Isaac Promise: Former Nigeria international dies

Former Nigeria, Genclerbirligi, and Trabzonspor striker Isaac Promise has died at the age of 31.
Austin Bold FC chairman, Bobby Epstein announced that the player passed away on Wednesday.
“The greatest loss a team can suffer is not on the scoreboard, it’s the death of a fellow teammate,” wrote Epstein.
“It’s with shock and grief that we acknowledge the sudden death of Promise IsaacOn behalf of the BOLD organisation; we wish his wife, children and family strength and peace as they struggle to cope with his death.”

Promise was an unused substitute as the USL Championship side secured a 2-1 away victory at Portland Timbers on Tuesday.
He captained Nigeria to the 2003 Fifa U17 World Cup held in Finland, as well as the 2005 Fifa U20 World Cup in the Netherlands where the Flying Eagles were runners-up to Argentina.
At the 2008 Olympics, he played a key role in Nigeria’s silver finish in Beijing – scoring in the 2-1 triumph over USA in the preliminary round.
Promise made his senior national team debut in 2009 before fading off the international radar after three games and one goal.
Before his demise, he had several stints across Turkey, Saudi Arabia and the United States of America.

Chelsea Hitmen Abraham & Tomori earn England call-ups

England sweat merchant Gareth Southgate has invited Chelsea duo Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori in his latest England squad.

Abraham has been handed his first international call up for two years after scoring seven goals in seven Premier League matches at the start of the new season .
The striker is joined in the 25-man squad by Chelsea team-mate Tomori, who has also broken into Frank Lampard’s first team at Stamford Bridge in recent weeks.

Abraham, 22, had said he had “not made a decision yet” on his international future as he is also eligible to play for Nigeria, having only played for England in two friendlies and not a competitive game.
If he plays against either the Czechs or Bulgaria, he will not be able to switch allegiance, while the same also applies to Tomori who played for Canada at Under-20 level.

France Pip Super Falcons 1-0 in Female World Cup Match

French Female Team

 France kept their perfect record to top Group A at the women’s World Cup with a 1-0 win against 10-woman Nigeria thanks to Wendie Renard’s 79th minute penalty on Monday.
Renard’s first attempt hit the outside of the post but the kick had to be retaken because Chiamaka Nnadozie had moved off her line — a situation that also happened in France’s previous game against Norway — and the centre back coolly converted.
African champions Nigeria, who could still reach the last 16 as one of the best third-placed teams, finished with 10 players after Ngozi Ebere was dismissed for a second booking in the 75th for a foul on Kadidiatou Diani that led to the penalty.

France finished with nine points ahead of Norway with six and Nigeria on three while South Korea have none.
France will face one of the best third-placed teams in Le Havre on Sunday.

Manchester City Wins 2019 EPL Title Race

Manchester City

Manchester City retained their Premier League title and finally ended Liverpool’s magnificent challenge after surviving a scare to come from behind and outclass Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Pep Guardiola’s side started the day knowing victory would ensure they would be the first team to retain the crown since Manchester United 10 years ago – but any slip-up could let in their relentless pursuers Liverpool, who were hosting Wolves at Anfield.

Yaya Toure denies he has retired from playing football

Yaya Toure

Yaya Toure has insisted he has not yet retired, days after his agent said the former Ivory Coast international was ready to move into coaching.

Agent Dimitry Seluk used Twitter on Friday to say the ex-Manchester City midfielder had “ended his playing career” but the 35-year-old refuted that on Sunday after commentating on City’s Premier League title triumph at Brighton.

" There has been a lot of confusion about my future recently. I want to make it clear here that I love football and I’m still in contention to play for a few more years. Yes, I’m starting to prepare myself for coaching badges but full time coaching is not what I’m thinking now."

 I am now ready and focused to take new challenges in playing football!
“I want to make it clear here that I love football and I’m still in contention to play for a few more years.

“Yes, I’m starting to prepare myself for coaching badges but full time coaching is not what I’m thinking right now.”

