Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho says he is “totally against” international friendlies following injuries to key central defenders Chris Smalling and Phil Jones on England duty.

Mourinho expects to be without five first-team players against West Bromwich Albion on Saturday, including the injured Paul Pogba and suspended Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

“I am totally against the friendly matches,” Mourinho told Sky Sports, after Jones had to withdraw from the England squad with a toe injury suffered in a training ground clash with Smalling, who pulled out after sustaining a leg injury in the Germany friendly.

Both defenders missed England’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Lithuania, leading Mourinho to question the need for friendlies during the season.

“I think friendly matches for the national team only make sense before the final phases,” he said.

“A couple of weeks before the Euros or a couple of weeks before the World Cup makes sense. But mid-season friendly matches mixed with qualification matches, I don’t think that makes sense.

“On top of that the matches are not really big matches so I am not a big fan. But I think one day I will be there so I cannot be very critical.”

Mourinho, who had 13 players away on international duty, believes his side will be at a disadvantage when they resume Premier League action at Old Trafford this weekend.

“If you compare our situation with our opponents, West Brom, only one player on international duty,” Mourinho told this week’s Soccer Saturday programme, underestimating the number of Baggies players who joined up with their national teams in the past fortnight.

“They had time to work, time to rest and prepare. It’s going to be hard.”

Bastian Schweinsteiger has revealed that he did not get the chance to properly say goodbye to his Manchester United teammates before signing for Chicago Fire, after being introduced by the team on Wednesday and taking part in his first training.

The German’s move to the Major League Soccer club was officially confirmed by United on Wednesday afternoon after the formality of his visa had been resolved.

Schweinsteiger’s stay at Old Trafford ended last week after he agreed to join Chicago Fire on a one-year contract for a reported salary of US dollars $4.5million (£3.6m).

But so rushed was the deal, he revealed he did not have the opportunity to bid farewell to the United players, who were busy preparing for their Premier League game away at Middlesbrough.

Speaking to the press on his unveiling, Schweinsteiger said: “It was not so easy because the decision was a bit late so I couldn’t say a proper goodbye to the team.

“Also they had a match away against — I can’t remember — but they had a match on Sunday so I couldn’t really tell them because I didn’t want the focus on me, I wanted to have the focus on the team and the game. So I was very happy that they won.

“I had a great time there, especially with the teammates and the staff there, it was a good time and I enjoyed it there.”

Schweinsteiger could make his debut for Chicago Fire, who finished last in the Eastern Conference last season, winning just seven of their 34 matches, this weekend when they face Montreal Impact at Toyota Park.

The 32-year-old said: “I am ready. I was preparing before I came here and, of course, I need some days more training but I feel I am ready whenever the coach needs me.

“I need more training sessions to have the right rhythm, where I want to see myself, but my head is more than 100 percent and I feel quite comfortable. The training session was pretty intense today and I could do it, so that was good.”

Head coach of the Super Eagles, Gernot Rohr, has said that London will not be a choice of venue for their next international friendly.

The German was speaking after their second game in this FIFA window against Burkina Faso was cancelled.

The match was called off, after some Burkina Faso players failed to get British visas. Four days before, Nigeria held Senegal to a 1-1 draw at The Hive Stadium in London.

“Getting UK visas is too complicated, you know,” Rohr told newsmen.

“I think it’s better to stay in Schengen, in Europe than go to London where the people have problems. Even some players in our team couldn’t come, you know. They didn’t get the visa in time.

“We tried to find another team but it was too late.

“We had one very good game against a Senegal team that was so strong, so powerful, we learned a lot. Now we look forwards to our next games.

“The second game, between us, I could see everybody.

“Some players need to play because they don’t play all the time at their clubs. It was an opportunity for them.”

Algeria and West Ham midfielder, Sofiane Feghouli, has admitted that it will be difficult for his country, to beat Nigeria to the 2018 World Cup ticket.

The Desert Foxes are currently bottom of African qualifying Group B with one point, five behind leaders, the Super Eagles.

Reigning African champions, Cameroon is second with two points, while Zambia is third with just one point.

“I think the World Cup is the very best competition in terms of the feelings and emotions that it generates,” Feghouli told West Ham official website on Tuesday.

“If you haven’t played in it, you can’t know exactly what it means. I was lucky enough to play in it in 2014 and Algeria played very well. It was a dream come true for millions of Algerians and we made history by reaching the last 16 for the first time.

“We played a historic tie against Germany in which we were on the verge of knocking them out. I was very happy and proud to take part in that incredible adventure.

“I’d like to play in it again in 2018, although it will be very difficult to qualify.”

Super Eagles’ striker Kelechi Iheanacho has ruled out any possibility of leaving English clubside Manchester City “any time soon’’, saying he was happy to be part of the team.

Newsmen report that in spite of some impressive outings, City manager Pep Guardiola has given Iheanacho only few playing opportunities. However, the striker on Tuesday vowed to stay on and fight for his place in the face of competition from Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus. Iheanacho, who has scored seven goals from 24 appearances this season, said: “I’m very happy and very grateful to be in this team.

“I keep working hard every day and when I get my chance I have to prove to everyone I need to be in the squad. “It’s a great squad with great players. Everyone is working really hard. So, everyone should be happy being in this team. “It’s a great team. The supporters give us everything.

So, we need to keep fighting for the team and the fans. “I am improving every day. I keep learning and improving and that will help me in the future. I love it here,” he was quoted on the club’s website as saying.

Former Middlesbrough defender Jonathan Woodgate has rejoined the Premier League club as first-team coach, the northeast side announced Tuesday. Boro parted company with former manager Aitor Karanka earlier this month, with his assistant Steve Agnew promoted as they try to avoid relegation from English football’s lucrative top flight.

Woodgate joins a new-look backroom staff that also includes former Scotland striker Joe Jordan. “Jonathan is someone who we know very well, and who in turn knows this club inside and out,” Agnew told Middlesbrough’s website.

