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Shanghai Greenland Shenhua striker Odion Ighalo has hinted on the possibility of making a return to international football.

Ighalo announced his retirement after helping Nigeria to a third-place finish at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt where he emerged top scorer.

In a chat with Brila FM on Wednesday, the 30-year-old said he had been receiving calls from fans to rescind his decision to quit the national team.

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https://futaa.com/article/198721/is-ighalo-thinking-about-bouncing-back-from-retirement

Leicester City manager Brendan Rodgers has revealed the secret behind Kelechi Iheanacho's improved form lately.

Iheanacho has been relegated to a permanent role on the bench, shot his career back to life and has scored two goals in Leicester City's last two English Premier League matches.

Iheanacho made his first English Premier League start of the season on Sunday, and he proved his worth by scoring a goal and providing an assist in a 4-1 win over Aston Villa.

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https://futaa.com/article/198580/brendan-rodgers-reveals-the-secret-behind-iheanacho-s-resurrection

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka has reacted to the club's new appointment of Freddie Ljungberg as an interim manager following the sack of Unai Emery.

Saka said Freddie is very supportive of him and they have a better communication relationship.

“Freddie is very supportive of me,” Saka told footballlondon, “he was teaching me some tactics but I can’t quite remember what he was saying!

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https://futaa.com/article/197985/i-have-better-communication-with-freddie-saka-reacts-to-arsenal-s-new-appointment

Tottenham manager Jose Mourinho has reacted to the sack of Unai Emery by Arsenal.

Mourinho, who also have the sack experience, said it is always sad news to be shown the exit door.

“It’s always sad news. I felt it as a kid when my dad was sacked as a manager, I have felt it myself." He said on Sky Sports.

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https://futaa.com/article/197941/mourinho-reacts-to-emery-s-sack-by-arsenal

The Super Eagles have moved up four places in the November, 2019 FIFA ranking released on Thursday.

Two consecutive wins in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Benin and Lesotho, shot Nigeria to the 31st position from 35th occupied in October.

However, the Gernot Rohr side are still pegged on 3rd spot on the continent with Senegal and Tunisia topping the table.

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https://futaa.com/article/197859/super-eagles-rise-four-places-in-november-fifa-ranking

Nigeria will know their opponents for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier when the draw is held on January 7, 2020, at CAF headquarters in Cairo.

40 countries will be divided into 10 groups of four teams to play home-and-away round-robin matches.

The 10 group winners will advance to the third round where they will play home-and-away over two legs. The five winners will qualify for the World Cup.

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https://futaa.com/article/197845/super-eagles-to-know-2022-world-cup-qualifier-foes-on-january-7

The Nigeria Football Federation has queried Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr after the manager revealed some terms in his contract.

Futaa had reported that Rohr complained about abnormal terms in his current contract with the NFF.

His comments, which also touched on owed salaries and bonuses, did not go down well with his employers and they have asked him to explain why he divulged to the public/media information on some aspects of the contract, which is forbidden.

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https://futaa.com/article/197809/nff-query-super-eagles-coach-rohr-for-breaches-of-contract

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr may invite new players to his team for the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifier which begins in March 2020.

Rohr leaves the door open after Nigeria Football Federation president Amaju Pinnick visited QPR midfielder Eberechi Eze.

When asked about his preparation for the World Cup qualifiers, Rohr said some departments in the team needed to be worked upon.

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https://futaa.com/article/197678/rohr-may-invite-new-players-for-super-eagles-world-cup-qualifier

Inter Milan manager Antonio Conte has revealed that he lectures his players on how to have sex to stay fit for all oppositions.

Conte is looking to end Juventus dominance in the Serie A and does not want a self-inflicted disadvantage to his players.

"Competition for me is battle," he told L'Equipe.

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https://futaa.com/article/197570/conte-lectures-inter-milan-players-on-how-to-have-sex-for-top-on-field-performance

English Premier club Tottenham have announced the sack of manager Mauricio Pochettino after a five-year relationship.

After 12 matches so far this season, Spurs are left sitting 14th on the Premier League table with just three wins and four defeats.

Chairman, Daniel Levy, told the club website: "We were extremely reluctant to make this change and it is not a decision the Board has taken lightly, nor in haste.

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https://futaa.com/article/197399/tottenham-sack-manager-pochettino

Victor Osimhen has admitted that getting into Nicolas Pepe's shoes at Lille comes with loads of pressure.

Pepe scored 35 goals in 74 appearances in the two seasons he spent at Lille before leaving for Arsenal last summer.

Osimhen, who was signed to replace the Ivory Coast international, has scored seven goals in nine matches for Lille so far.

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https://futaa.com/article/197351/replacing-arsenal-s-pepe-at-lille-comes-with-pressure-osimhen

LaLiga giants Barcelona have rejected a £13 million bid from an unnamed English Premier League club for midfielder Ivan Rakitic.