Toure left City after eight seasons in 2018 and later signed for former club Olympiakos.

But he left the Greek side three months later and has not played since December last year.

“I am now ready and focused to take new challenges in playing football,” Toure added.

“And don’t worry once the time has come, I will announce my retirement personally and officially by myself.”

Liverpool complete stunning comeback to reach UCL final

Great strikes from Divock Origi and substitute Georginio Wijnaldum fired Liverpool into their second consecutive Champions League final as Barcelona collapsed to an improbable 4-0 humiliation at Anfield.
Facing a daunting 3-0 deficit, Origi made light of Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino’s absence from the Liverpool forward line by poaching a seventh-minute opener.
Jurgen Klopp’s side kept the contest at a pace frenetic enough that Barcelona were rarely allowed to settle and Wijnaldum’s quickfire brace before the hour had the locals in raptures.
It was a night for unlikely heroes and Trent Alexander-Arnold’s quickly taken corner allowed Origi to smash high into the net 11 minutes from time – inflicting a humbling upon LaLiga champions Barca and the great Lionel Messi even more punishing than their surrender at Roma in last season’s quarter-final.

Amaju Pinnick, 4 NFF officials charged with embezzlement

Amaju Pinnick

 President Amaju Pinnick and four other top-ranking officials  of  the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF)  have been charged with corruption, including embezzlement of millions of dollars from world body FIFA, court sources disclosed on Wednesday.
The Special Presidential Investigation Panel for the Recovery of Public Property (SPIP) brought the charges against Pinnick, NFF vice presidents Seyi Akinwunmi and Shehu Dikko, general secretary Sanusi Mohammed and committee member Ahmed Yusuf.
The charges range from failure to declare their assets to conflict of interest and alleged embezzlement of $8.4 million paid by world football governing body FIFA to Nigeria for participation in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
They are to appear at the federal high court in the nation’s capital Abuja at a date to be announced later.
 The football officials were investigated last year by SPIP, which initially granted them administrative bail.
The NFF chiefs took legal action to stop the investigation, and secured a court injunction to set aside their arrest warrant.
Another set of NFF officials are facing trial for the alleged misappropriation of a $9.5 million FIFA grant to Nigeria.
The NFF has since issued a statement on behalf of the charged officials stating that the charges are false.
The case has been adjourned to May 30.

Manchester United Confirms Ole Gunnar Solskjaer As Club Coach

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer

 “Manchester United announces that current caretaker manager and former striker, Ole Gunnar Solskjær, has been appointed as the club’s full-time manager on a three-year contract,” a statement from the Old Trafford read.
Solskjaer has enjoyed a remarkable spell as United’s interim boss since succeeding Mourinho, winning his first eight matches in charge and a total 14 victories and two draws in just 19 matches.
He has guided the Red Devils back into a battle for a top four finish something that seemed remarkably unlikely during Mourinho’s tenure while United also booked their place in the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time in five years with a stunning comeback defeat of Paris Saint-Germain.

International Friendly:Super Eagles Edges Egypt 1-0 In Asaba

Super Eagles

First timer, Paul Onuachu scored the second fastest goal in the history of international football when he blasted the ball past Egypt’s goalkeeper, Mahmoud Gennesh, less than seven seconds after the kick off of the international friendly at the Stephen Keshi Stadium, Asaba. Onuachu’s goal is only second to Lukas Podolski’s strike after six seconds for Germany against Ecuador in 2013.
The win was Egypt’s Coach, Javier Aguirre’s first loss since he took over the reins of the Pharaohs.
Tuesday’s game was one of the matches lined up to prepare the Super Eagles for the forthcoming African Nations Cup, but the fans left the stadium disappointed with the dour game put up by the sides, who played without some of their biggest stars.
While Egypt left out Mohamed Salah, Ahmed Hegazi and Elmohamady, Nigeria’s stand-in captain, Ahmed Musa also did not feature in the game as he was said to have returned to Saudi Arabia for a club engagement.
After Onuachu’s wonder strike, Egypt tried to get back into the game, but they found the Super Eagles’ defence marshalled by the day’s skipper, William Troost-Ekong a hard nut to crack.
Nigeria had the chance to double their advantage in the 30th minute when Alex Iwobi latched on to the ball following Mahmoud Alaa’s defensive error, but the Arsenal forward’s strike was weak and easy for Gennesh to save.