“He brings a wealth of experience from the highest level of the game, and he’s a fantastic character. “We’re delighted to have him on board.” Woodgate, an ex-England international, had two spells at boyhood club Boro in a career that also saw him play for Leeds, Newcastle, Real Madrid and Tottenham during a distinguished playing career. Woodgate, 37, announced his retirement shortly after Middlesbrough won promotion to the Premier League in May 2016.

He has returned to the club before their key clash against relegation rivals Swansea on Sunday, which will be Agnew’s second match in charge.

Boro are currently five points from safety, but do have a game in hand on Swansea, with the Welsh club in the 17th place that is immediately above the relegation zone.

Group A

Senegal, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan, Madagascar

Group B

Cameroon, Morocco, Malawi, Comoros

Group C

Mali, Gabon, Burundi, South Sudan

Group D

Algeria, Togo, Benin, Gambia

Group E

Nigeria, South Africa, Libya, Seychelles

Group F

Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Sierra Leone

Group G

Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Brazzaville, Zimbabwe, Liberia

Group H

Ivory Coast, Guinea, Central African Republic, Rwanda

Group I

Burkina Faso, Angola, Botswana, Mauritania

Group J

Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Swaziland

Group K

Zambia, Mozambique, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia

Group L

Cape Verde, Uganda, Tanzania, Lesotho

Matchdays

2017: June 5-13

2018: Mar 19-27, Sept 3-11 (two), Oct 8-16, Nov 5-13

Notes

— Group winners and best three runners-up qualify for finals with hosts Cameroon

— Cameroon will compete to gain match practice and be awarded points. If Cameroon win group, the runners-up will qualify; if they finish runners-up, the winners will qualify; if they finish third or fourth, the winners will qualify and the runners-up will compete for one of the three additional places

Ndidi has been compared to N’Golo Kante due to their defensive abilities and massive work rate, but Ndidi isn’t perturbed by the comparison saying he plays his own game.

“No, I have never put myself in Kante’s shoes,” Ndidi told Goal. “I didn’t look to play like him when I arrived. I just came here to play my own game. I just feel like a different player to him.

“He is a good player, he has proved that he’s great this season. With the support of others, you can do anything you want and you can do it here.”

Talking about former manager, Claudio Ranieri, the manager who bought him and brought him to England, Ndidi told Goal.

“For Ranieri, I felt bad,” he said. “I don’t really talk about managers though. I am just here to play my football. It was sad that he left, though, because he brought me here but I just need to focus on my game. I am still playing.

“It is just football, everything became good. Everything started to come together. I never experienced any problems in the dressing room with any players.

“We were always happy in the dressing room and looking forward to games. Optimistic. We were focused on trying to win. When we lost, everyone was down, but I didn’t notice anything personally. I didn’t see anything strange.”

Talking about his move to Leicester from Belgium, where he played with Genk, Ndidi said:
“I have this mind to adapt quickly,” . “I didn’t find it very difficult. It is easy because everybody speaks English. I have a team-mate Ahmed Musa from Nigeria, which helps also.

The Barcelona forward will miss the match in La Paz on Tuesday evening and three more World Cup qualifiers after that after abusing an official

Lionel Messi will miss Argentina’s World Cup qualifier against Bolivia after being slapped with a four-game ban for a foul-mouthed rant at a match official.

The decision was communicated to the Argentine Football Association (AFA) just hours before their match in La Paz on Tuesday evening.

It followed an incident towards the end of the Albiceleste’s 1-0 victory over Chile last week, when the Barcelona star scored the only goal from the penalty spot.

The 29-year-old was penalised for a foul and proceeded to wave his arms and shout insults at the referee’s assistant Marcelo van Gasse, with whom he refused to shake hands at the final whistle.

It was not initially recorded in referee Sandro Ricci’s report but was followed up by FIFA after video footage of Messi’s insult emerged. Both the officials and the AFA were subsequently asked for their observations.

Messi has been fined 10,000 Swiss francs (£8,100) and will also miss World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru before returning for the final match against Ecuador.

“This decision reflects the consistent case law that the FIFA Disciplinary Committee has applied in previous and similar cases,” a FIFA statement reads.

Four South American teams are guaranteed a place at the finals and a fifth can also progress by winning an intercontinental play-off tie against a team from Oceania.

Argentina currently sit third in the regional table but are only two points ahead of Chile, who are the first team out of the qualifying spots in sixth.

Messi is one of five players suspended for the visit to Bolivia after Nicolas Otamendi, Javier Mascherano, Lucas Biglia and Gonzalo Higuain picked up yellow cards against Chile.

To compound coach Edgardo Bauza’s selection headache, Gabriel Mercado and Emmanuel Mas both suffered injuries in that match.

More encouraging for Argentina, however, is the fact that Bolivia have lost 10 of their 13 qualifiers so far despite their well-documented altitude advantage at Estadio Hernando Siles, which is one of the highest stadiums in the world at 3,637 metres above sea level.

The Gunners forward says his desire to take in games wherever possible in his younger years saw him grace some rather unusual playing fields

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has graced some of the finest stadiums in the world, and also a Chilean jail as a goalkeeper.

A distinguished playing career has carried the Chilean from his homeland to Emirates Stadium via Udinese and Barcelona.

He was, however, to take the first tentative steps on that journey in more humble surroundings.

While growing up in South America, Alexis was eager to find game time wherever possible. That meant going wherever there was competition and playing in any position asked of him.

Occasionally his quest would lead him down some unusual avenues, but it is those experiences which have helped to make him the world-class talent he is today.

Alexis told Arsenal Player on his experiences as a football-mad youngster: “I wanted to be a professional footballer from when I was small.

“My mental approach was always to win and to go as far as possible playing football.

“I was always playing in tournaments and initially I played in goal. I was happy as long as I was playing football. I played with older people all the time – many of whom I really liked.

“[I played] in the street, but we also used to go to the local jail to play. We played with the people there on a dirt pitch, and I played in goal.”

Moving up the field has certainly been the right call for Alexis, with the 28-year-old now one of the finest attackers on the planet.

Arsenal bought into that ability when splashing out £31 million to sign him from Barcelona and will be hoping to keep him on their books as contract extension talks drag on in north London.

FIFA will pay Seamus Coleman’s Everton wages while he recovers from his double leg break.