The Croatian international has run out of favor with manager Ernesto Valverde, having started just one game all season.

He has spent over five years with the club but that is gradually coming to an end.

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https://futaa.com/article/197334/barcelona-turn-down-13-million-bid-from-epl-club-for-rakitic

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr no doubt enjoyed the hospitality his team received in Lesotho and it reflected in their result.

Nigeria beat Lesotho 4-2 in the matchday 2 encounter of the 2021 AFCON qualifier played on Sunday.

A brace by Victor Osimhen and a goal each by Alex Iwobi and Samuel Chukwueze steered the Super Eagles to a 4-2 win over Lesotho in Maseru.

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https://futaa.com/article/197293/super-eagles-coach-rohr-enjoys-lesotho-s-hospitality

Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has aimed a jab at Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard.

Mikel played alongside Hazard for five seasons between 2012 and 2017 before the Nigerian left.

Hazard joined Real Madrid last summer for an initial fee of £89 million, despite having had just a year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge.

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https://futaa.com/article/197288/hazard-is-the-laziest-player-i-played-with-mikel

Former Nigeria captain and goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama was in the camp of the Super Eagles in Uyo on Thursday.

Enyeama visited the team to cheer them up ahead of their second game of the 2021 AFCON qualifier against Lesotho on Sunday.

The former Lille first choice last played for Nigeria in 2015.

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https://futaa.com/article/197173/2021-afcon-qualifier-enyeama-joins-super-eagles-in-training

Didier Drogba says he turned down a coaching offer from Chelsea just to pursue his ambition of becoming the Ivorian FA president.

Drogba retired from football at the end of 2018 after a spell ay Phoenix Rising and announced in September that he would run for the top job at the Ivory Coast Football Federation.

According to Metro, the 41-year-old had a meeting with a large number of presidents and representatives of lower-tier clubs in the country and shared his plans to replace Augustin Sidy Diallo.

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https://futaa.com/article/197136/drogba-turns-down-chelsea-coaching-offer-for-one-reason

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr says the absence of former captain John Obi Mikel and striker Odion Ighalo from the team is being felt.

Both players announced their retirement after helping Nigeria finish third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt.

Rohr said the leadership skill possessed by Mikel and Ighalo is being missed in the team right now.

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https://futaa.com/article/197073/rohr-we-miss-mikel-ighalo

Nigeria coach Gernot Rohr has hailed his players for coming from a goal down to beat Benin 2-1 in Wednesday's 2021 AFCON qualifier.

The game played at the Godswill Akpabio stadium saw Victor Osimhen cancel Stephane Sessegnon opener before Samuel Kalu sealed victory for the Super Eagles.

Rohr is happy with the victory as the Super Eagles began their qualifying journey on a winning note.

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https://futaa.com/article/197068/nigeria-2-1-benin-rohr-full-of-praise-for-fearless-super-eagles

Nigerian winger Samuel Chukwueze has revealed that his ambition is to play in the English Premier League.

Since making his debut with Villarreal first team in 2018, Chukwueze has become a regular in the LaLiga.

The AFCON 2019 bronze medallist was in July revealed as one of the 50 youngsters to watch in world football by UEFA’s official website, with a worth of about $33 million.

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https://futaa.com/article/197034/chukwueze-my-ambition-is-to-play-in-the-premier-league

Reports of Paris Saint-Germain superstar Kylian Mbappe joining Real Madrid is getting louder each passing day.

There are growing reports linking the French World Cup winner with a big-money move to Real Madrid. Liverpool are also reportedly interested in the player.

Before joining PSG from Monaco, Mbappe was linked with a move to the Bernabeu, he is now believed to be pushing for that dream move.

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https://futaa.com/article/197022/real-madrid-preparing-world-record-340m-transfer-move-for-mbappe-report

Watford midfielder Tom Dele-Bashiru has revealed that his heroes in Nigerian football are Austin Okocha and Nwankwo Kanu.

Both Okocha and Kanu are legends of Nigerian football.

Dele-Bashiru, who is with Nigeria at the U23 AFCON in Egypt, is proud to represent the West African country after playing for England at youth level.

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https://futaa.com/article/196984/dele-bashiru-okocha-kanu-are-my-heroes

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr is not a stranger to African football and he knows what to expect when Nigeria host the Republic of Benin in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Wednesday.

The game will be played at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium from 5 pm.

Rohr recalled that his players enjoyed themselves in Nigeria's last two matches - against Ukraine (2-2) and Brazil (1-1), but he expects something different from the tie against the West African neighbours.

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https://futaa.com/article/196980/2021-afcon-qualifier-rohr-expects-tough-tie-against-benin

News filtered in early on Tuesday that Manchester City striker Raheem Sterling has been dropped from England squad for their European qualifier against Montenegro on Thursday.