Okocha wants Mikel back in Eagles

Emma Okocha, elder brother to Super Eagles legend, Austin Jay-Jay Okocha has sent a message to Gernot Rohr, saying that Chelsea legend John Obi Mikel remains relevant to the national team due to the quality he brings to the team.

In truth, the national team has toiled to produce satisfactory chemistry in the middle of the park in the absence of the mercurial midfielder and the former Super Eagles star yearned to see him return quickly in the team before the tournament proper.

Football:We are going to Give Egypt a Good Game..Ahmed Musa

Super Eagles

Super Eagles striker, Ahmed Musa, revealed that Gernot Rohr’s men will play a better game when they lock horns with the Pharaohs of Egypt in an international friendly on Tuesday, March 26, at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.

 The game comes three days after the Super Eagles defeated Seychelles 3-1 in their final 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier at the same venue.
“We are going to play an improved game against Egypt. It was a tough game for us against Seychelles because the pitch is not too good if we compare it with the type of pitch we use at our various clubs,” Musa was quoted by Goal as saying ahead of Egypt clash on Tuesday.

“We will lift our game because we know that this is the final friendly game window before the preparations for the AFCON will start proper.
“We spoke to ourselves after the disappointment of the World Cup in Russia and we have not lost any game since then.”
The kick-off time for the match is 4 pm.

Eden Hazard nets on 100th Belgium appearance

Chelsea forward Eden Hazard scored on his 100th appearance for Belgium to assist his country record a comfortable 2-0 victory over Cyprus and move top of Euro 2020 qualifying Group1
Hazard fired Belgium into the lead within 10 minutes with a curling effort from inside the box.
Team-mate Michy Batshuayi then rounded the keeper after he was played in by Thorgan Hazard to make it 2-0.

AFCON Qualifier: Super Eagles Beat Seychelles 3-1

The Super Eagles on Friday defeated the Pirates of Seychelles in their last group Africa Cup of Nations qualifying series at the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba. The encounter ended 3-1 in favour of the host, Nigeria. The Super Eagles finished top  of Group E with 13 points.
 Nigeria have already qualified for the AFCON in Egypt after they were held to a 1-1 by South Africa in Johannesburg last November.
Libya will host South Africa on Sunday in the last game of the group. The Bafana Bafana are currently sitting second in the group with nine points followed by Libya with seven points.
Seychelles ended their AFCON campaign with just one point.

John Obi Mikel undergoing medical at Middlesbrough,Set to join English Club

John Obi Mikel is undergoing a medical at Middlesbrough ahead of signing for the Championship club.
SunSport understands the former Chelsea midfielder, 31, travelled from London to the north-east yesterday after agreeing personal terms.
Two-time Premier League winner Mikel is set to join the Championship club after spending the past two years at Tianjin TEDA in the Chinese Super League.
Roma and Wolfsburg registered an interest but the Nigerian international wanted to return to England, where his wife and two young children are based.
Mikel will be part of a Tony Pulis side looking to bring Premier League football back to the Riverside next season. Boro currently sit fifth in the Championship table and seven points off leaders Leeds..

Mikel was part of Chelsea’s Champions League winning side in 2012, and added a Europa League winners’ medal the following year.
He has also won three FA Cups, a League Cup and Community Shield.