The governing body’s Club Protection Programme enables teams to claim up to £112,731 (€143,836) per week of a player’s wages if he is injured while on international duty.

Coleman is understood to earn around £45,000 a week at the Toffees and could be out for as long as a year after fracturing both the tibia and fibula bones in his lower-right leg.

Coleman underwent successful surgery in Dublin on Saturday following a challenge from Wales’ left-back Neil Taylor, who was shown a straight red card for the challenge, during the Republic of Ireland’s 0-0 draw against Wales in World Cup qualifying.

FIFA’s Club Protection Programme was set up in 2012 after mounting pressure from clubs trying to claim compensation for players being injured on international duty.

Club’s pay an excess fee equivalent to the value of four weeks’ wages and can then be covered for the duration of a player’s absence, up to the value of £100m.

That value, however, covers all players injured on international duty over the course of the international calendar year.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has told Chelsea wingback, Victor Moses, to be more committed to the national team or miss out on winning the African Footballer of the Year award.

Moses reported to the team’s camp ahead of the friendly against Senegal, but returned to the Premier League club, after claiming he was carrying a knock.

It is understood that coach Gernot Rohr was visibly angry with the player , who had previously pulled out of a

In an interview recently, NFF President Amaju Pinnick, said: “Moses needs to understand that with his current performance with Chelsea, he stands a chance of becoming the next African player of the year, especially if his club should win the EPL title.

“But he needs to play regularly for the national team to make such dream come true. To be honest, Moses is one of the best African players at the moment, but as I said, he needs the Super Eagles.”

Speaking further, Pinnick, who is expected to join the Super Eagles camp in London today, revealed he had a chat with Moses yesterday “and during our conversation, Moses said that he actually wanted to play in the friendly against Senegal but for the injury. He is coming to see me tomorrow (today) when I arrive in London.”

Moses was expected to feature in the second friendly against Burkina Faso, which has now been called off.

South Africa Football Association President has expressed confidence that the country’s senior men’s national team Bafana Bafana can qualify ahead of the Super Eagles for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.

Bafana defeated Guinea-Bissau in a friendly in Durban on Saturday in preparation for the AFCON qualifiers.

South Africa are in Group E alongside Nigeria, Libya and Seychelles in the qualifying group for the 2019 AFCON.

“You all played very well. This was very important for us to see how we match up against Guinea-Bissau,” Jordaan told SAFA.net, referring to Bafana.

“Remember this team was very unfortunate not go to the second round of the 2017 CAF Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon earlier this year. They narrowly lost to Cameroon – the eventual winners – so they are a quality team.

“The way you played, you made it look too easy. Congratulations, this is what we wanted to see. The next stop is East London against Angola and we want to win that match as well, then we go for the qualifications of AFCON and the World Cup.

“I want to wish you all the best in your next matches and thank you for your commitment – let us continue to march on this road. You saw the crowd really enjoyed the quality of football that you produced. You have done very well and you have played the kind of football that made us enjoy the game.

“You may know that as Bafana Bafana we are pursuing four competitions this year – the COSAFA Cup, the CHAN but the two qualifications we want most are AFCON and the World Cup – the qualification for AFCON starts in June.

“There are 12 groups, and the top team in the group qualifies automatically, and that is twelve teams that go through. Then there are four best second placed teams – in other words any team in any group, if you lose one match and you end up second, you will get one of those places as one of the best second-placed team.

“What we want as the Association, whatever the mix, no matter how you get there, we want to be in the final 16 of AFCON in 2019.

“We start in Nigeria against Nigeria. it’s a huge challenge but if we can get over that we will be on our way. Also the next two matches for the World Cup qualifiers are against Cape Verde home and away. Again if we get a good start in those two matches we are very close to Russia 2018. Good luck once again, you have our support.”

South Africa will host Angola on Tuesday in East London, in another friendly game.

Chelsea FC and England U-20 defender Ola Aina has joined up with the Super Eagles squad for a training match with an unnamed side on Monday.

Aina, 20, was handed a late invitation by coach Gernot Rohr for the training match billed for the Hive stadium on Monday. He was joined by Sunderland’s 18-year-old forward Joshua Maja and Queens Park Rangers’ Scottish-born forward Eberechi Eze.

Aina has made six appearances for Chelsea this term in all competitions.

Josh has made five appearances for the Black cats with four of the coming in the Football League Trophy tournament (U23s) and one in the English Football league game against QPR where he came on in the 68th minute for Lynden Gooch.

Eze’s only appearance for QPR this season was in the English FA Cup. He featured for 18 minutes in QPR’s 2-1 loss to Blackburn on the 7th of January, 2017.

The trio will be assessed by the Super Eagles technical crew it was gathered from a media release.

Marvin Ebuehi says he is pleased that his first son Tyronne Ebuehi has finally committed to Nigeria after the misunderstanding that trailed his first call-up by fatherland.

“I must confess to you that I am glad that he has finally committed to Nigeria. I am very proud as a father. The first call-up, there was a misunderstanding and things went the way they did, unfortunately,” Marvin told thenff.com.

“I apologise for that misunderstanding. I have always said that he would have to play for Nigeria at senior level, because I am proud of my country.”

Ebuehi, an Amsterdam-based businessman was at the Super Eagles’ Crowne Plaza London Ealing hotel on Saturday with Dutch wife, Toos.

“Tyronne has always been crazy about football from an early age. I put him in an academy at the age of six and I’m not surprised that he’s on the way to living his dream,” he explained.

Tyronne’s sister Tyvanne is a UK-based model and brother Trevin is a student in Holland.

“I am praying that Tyronne fulfills his ambition of playing for a big club in Europe, and also become an important player for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.”

Danny Blind has been sacked as Netherlands head coach, the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) has confirmed.

Ajax great Blind was appointed as Guus Hiddink’s successor midway through the Oranje’s ill-fated qualification bid for Euro 2016.

A chastening 2-0 loss to Bulgaria on Saturday left the beaten 2010 World Cup finalists facing the prospect of missing out on a second major tournament in succession.

