are your projections for these tournaments and many others which may not have been reviewed here but in which Nigerian sports stars will fly Nigeria's flag in?

In which sport are you expecting medals rush at the All African Games?

What are your message to the different sports federations ahead of the Games?


Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/

–Former Eagles Star, Emeka Ezeugo Insists Big Boss Is Not The Sole Culprit For AFCON Failure

Former Super Eagles Star, Emeka Ezeugo holds a different view to the general call for the sack of Stephen Okechukwu Keshi from the Eagles plum job.

In this interview with Complete Sports Saturday’s SULAIMAN ALAO, Ezeugo states his claim in his usual blunt fashion…

COMPLETE SPORTS: In your own assessment, how would you rate Nigerian football in the outgone year 2014?

EMEKA EZEUGO: Our football suffered a major setback in 2014 due to the Super Eagles failure to qualify for the African Cup of Nations to be held in Equatorial Guinea this year. It was all the more glaring considering the fact that we won the last edition in 2013 and we were supposed to be the defending champion at the 2015 edition. And if you also add the fact that we qualified and played at the World Cup also last year, it was therefore a case of grace to grass story for the Eagles. Now, I’m not saying the sum total of evaluating Nigerian football is tied solely to the performance of the Super Eagles, but there is no denying the fact that internationally, the assessment of a country’s football success is largely tied to that of the senior national team. And on that rating, the Eagles definitely crashed from the highest position to the lowest point.

What about the football administration. Do you think Nigeria fared any better?

We didn’t fare any better in our football administration last year because there were crises which are yet to be resolved as we begin a new year. In other words, we now have a carry-over of crisis in Nigerian football both on and off the pitch and this does not in any way portend a healthy situation for the growth of our football. The football house was riddled with crises before, during and after the election of a new board of the NFF and we were almost banned by the world football governing body, FIFA in the process. Even with the way the new board is presently constituted, there is no clear break-away from the old setting because most of the personnel are recycled people who are bereft of new ideas on how to develop our football.

There seems to be a dilemma over the fate of Super Eagles coach, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi who has been at the centre of the storm so to say. News in the media of recent suggest that he is about to be given a new contract despite calls from many quarters that he should be sacked. What is your take on that?

I think Keshi is being made to bear the brunt of the crisis rocking our football. Even though he is part of the issue, he definitely not the sole culprit of the current state of our football. Almost everyone has been calling for Keshi’s sack but I hold a different view. Keshi’s only minus as we all know was not being able to qualify the team for the Nations Cup. Aside that, his achievements with the Eagles within the three years he has been in charge, speak volumes and not even a foreign coach can beat his record. If Keshi must resign, he should have done that when the ovation was loudest but since he is asking for another chance to handle the team especially after the nation’s number one citizen – President Goodluck Jonathan recalled him, I think we should let him be because sincerely, Keshi deserves another chance. We can take a cue from the Spanish team led by Vincent Del Bosque that won the World Cup in South Africa in 2010 only to be humiliated in Brazil last year when they failed to qualify from the group stages and yet Spain did not sack the coach and he is still in charge of the team. For me, Keshi is to be applauded and not crucified!

Are you saying you don’t agree with those who are calling for a total overhaul of the Eagles?

I don’t think that is necessary and overhauling the team would not solve the problem. Don’t forget that Keshi started the rebuilding of the current team in 2011 and he has brought in a sizeable number of young players into the team. So if we really want continuity, we must not disband the team and we should retain Keshi’s services.

With Nigeria out of the Nations Cup in Equatorial Guinea. Do you think the Super Eagles would be missed at the AFCON scheduled to kick off two weeks from now?

Of course, the Eagles would be sorely missed at the Nations Cup. Nigeria is arguably the biggest football-playing nation in Africa and we have a way of lighting up any competition not only in the continent but in the world too. Can you imagine a World Cup competition without Brazil? That’s the same way it is when Nigeria don’t get to play at an African Cup of Nations finals. Perhaps the only people that won’t miss the Eagles are our major rivals who would of course have an easier task of winning the trophy in our absence. Aside being a loss for Africa, our non-participation will also affect our football back at home. Journalists here at home like you would most likely not have the opportunity of going to cover the tournament while the vast populace of Nigerian football fans will also miss their darling Eagles when the competition gets underway. Our missing the AFCON is definitely not beneficial in any sense because it has taken us two steps backward.

Would you say we have learnt any lesson from our previous experiences of not qualifying for a major competition?

No, not at all. We have definitely not learn any lesson from previous failures to qualify for major competitions because we keep doing things the same way. We don’t want to change the status quo. We can’t keep doing things the same way over the years and expect different results. We need to put certain structures in place through which we can strictly and sincerely monitor the development of the game taking into cognizance our school sports, local league and age-grade teams. It calls for great commitment, vision, selfless service and professionalism. But like I’ve said earlier, in this part of the world people don’t come out clean to call a spade a spade. That’s why we have the same bunch of people who don’t want to rock the boat as long as they stand to benefit personally, in charge of the game which is detrimental to our football development. It’s the reason why some of us have been kept on the sidelines all these years for daring to challenge the status quo but that won’t deter us from speaking out since God has been faithful in sustaining us.