Mbappe, 40 Others Shortlisted For 2018 Golden Boy Award

French forward, Kylian Mbappe and 40 other young players have been shortlisted for 2018 Golden Boy Award.
The award, presented to the best young player under age 21, has been organised by Italian sports newspaper, Tuttosort, since 2003.
Mbappe is hoping to become the first-ever two-time winner, having won the award last year.
The 19-year-old is favourite for the prize, after scoring 21 goals for PSG last season and playing a key role for France at the World Cup, in which he was named FIFA’s Best Young Player.
Other names on the list include, Borussia Dortmund’s Christian Pulisic, Celtic’s Odsonne Edouard, Ajax defender; Matthijs de Ligt, and Roma’s Justin Kluivert.
Four English Premier League players were nominated. They are: Liverpool starlet, Trent Alexander-Arnold; Everton’s Tom Davies; Manchester City whizkid, Phil Foden; and Manchester United’s new signing, Diego Dalot.
Past winners include, Wayne Rooney, Lionel Messi, Paul Pogba and Raheem Sterling.

Super Falcons Maintains 38th Spot In FIFA Ranking

African champions, Nigeria’s Super Falcons, retained number 38 position in the latest FIFA Coca-Cola women’s rankings released on Friday.

The ranking, which was published on FIFA’s official website, saw the Falcons occupy number one position in Africa.

Ghana’s Black Queens dropped one spot to nnumber 47 and are the second best team in Africa while Cameroon also slipped a spot and are 49th in the world and third on the continent.

Bayana Bayana of South Africa moved up one place to 50th and are Africa’s fourth best team with two-time African women’s champions, Equatorial Guinea, at number five in Africa are the 54th best playing nation in the world.

World champion, USA, are at number one, while Germany are in number two. England occupy number three, with fellow Europeans, France at number four. Canada occupy the fifth position.

The Falcons will feature at this year’s Africa Women’s Cup of Nations, which will serve as qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

George Weah stirs Controversy for playing Nigeria friendly

George Opong Weah the President of Liberia caused quite a stir when he appeared in a friendly match between his country and Nigeria's Super Eagle in Monrovia Tuesday evening.
The sensational return of Liberia president George Weah to international football is generating quite a ripple across the world.
The 51-year-old former Chelsea and Manchester City forward led the Liberia attack, but he could not recreate the kind of performance which earned him the World Player of the Year award in 1995 as a strong Super Eagles team ran out 2-1 winners in Monrovia.
But not everyone enjoyed watching Weah played a FIFA sanctioned match, with most of them expressing their dismay on Twitter.
Biola Kazeem, a marketing PR personnel described Weah’s involvement as disrespect. ” George Weah playing for Liberia is a real joke and disrespectful of the Super Eagles. If he wants to have some fun, he can invite his fellow ex-players to play an exhibition game. This was supposed to be a serious match, not a kick about,” he tweeted.
Kelvin Odanz shared same sentiment. ” George Weah features for Liberia in a FIFA organized friendly match Vs Nigeria. If they call Africa a shit hole, y’all will flare up and scream racism,” he said.
 Weah, who was elected as president in January this year, wore his famous number 14 shirt – which was retired after the arranged friendly in his honour – and was joined by former Lone Star team-mate and current national team manager James Debbah on the field.
Nigeria took the lead after 12 minutes when Everton’s on-loan Galatasaray striker Henry Onyekuru found the top corner before Crotone forward Simeon Nwankwo doubled their advantage just after the half-hour mark with a well-timed header.
Stoke midfielder Oghenekaro Etebo and Leicester duo Wilfried Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho, who all featured at this summer’s World Cup in Russia, played some part in the fixture as the Super Eagles looked set for a routine victory at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.

Novak Djokovic beats Kevin Anderson wins fourth Wimbledon

Novak Djokovic beat Kevin Anderson to win his fourth Wimbledon title

Novak Djokovic earned his first Grand Slam title in more than two years by beating Kevin Anderson to win his fourth Wimbledon championship.

Djokovic, seeded 12th, won 6-2 6-2 7-6 (7-3) to claim a 13th Slam – his first major since the 2016 French Open.