Blind admitted his decision to select 17-year-old Ajax prospect Matthijs de Ligt for what turned out to be a nightmare debut in defence was an error and afterwards stated he would consider his future.

On Sunday, the 55-year-old’s employers made the decision for him.

“We have respect for what Danny did for us and for the team during his tenure,” KNVB director Jean Paul Decossaux said in a statement.

“But because the sporting results are unfortunately disappointing, and because qualifying for the World Cup in Russia is now in difficulty, we unfortunately feel forced to relieve him.”

Blind added: “We were on a good roll. I think the game against Bulgaria was decisive.

“I gave everything I had. It’s too bad that it stops with this now.”

Under-21 boss Fred Grim will take interim charge when Netherlands host Italy in a friendly at the Amsterdam Arena. Their next Group A qualifier is at home to minnows Luxembourg in June.

Netherlands are fourth in Group A, six points behind leaders France and three shy of play-off incumbents Sweden.

Barcelona forward, Neymar, has said Coutinho would “totally fit” at the Camp Nou.

He named his Brazil team-mate as one Premier League player, he would love to see at the Spanish club.

Neymar and Coutinho are on international duty, preparing to play Uruguay in a 2018 World Cup qualifier.

In a pre-recorded interview with PokerStars, Neymar hailed the Liverpool playmaker’s ability.

“A Premier League player that I would like to have in Barcelona is Coutinho,” Neymar said.

“I believe Philippe Coutinho is a player that would totally fit in Barcelona.”

Neymar was then asked about his starring performance, as Barca overcame a four-goal deficit against Paris Saint-Germain and leading his country to Olympic Gold.

“I believe that, in terms of importance, it was one of the best [performances] and in terms of emotion, it was the highest.

“It overcame the Olympics, the Confederations Cup and the Champions League final.

“The emotion of the sixth goal, everything we felt there, in that moment, overcame any game I have ever played.

“Nevertheless, in terms of importance, the Olympics were the most important,” he said.

Barcelona have been fined €19,000, for the celebrations that followed their historic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Neymar inspired the La Liga champions, to overturning a four-goal deficit to win 6-1 in the second leg at the Camp Nou.

Sergi Roberto’s stoppage-time clincher, sparked wild scenes among the home fans with some of them invading the pitch.

UEFA has now decided to fine Barca for “improper conduct of the team”. They picked up five yellow cards in the match.

Earlier this week, UEFA president, Aleksander Ceferin, said that Deniz Aytekin, the referee who officiated the game, will not be suspended for his performance.

PSG had reportedly written to UEFA last week, to complain about Aytekin’s refereeing.
But Ceferin said there would be no sanctions for the referee.

“We will not suspend the referee from that match, referees are not suspended,” he said.
“When something doesn’t go well, we discuss it – but it is not a matter for suspension.

“That would be like suspending a player who missed a penalty kick when he should simply go to the bench if he misses many penalty shots.”

Barcelona were trailing 4-0 from the first leg and were awarded two penalties at the Camp Nou, as they overturned the four-goal deficit. One of them given for Marquinhos’ foul on Luis Suarez was particularly controversial.

Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr says the international friendly against Senegal will benefit his team when they face the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier in August in Uyo.

The Super Eagles came from a goal down to hold Senegal to a 1-1 draw in Thursday’s friendly game at The Hive in London.

Moussa Sow gave Senegal the lead on 54 minutes before Kelechi Iheanacho equalised for the Super Eagles from the penalty spot in the 82nd minute.

In his post-match press conference, Rohr said the Senegalese will give his players an insight on what to expect against Cameroon come August.

“We chose Senegal to prepare us for a physical Cameroon,” Rohr stated. “We don’t have the power of Senegal but we are learning and getting there.”

On the injuries sustained by Ogenyi Onazi and Ahmed Musa who had to be replaced, Rohr said: “He (Onazi) suffered a serious back injury. He’ll have a scan to ascertain the extent of his injury. We’ll observe Musa too.”

Sunderland manager, David Moyes, is hopeful that Victor Anichebe will be back in action sooner than expected.

The Nigerian striker has not played for the relegation-threatened Premier League side, since he suffered a knee ligament injury in their 2-0 loss to West Brom in January.

Moyes revealed that Anichebe is out running and says he is waiting for the medical department to give him the green light.

“We hope that Victor could be back and maybe Catts,” Moyes told SunderlandEcho.

“I think Catts could get some training in but the one we’re really looking to see if we can get back is Victor.

“There are no guarantees but I know Victor’s doing a bit more running and hopefully getting closer.

“My bigger worry is how they can get a level of match fitness to make a difference and help us in such a short time.

“I have to hope that we can get them back and give ourselves another dimension, even if it’s getting them back off the bench late on.

“I’ll probably play one [a friendly] this week because we have three games in a week coming up and we’ll need the squad of players we’ve got.”

Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, has said football is not just about winning trophies.

Wenger stated this while defending his record during his 20 years in charge of the Gunners and insists he has built an “absolutely remarkable” club.

The 67-year-old has come under serious pressure recently with the team performing below par, but reports say he has been offered a two-year contract extension.

Wenger has not won the league title since 2004 and in an interview with beIN Sports, he was quick to point out that Liverpool have never won it in the Premier League era.

“For me Arsenal is the best club in the world and what we have built is absolutely remarkable, not only on the results front but on the values that this club, what we have built. Of course a football club is about winning, it’s as well about values.

“Nobody talks about that anymore but sport is as well about values and I think integrity, respect, humility, togetherness are very important qualities and if you would visit our club you would see that they really exist on a daily basis. That is part of what I am proud as well.

“You can basically say that if you don’t win the championship it is not a successful season and I can understand that but you take clubs like Liverpool and they have not won the Premier League, they are a big club.

“You have clubs like Man City, Man United, certainly the championship will be won by Chelsea so we have all, and no matter how many we are, Tottenham, all these clubs, every year only one will win it,” Wenger said.

Source:

Football is not just about winning trophies – Wenger

Former Super Eagles captain Austin ‘Jay Jay’ Okocha has commended the team spirit in the camp of the Super Eagles ahead of the friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

The Eagles face Senegal on Thursday night and Burkina Faso on Monday, both at The Hive in London.