That in itself is not a big deal, but what is, was the reason he was dropped. Sterling was axed because of an altercation with Liverpool defender Joe Gomez at training camp.

Now here's how it all happened...

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https://futaa.com/article/196953/sterling-and-gomez-clash-how-it-all-happened

Queens Park Rangers attacking midfielder Eberechi Eze is dreaming of becoming Nigeria's captain someday.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation Amaju Pinnick said in an interview on Channels TV on Monday that he has spoken to the player and his dad over the possibility of playing for the Super Eagles.

Pinnick said Eze jokingly told him he wants to captain Nigeria, a possibility he (Pinnick) did not rule out.

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https://futaa.com/article/196913/qpr-s-eberechi-eze-wants-to-captain-super-eagles

Juventus striker Cristiano Ronaldo could be banned for two years for leaving the stadium three minutes before the end of their match against AC Milan on Sunday.

Former Italian footballer Antonio Cassano who was speaking to Italian television show Tiki-Taka, via AS, said as a Roma player, he left a game early and had to return as he could be banned for missing a drugs test.

"Did he leave before the end of the game?

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https://futaa.com/article/196903/ronaldo-risks-two-year-ban-for-leaving-stadium

Camp of the Super Eagles is already bubbling as players are getting set for two crucial matches.

As at on Monday evening, captain Ahmed Musa and 13 other players had arrived at the Eagles’ Ibom Meridien Hotel and Resorts, with the remaining nine squad members expected on Tuesday morning.

The 14 who trained on the grounds of the Ibom Meridien Hotel and Resort on Monday evening are Musa, goalkeepers Ikechukwu Ezenwa, Daniel Akpeyi and Maduka Okoye, defenders Kenneth Omeruo, Chidozie Awaziem, Olaoluwa Aina, Jamilu Collins and Oluwasemilogo Ajayi, midfielders Alex Iwobi, Ramon Azeez and Wilfred Ndidi, and forwards Samuel Kalu and Victor Osimhen.

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https://futaa.com/article/196900/2021-afcon-qualifier-14-super-eagles-players-train-nine-others-expected-on-tuesday

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will face no disciplinary action from the English FA over his comments in Sunday's 3-1 loss to Liverpool.

Pep made a 'sarcastic' comments towards referee Michael Oliver and his assistants at Anfield as he was furious that two penalties were not awarded for handball.

At the end of the match, Pep shook hands with the officials and said 'thank you so much' but later denied that he was being sarcastic.

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https://futaa.com/article/196886/pep-guardiola-escapes-fa-action-for-conduct-against-liverpool

Nigeria captain Azubuike Okechukwu and star forward Taiwo Awoniyi have arrived at the camp of the team camp in Egypt ahead of their second U23 AFCON fixture against Zambia.

Former U17 World Cup winner Awoniyi, who plays for FSV Mainz 05 in the German top division, landed in Cairo late on Sunday, while Turkey-based Okechukwu, who also captained the Class of 2015 and to the gold medal in Senegal, arrived in the early hours of Monday.

The absence of the duo was greatly felt in the opening game of Group B that the defending champions lost by the odd goal to Cote d’Ivoire on Saturday, and coach Imama Amapakabo is confident their arrival will spur his squad to a better performance against the Zambians.

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https://futaa.com/article/196869/u23-afcon-nigeria-captain-okechukwu-striker-awoniyi-arrive-camp

Nigerian striker Asisat Oshoala is under fire from Barcelona bosses for criticizing the club during a barren draw with Slavia Prague in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday.

Barca could not find the net at Camp Nou for 90 minutes and suffered many threats from Slavia's attack led by Nigerian striker Peter Olayinka.

Oshoala, who plays for Barcelona Ladies, took to social media to express her thoughts about Barca’s performance during their disappointing goalless draw with Slavia Prague.

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https://futaa.com/article/196738/oshoala-under-fire-for-criticizing-barca-in-barren-draw-vs-slavia-prague

The League Management Company (LMC) who are organisers of the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL), has sealed a five-year sponsorship deal with NEXT TV.

Chairman of the League Management Company LMC Mallam Shehu Dikko disclosed at the Annual General Meeting of the LMC held in Abuja Wednesday night that a date will be fixed for the official announcement of the details.

According to the report, the deal will see the league return to television.

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https://futaa.com/article/196641/npfl-lmc-seals-five-year-deal-with-next-tv

Defender William Troost-Ekong has extended his contract with Serie A club Udinese until 2023.

The Nigerian defender joined the Bianconeri in the summer of 2018 from Turkish outfit, Bursaspor penning a four-year contract.

Udinese announced the new deal on their twitter handle on Wednesday.

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https://futaa.com/article/196609/super-eagles-defender-troost-ekong-extends-udinese-contract-until-2023