The Serb, 31, quickly took control to win the opening set in 29 minutes, breaking twice more in the second set.

Djokovic saw off five set points in an even third set before dominating the tie-break to seal victory.

He dropped to his haunches just inside the baseline as Centre Centre rose to acclaim the champion, hugging South African Anderson at the net before skipping over towards his box and celebrating wildly in front of his coaching team and wife Jelena.

“I had many moments of doubt, I didn’t know if could come back to this level to compete,” said Djokovic, who also won the Wimbledon title in 2011, 2014 and 2015.

“There is no better place to make a comeback, it’s a sacred place for the world of tennis, it’s very special.”

He is now in outright fourth place on the all-time list of Grand Slam men’s singles titles, moving clear of Roy Emerson and closing the gap on Roger Federer (20), Rafael Nadal (17) and Pete Sampras (14).

The former world number one will move back into the top 10 when the latest rankings are released on Monday.
It is his first title since winning Eastbourne last year.

Mbappe donates over $.5m World Cup earnings to charity

French world cup winning teenage sensation Kylian Mbappe has donated all his earnings from the Russia 2018 event, worth over $500,000 to a French charity to works in sports and with children who have disability.
He is just 19. According to the French newspaper L’Equipe, Mbappe pledged the donation well back in April.
In addition, Mbappe sponsored 25 students from to the World Cup in Russia. Mbappe’s includes allowances, bonuses, and his share of what the French Football Federation would pay players from its World Cup earnings.
It is expected that Mbappe’s example may inspire other French players to pay some attention to charity. The young man who is the youngest player to feature in the World Cup final since Pele in 1970, has generosity that extends beyond money.
After the French victory, he was the one to remind team mates that N’goloo Kante, a key member in the French conquest, who was not in the final game, should be allowed to pose with the World Cup.

Drogba,Lampard,Amuneke others to pick FIFA Player of the year

Former Nigerian Super Eagle striker Emmanuel Amuneke as emerged as one of the people selected by FIFA alongside Didier Drogba as members of panel to shortlist candidates for Men’s Footballers and Coaches of the year for the 2017/18 season.
Another panel will do the shortlist for Women’s players and Coaches for the season.
The Best FIFA Football Awards is the premier annual awards celebration held by football’s world governing body.
The men’s panel also includes the likes of Ronaldo, Fabio Capello and Frank Lampard, while stars Mia Hamm, Sun Wen and Maia Jackman form part of the women’s panel.

 The judges will shortlist ten candidates for each category, which will be unveiled on 23 July 2018 – with a public vote opening on the same day. Football fans, national team captains, head coaches and more than 200 media representatives will then cast their votes to decide who will be crowned the best players and coaches in the men’s and women’s games from last season.
With the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ currently showcasing the finest footballing talent on the planet, the race for the Best FIFA Football Awards is even more intense and the showpiece event will take on added significance when it returns to London for a second time on 24 September 2018.
At last year’s awards, Cristiano Ronaldo picked up the Best Men’s Player Award, the Netherlands’ Lieke Martens was crowned Best Women’s Player, French icon Zinédine Zidane was named Best Men’s Coach and the Netherlands’ Sarina Wiegman was Best Women’s Coach.

Separate panels will shortlist candidates for the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award, the FIFA Puskás Award and the FIFA Fan Award, with the winner of the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award chosen by a panel of FIFA Legends.
In recognition and celebration of the essential role played by football fans in the game, the FIFA Fan Award, an appreciation of memorable moments created by fans, is voted for by supporters.
The FIFA Puskás Award, handed out to the player judged to have scored the best goal of the year, is also determined by fans’ votes.
The voting process for the men’s and women’s awards will open on 23 July and close on 10 August.
FIFA will announce the final lists of the three nominees for each of the four categories listed above – as well as for the FIFA Puskás Award, the FIFA Fan Award and the Best FIFA Goalkeeper Award – in September.