Okocha currently in Nairobi, Kenya, for the 2017 Barclays Kenya Open Tournament where he will participate as a guest golfer tweeted his satisfaction with the camaradarie among the players after watching videos of team bonding sessions posted by John Ogu.

“Amazing team spirit guys…Isaac Success trying out @iam_davido song. Welcome indeed to the @Supereagles,” Okocha said.

The videos show newcomers Success, Tyrone Ebuehi, Olanrewaju Kayode and Noah-Joel Sarenren-Bazee either singing or dancing in ‘initiation rites’ as others cheer them on.

The Eagles have been active on social media and stressing the need of their togetherness as they use both friendlies to prepare for the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Madrid forward, Cristiano Ronaldo, has been named Portugal’s Player of the Year for 2016.

Ronaldo led his country to their first major title at the European Championship last summer.

He beat club teammate Pepe and Sporting goalkeeper Rui Patricio to the prize.

The 32-year-old forward also led Real Madrid to their 11th Champions League triumph last May, converting the winning penalty to secure the title ahead of Atletico Madrid.

He also finished as the competition’s top scorer with 16 goals.

Ronaldo sustained early injury in the Euro 2016 final against hosts France, but Portugal pushed on to win the game in extra-time, marking the national team’s greatest-ever triumph at the Stade de France last July.

Ronaldo said at the Quinas de Ouro gala on Monday, “It was a very special year for me because the Euros was the only trophy I was still missing.

“I want to thank the Portuguese people again, they gave us confidence on our way to the title.”

Other award-winners on the night included Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches, who won the best young player award.

National team manager, Fernando Santos was named coach of the year.

The Spanish League has announced the second La Liga Clasico of the season between Real Madrid and Barcelona, will be played on will take place on Sunday, April 23.

Madrid will host the match at the Santiago Bernabeu. Kick-off is 8.45pm CET.

In December, the first game ended 1-1 at the Camp Nou.

The Match Day 33 clash will take place several days after Madrid and Barcelona play their respective Champions League quarter-final return legs against Bayern Munich on April 18 and Juventus 24 hours later.

Madrid, who currently top the league and are two points ahead of Barca, are seeking their first league title since 2012.

Next month’s Clasico will be Luis Enrique’s last in La Liga, after announcing he will step down as Barca coach at the end of the season.

Now 32 years old, the midfielder needed a lot of convincing to leave his family behind at a young age

Barcelona captain Andres Iniesta revealed he did not want to leave his hometown to join the Spanish giants as a youngster.

Spain international Iniesta, 32, was 12 when he uprooted himself from Fuentealbilla in Albacete for Barcelona after making trips with his family to meet club officials.

Reflecting on his early career, Iniesta said he needed a lot of convincing to leave his family behind at such a young age.

“The first response was that I did not want to come because I put my family bond before going to a place so far away and without them,” Iniesta told beIN Sports.

“The passage of the weeks and talk with my father made me see it as a challenge.

“With my father I have a lot of confidence, a lot of affinity and I know that when he tells me things, he usually succeeds.

“I respect my father and I knew I had to take the plunge. After that, it was the worst months of my life as a person, but with the help of everyone, day by day, it was much better.”

Iniesta has since gone on to win eight La Liga titles, four Champions League crowns and numerous other trophies.

The veteran midfielder has made 26 appearances in all competitions this season as Barca bid to retain their La Liga title and win the Champions League.

Victor Moses could still pull out of Nigeria’s international friendly games against Senegal and Burkina Faso this weekend, despite featuring for Chelsea in their 2-1 win over Stoke City last weekend.

Moses picked up a calf problem in their 1-0 win over Manchester United in the FA Cup last Monday and was set to miss three weeks of action.

But he started for Antonio Conte’s side at the Britannia, as they continued their march towards the Premier League title.

However, Chelsea have informed the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) that the player is injured.

“Chelsea have confirmed Victor Moses’ injury but he has not fully pulled out of the Super Eagles squad yet,” an NFF insider said.

The Super Eagles play Senegal on March 23 and Burkina Faso four days later, both at the Hive Stadium in London.

Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, has admitted that he never expected Victor Moses to have a future at Chelsea.

Antonio Conte has given Moses a chance at Stamford Bridge this season, after the Super Eagles star spent the last three years on loan with Liverpool, Stoke City and West Ham.

The Premier League leaders rewarded Moses with a two-year contract extension earlier this month

Carragher says he did not expect him to turn his Chelsea career around remarkably.

“Another thing you want a manager to do is improve players — and look at Victor Moses. I never expected him to have a future at Chelsea,” Carragher wrote in Daily Mail.

“Given he had been out on loan so much, and the levels he has shown have taken me by complete surprise. He has been excellent in his new role of right wing back.”

Yaya Toure’s agent, Dimitri Seluk, has suggested the player is ready to leave Manchester City in the summer and would consider a move to city rivals, Manchester United.

Toure’s current deal at the Etihad runs out at the end of this season.

And with manager Pep Guardiola looking to freshen up his squad ahead of next season, the Ivorian midfielder could be on his way out.

Seluk is quoted by Sky Sports as saying: “If we get a good offer from another club we will sign immediately.

“Mourinho is a very good manager and Toure played with Zlatan at Barcelona.

“If Manchester United make an offer I’ll negotiate, no problem.

“[Have Manchester United made an offer] I can’t speak about individual clubs.”

Jose Mourinho’s Manchester United have drawn Belgian side Anderlecht in the Europa League quarter-finals.

The Red Devils secured their passage to the last eight with a narrow 2-1 aggregate win over FC Rostov on Thursday.

United had been held in Russia but booked their place in Friday’s draw in Nyon courtesy of Juan Mata’s second-half strike, with Mourinho’s men claiming a 1-0 victory at Old Trafford on the night.

And they will now face Anderlecht in the quarters, with the first leg set to take place in Belgium on April 13 although official dates are subject to confirmation.

The Premier League side have happy memories when it comes to facing their opponents having recoreded their biggest ever European win over Anderlecht, a 10 win back in 1956.