Stephen Keshi’s assistant, Daniel Amokachi has been saddled with the responsibility of leading the Eagles in the upcoming friendly matches arranged for the team.

That’s the normal thing to do since the issue of the chief coach is yet to be fully sorted out. It’s good that the NFF are at least trying to keep the Super Eagles active through international friendlies since we’ll not be playing any major competition for the time being. Amokachi has been on ground with the team, he is familiar with the players and that would help him to do a good job.

Let’s digress a bit to the U-23 team. The head coach of the Dream Team, Samson Siasia, is of the opinion that he is building a team that could be the Super Eagles in the nearest future. Do you agree with his views?

There is nothing wrong with Siasia’s views. Of course, the U-23 team is the closest amongst the age-grade national teams to the Super Eagles and if a coach can do a good job with the U-23 team, such a coach has the potential to do well with the senior team. In the past, we have seen a huge number of players within the U-23 age bracket who were already a mainstay in the senior team. Besides, Siasia is in a good position to air such views having had previous experiences of handling the U-23 Eagles and the Super Eagles.

What are your expectations for Nigerian football in the New Year 2015?

Well, I expect us to do well in the age-grade competition as we have been doing in the past. I think we can win the U-17 World Cup again and we can also do well with the U-20 team. The U-23 team is gradually taking shape and look in good stead to do well too. Of course, our female teams can always do us proud and I expect them to build on past achievements. But I am not expecting anything much from the Super Eagles because of the current air of instability which has been prevailing over the team. By and large, we have not been consistent in being able to transform our various successes in the age-grade teams to the senior teams and that has been a big minus.

Your parting words…

What’s more to say than to wish all Nigerians a prosperous new year and to keep our resolve to build a better country for ourselves and the coming generations.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/ezeugo-keshi-deserves-another-chance/

QPR Manager Harry Redknapp, who has been linked with a move for former Super Eagles striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni, has opted for West Ham striker Mauro Zarate.

Redknapp, according to reports had a three-man shortlist of Yakubu, Mauro Zarate and Jermain Defoe lined up as a back up signing to first choice forward, Charlie Austin, in the winter.

However, the QPR manager appears to have settled for out of favour West Ham forward Mauro Zarate with the Argentine scheduled to undergo a medical with Rangers on 2nd of January.

Aiyegbeni, currently out of contract following the expiration of his deal with Al Rayyan of Qatar where he scored three times in eight appearance, was first signed by Redknapp in 2003.

He enjoyed a distinguish career in England playing for Portsmouth, Middlesborough, Everton, Leicester City and Blackburn Rovers before moving to China in 2012 where he played for Guangzhou R&F.

The 32-year-old holds the record of being Nigeria’s third highest goal scorer in history with 21 goals from 57 appearances for the Super Eagles.
Read MoreL: http://completesportsnigeria.com/redknapp-dumps-yakubu-opts-karate/

–As model sues ex-boyfriend ‘for leaking flirty messages’

A glamour model is to sue her ex after he reportedly leaked flirty text messages between her and Arsenal star Mesut Ozil onto the internet.

Melanie Rickinger is launching a legal action against former Bayern Munich player Christian Lell, and wants damages for “theft of data”, according to German newspaper Bild.

In October, Lell accused Ozil of having an affair with Rickinger – whom he branded a “groupie” – while he was still in a relationship with her.

Ozil, 26, split with his girlfriend Mandy Capristo, 24, after the messages were published.

Attorney General Thomas Steinkraus-Koch confirmed the legal complaint had been lodged.

The Arsenal superstar, who is currently enduring a prolonged spell on the sidelines, threatened legal action towards German newspaper Bild, who published the text messages.

Lell, 30, had claimed that his break-up with Rickinger was partly as a result of what Ozil had been doing. He told Bild:

“Mesut exploited his fame, and muscled in on our relationship. That isn’t OK.” Ozil’s girlfriend Capristo moved with him to London in September 2013 when he signed for Arsenal in a club record £42.5million deal.

But the singer has now deleted all photographs of him from her Facebook and Instagram accounts. Ozil refused to make a statement on the allegations about his love life last October.

His agent Roland Eitel said at the time: “We are not commenting on this.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/ozils-affair-row-continues/

–Red Devils skipper optimistic of team’s chances

Wayne Rooney says “anything can still happen” in the race for the title as Manchester United continue to track the current leaders.

The Red Devils continued their impressive form on Boxing Day with a 3-1 win at Old Trafford against Newcastle, taking their unbeaten run to eight games in which they have won seven.

The Blues are 10 points ahead of Louis van Gaal’s team going into their final game of 2014, so it does seem like a tough challenge for the Red Devils to win the Premier League title this season.

Despite the big margin Rooney is feeling optimistic about United’s chances and the England international admits the next few games are important.

“There is still a long way to go, we know that,” he said. “We have chased leads down before and we’ve lost leads ourselves before, and by a big number of points.

Read More: http://completesportsnigeria.com/rooney-united-still-title-race/