Star striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic will also relish coming up against the side who finished third in the Jupiler Pro League last season having scored four against them for PSG in 2013.

More to follow…

The two Spanish giants have been given tough tests, while Leicester City face Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund take on Ligue 1 side Monaco

Reigning champions Real Madrid will face Bayern Munich while Barcelona have drawn Juventus in the Champions League quarter-final draw.

Leicester City, meanwhile, will face Atletico Madrid in a daunting tie for Craig Shakespeare’s Premier League champions, while Borussia Dortmund will take on Manchester City’s conquerors AS Monaco.

Real progressed to the quarter-finals by virtue of a straightforward aggregate victory over Napoli, but they will have their work cut out against the German giants, who thumped Arsenal 10-2 on aggregate, winning each game 5-1.

Barca may feel that this is their year after a quite staggering victory over PSG; the Catalan club recovered from a 4-0 defeat in the first leg, prior to their amazing 6-1 win at Camp Nou.

Juventus, meanwhile, beat FC Porto 3-0 on aggregate to progress, while Leicester defeated Sevilla over two legs in one of the most historic victories in the Foxes’ history.

Atletico, though, present a quite different threat, as they look to again reach the Champions League final. Diego SImeone’s men reached the showpiece game in both 2014 and 2016, and defeated Bayer Leverkusen to reach this stage.

Source: www.goal.com

The former Red Devils captain has slammed the current manager at Old Trafford after the Portuguese complained about heavy fixture congestion

Manchester United great Roy Keane questioned whether his former club is perhaps “too big” for manager Jose Mourinho.

Despite reaching the Europa League quarter-finals with a 1-0 win over Rostov on Thursday, Mourinho moaned about United’s busy run of fixtures and claimed his squad was struggling with fatigue..

Keane, a former captain and seven-time Premier League winner at United, was furious with Mourinho, saying the Portuguese tactician needed to embrace the demands of managing at Old Trafford.

“I’ve never heard so much rubbish in my life. Why do we have to listen to that garbage? It’s just utter nonsense what he’s talking about,” the Irishman told ITV.

“He’s manager of Manchester United, one of the biggest clubs on the planet, the squad he’s got, the players and he keeps moaning about fixtures and fatigue.

“We were just looking at some of the cup draws they’ve had. They’ve had an easy way in the cups, some good draws, a lot of home draws, and the guy is talking absolute nonsense.

“I’ve never heard so much rubbish in my life. Maybe the club is too big for him, he can’t deal with all these demands at the match. What matches? Man United reserves could’ve won that game.”

United were beaten at Chelsea in the FA Cup on Monday before overcoming Rostov, with a clash against Middlesbrough in the league awaiting them on Sunday.

Making matters worse for Mourinho, Paul Pogba and Daley Blind suffered injuries in the win over Rostov.

A video footage has emerged showing how Ex-boxing weight champion, Bash Ali, was prevented from seeing Nigeria’s sports Minister, Solomon Dalung, after he was given an appointment at the Federal Secretariat Complex in Abuja yesterday.

Madagascar is currently in happy mood in celebration of victory of new CAF President, Ahmad Ahmad.

In the election, which was held at CAF’s 39th General Assembly in Addis Ababa, Ahmad defeated Hayatou in a shock result after picking up 34 votes to the 70-year-old’s 20.

Zimbabwe football officials lift Ahmad Ahmad in the air as they congratulate him for defeating Issa Hayatou.

Ahmed Ahmed, CAF's newly elected president, lifted by Zimbabwe officials, rejoicing for his election victory.
—@UsherKomugisha#Africa #CAF pic.twitter.com/Cr1cyMEp3A

— Albert Nchinda (@AlbertNchinda) March 16, 2017

Now that he has lost, African Football can receive true Leadership and can contest with other Continents seeing it always had potential to be one of the Best in the world, but for BAD LEADERSHIP.

Manchester United Manager, Jose Mourinho has revealed why he refused to shake hands with Chelsea Manager, Antonio Conte after Monday night’s FA Cup quarter-final defeat at Stamford Bridge.

During the Monday clash, Conte reacted angrily after one of a number of fouls on Eden Hazard in the first half, and there appeared to be a clash on the sideline between the two gaffers.

But the Portuguese Manager has insisted that they did not shake hands because he was prioritizing his players immediately after the game.

“If I see him here I will shake it. I didn’t because I thought my players deserved my action immediately and our supporters also deserved our thanks to them, so it was that.

“I can promise you that if I see him out there I will shake his hand. I have nothing to speak with him at all, but to shake his hand, for sure I will do that”, he said.

The France international, signed for a world record £89 million from Juventus in the summer, has endured a mixed first season back at Old Trafford under Mourinho’s tutelage.

Pogba was singled out for praise by Mourinho during Monday’s FA Cup defeat at the hands of Chelsea, despite his opposite number N’Golo Kante bossing midfield and deservedly walking away with the man-of-the match award.

The likes of Roy Keane and Rio Ferdinand have been unimpressed by Pogba’s attitude of late but Mourinho believes the former Manchester United stars’ controversial views are simply born out of a desire to make money.

He said: ‘I am very happy with Paul. The club is very happy with Paul and I think the good thing is because of his personality he does not listen to what people say.

‘I feel the world is losing balance. Envy coming to certain levels I am scared for the next generation.

‘He came to Manchester as a teenager and fought for his career here. He reached the top of the world, nobody gave him anything.

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has said he will never return to Barcelona.

The Spaniard has been tipped as one of the potential successors to Luis Enrique, who will quit at the end of this season.

Guardiola managed Barcelona between 2008 and 2012, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the club’s history.

“Never again,” he said when asked about a potential return. “My period at Barcelona is over.”

Guardiola was speaking ahead of City’s Champions League last-16 second leg tie against Monaco. The Premier League side hold a 5-3 lead ahead of the game in France.

“It would be a huge mistake to think about what we have done and forget about what we have to do,” Guardiola said.

“I want to see my team from the first minute want to win the game. We have to score goals.

“Monaco are a fantastic team. I invite the people to come here and they will see a good game tomorrow.

“The best way (to defend) is score goals. When one team scores that many goals and you think about just defending, you kill yourself.

“The idea is to try and attack. We scored five goals when it’s not easy to score against them.”

Guardiola added: “I am not thinking about being in the semi-finals seven times in a row. I am here to help Manchester City reach the next round.

“What I want is tomorrow to make a good game. I want to be in the quarter-finals, it would be a dream for me.”

Super Eagles forward, Kelechi Iheanacho was included in Manchester City’s squad that travelled on Tuesday to France, ahead of their second-leg, round of 16 Champions League tie against Monaco.

City won the first leg 5-3 at the Etihad.

Iheanacho’s last appearance for Pep Guardiola’s side in the competition was in their last group game against Borussia Monchengladbach, where he scored in their 1-1 draw.

He was an unused substitute for their win against Monaco two weeks ago.

Other players who made the trip included: Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Leroy Sane, Bacary Sagna and Aleksandr Kolarov.

Guardiola has vowed to attack the Ligue 1 leaders, despite holding a 2 goal lead.

Sevilla coach Jorge Sampaoli has insisted his team’s Champions League exit at the hands of Premier League Champions, Leicester City was “undeserved.”

The Foxes won the second leg 2-0 at the King Power Stadium, securing a 3-2 aggregate success.

Sevilla midfielder Samir Nasri and Sampaoli himself were both red carded in the second half, as the Leicester held firm following goals from Wes Morgan and Marc Albrighton.

Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel saved a penalty from Steven N’Zonzi after also keeping out a Joaquin Correa spot kick in the first leg.

Sampoali told a post-match news conference, “The setback of the first goal caused the team to get cold feet.

“Their goalkeeper was very important in both matches, saving two penalties. Beyond the pain, the players have to stick with their work.

“With 10 men, we still forced Leicester back to their goal, we were all over them in the second half and created dangerous situations, but it was difficult because they were playing at home.

“I think this result is undeserved. These types of games are resolved by important details and ours were worse.”

Nasri, was sent off after clashing heads with Jamie Vardy.

Both players were booked for the confrontation, but it was Nasri’s second yellow of the game.

He added, “Nasri? He contributed a lot when he was on the pitch.

“I don’t know about his red card, I was very far away from it and I couldn’t see him, but I hope he stays because he brings us a lot going forward.

“My dismissal? I don’t know why it happened. I think the fourth official got it wrong because all I did was complain about a bad goal we conceded.
“I see myself going to bed in pain tonight, thinking that a dream has gone.”

Arsenal have announced that they will take on Bayern Munich in a friendly match this July in China.

The Gunners will play the Bundesliga champions in Shanghai on July 19, three days before they tackle Chelsea at the Bird’s Nest Stadium in Beijing.

Arsene Wenger’s side were recently dumped out of the Champions League by Bayern on a 10-2 aggregate.

Nevertheless, Arsenal chief executive, Ivan Gazidis is looking forward to the rematch.

“It will be very special for our Chinese fans to see a game of this stature,” he told the club’s official website.

“We have a fantastic following in China and the two games we are playing there this summer will be an exciting part of our build up for the new season.”

Kick-off time for the matches has not been confirmed.

An online petition calling for Barcelona’s 6-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League to be replayed has gained over 180,000 signatures.

The Nigerian Football Federation will not extend the contract of the Super Eagles coach Gernot Rohr if he fails to qualify the team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Rohr’s side are currently leading Group B of Russia 2018 African World Cup qualifying with six points from two games.

The media officer of the Super Eagles Toyin Ibitoye tweeted on Monday: “The mandate given Rohr by his employers is; Get the @NGSuperEagles to the 2018 World Cup in Russia or your contract won’t be extended.”

Nigeria face reigning African champions Cameroon, who are second in the table, in their next game in Uyo in October.

The Super Eagles won their firsr two qualifying matches, beating Zambia 2-1 in Ndola and Algeria 3-1 in Uyo.

Chelsea manager, Antonio Conte, has told his Manchester United counterpart, Jose Mourinho, that he cannot blame the Europa League if they lose at Stamford Bridge on Monday.

Mourinho’s team travelled over 4,000 miles to Russia last week, where they were held to a 1-1 draw by Rostov.

The Blues have however had an entire week, to prepare for the FA Cup quarter-final clash.

But Conte insists Mourinho had enough time to prepare and will still be able to put out a strong team.

“There are four days to recover, and this game is an important game for us, for them,” he said.

“I think their formation will be very good. Also because United and City have the best squads in this league.”

“We could have played on Sunday, or Saturday, if the federation (FA) decided it. But we are playing on Monday. I think that the federation showed great respect for Manchester United to play the last day available in the FA Cup.”

Burkina Faso has released a list of 25 players that will take on Nigeria in an international friendly game next week in London.

The Stallions squad is mostly comprised of players, who featured in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon, where they finished in third place.

Burkina Faso will play Morocco first on March 24, before facing the Super Eagles March 27.

The matches are part of preparations for their 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Mauritania.

FULL SQUAD

Germain Sanou, Kouakou Hervé Koffi, Aboubacar Sawadogo, Kabore Paterson , Oueraogo Dylan, Paro Issouf, Malo Patrick, Dayo Issoufou, Coulibaly Yacouba, Yago Steeve, Traore Razack, Sare Bakary, Toure Ibrahim, Guira Adama, Kabore Charles, Traore Alain, Yabre Meyker, Stephane Aziz, Bayala Cyrille, Koura Anthony, Prejuc, Nakoulma, Aristide Bance, Traore Bertrand, Banou, Sirima Sina

Arsenal goalkeeper, Petr Cech, has denied that he and Alexis Sanchez were laughing on the bench, during their 5-1 loss to Bayern Munich in the Champions League last-16 tie last week.

Alexis was caught on camera laughing after he was substituted, as the Gunners crashed out 10-2 on aggregate.

But Cech says the accusations are “disrespectful”.

“It is sad and he was as sad as I have seen him,” Cech said.

“Unfortunately when you say the sentence, ‘Had we scored the second goal everything could look different’ and then you do ‘ooph’ [exhale] you know, but in the end the reality is you are 5-1 down and somebody twists it and says you are laughing on the bench.

“I found it very disrespectful to the player. But obviously you can take the picture and you can interpret it the way you want unfortunately. But we the players, we know exactly what he said and we know how he was hurting and he was as disappointed as anybody else. It is unfortunate and disappointing.”

Tottenham striker Harry Kane has been named the Premier League player of the month for February.

The 23-year-old netted a hat-trick against Stoke in the last round of fixtures as well as scoring the winner against Middlesbrough earlier in the month.

“It’s a great honour,” said Kane, after picking up the award for the fourth time. “I’m in good form at the minute, I feel confident going into every match.”

Manager of the month, meanwhile, went to Pep Guardiola. Man City kicked off the month by thrashing West Ham 4-0 in their own backyard before seeing off Swansea at the Etihad. They completed a hat-trick of victories with a 2-0 win at Bournemouth.

Pep Guardiola has been named the Premier League Manager of the Month for February after three wins in three matches, but he doesn’t exactly appear ecstatic with the award.

Posing with the gong, Guardiola couldn’t muster a smile despite being recognised for his side’s performances last month.

Guardiola could be forgiven for the glum expression however, as his side struggled to a goalless draw at home to Stoke City on Wednesday night.

Manchester City only played three matches in February due to FA Cup and Champions League commitments but emerged with a 100 percent record, scoring eight goals and conceding just once.
City beat West Ham 4-0 at the London Stadium, won 2-1 at home to Swansea and beat Bournemouth 2-0 away from home.

The Spaniard was selected for the award ahead off Chelsea boss Antonio Conte, Manchester United’s Jose Mourinho and West Brom’s Tony Pulis – whose teams all won twice but drew once in February.
Guardiola’s side currently sit third in the Premier League table, ten points off table-toppers Chelsea and behind second-placed Tottenham only on goal difference.

City draw at home to Stoke City was understandably overshadowed by Guardiola’s former club Barcelona and their remarkable Champions League last-16 comeback against Paris Saint-Germain the same night.

Brown Ideye is set to make his debut for Tianjin TEDA on Friday, when they play Jiangsu Suning.

Ideye joined the Chinese Super League club last month, but did not play as they lost their first game of the season against Shandong Luneng last weekend.

The Super Eagles striker says he is ready to play now, but admits his coach Jaime Pacheo will make the final decision.

“The next game is very important to us and I hope we bring back three points,” Ideye told sports.enorth.com.cn.

“Mbaye Diagne and I are roommates, the relationship is very good, but who gets the chance to play on Friday depends on the coach’s arrangements.”

Ideye also praised international team-mate Mikel Obi for helping him settle in.

He said: “From the first day I came here, Mikel has constantly helped me settle in.

“We are national teammates and there’s a good understanding between us, so we play together without any problems.”

FIFA President, Gianni Infantino has refused to blame referee Deniz Aytekin, for his performance in Barcelona’s dramatic 6-1 win over Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night.

Infantino also warned that football’s lawmakers, should be careful with adjusting the rules.

He, however, admitted that video assistant referees (VARs), will ensure “clear mistakes” are corrected. VARs are being introduced gradually into the game.

Barcelona were trailing 4-0 from the first leg and were awarded two penalties at the Camp Nou, as they overturned the four-goal deficit. One of them given for Marquinhos’ foul on Luis Suarez was particularly controversial.

“Whether that particular case was an injustice or not, we can leave it to the judgement of the referee [Germany’s Deniz Aytekin],” Infantino said in London on Thursday.

“What we saw was an incredible football match, whatever the result would have been at the end. This shows that football is really a fantastic game.

“Whenever you have the feeling you have seen everything, something else comes along that you’ve never seen before. It’s just amazing and incredible.

“We have to really be careful in the IFAB [International Football Association Board] if we want to touch the rules, because football is such an incredible game.

“In this case, I don’t know if it was a clear mistake or not but, in future, when there are clear mistakes, this will be corrected by the video assistant referee so we can make sure decisive matches are not decided by mistakes made in good faith by the referee,” he added.

Arsene Wenger has claimed that referees helped Barcelona, in their dramatic comeback against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, but instead killed their own attempt to do the impossible at home against Bayern Munich.

Barca scored three goals from the 88th minute of the return leg at Camp Nou, to seal an incredible 6-5 aggregate win.

Their six goals on the night included two penalties, duly dispatched by Lionel Messi and Neymar.

24 hours earlier, Arsenal were leading 1-0, before the referee sent Laurent Koscielny off and awarded the visitors a penalty, which Robert Lewandowski scored to make it 1-1, effectively killing the tie off.

“Last night, it showed the importance of two main factors – the referee and big players,” Wenger said in his pre-match press conference ahead of the clash with Lincoln.

“At that level, you can be punished. It can be very quick and go one way or the other.

“In the last seven years, we played six times against Barcelona or Bayern.”

“In the last nine years we are only once the worst English team in the Champions League.”

Barcelona forward, Sergi Roberto said he never believed his winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday night in the round-of-16 second leg Champions League tie would have counted.

Roberto said he thought he was on offside position.

Barcelona pulled off the greatest comeback in Champions League history when they beat PSG 6-1 to win the tie 6-5 on aggregate.

Match-winner Sergi Roberto admitted he wasn’t sure if his decisive injury-time goal would count.

He told reporters, “I’ve thrown everything. I didn’t know if I was onside. I’m very happy.

“I threw myself on the ground and I saw the goalkeeper [Kevin Trapp] didn’t stop it.”

Barca were 2-0 up at half-time through a Luis Suarez strike and a Layvin Kurzawa own goal.

Lionel Messi added the third early in the second half from the penalty spot to increase their hope of advancing.

But the Catalan fans became quiet when Edinson Cavani scored the much needed away goal in the 62-minute.

Neymar free kick and penalty minutes in two minutes set the stage for Roberto’s 95th-minute strike to complete the rally and send Barca through to the quarterfinals.

Roberto added, “They say the fans are one more player, but today they were 10 more.

“In the end, this is also for them. Now to celebrate and think about the league game [against Deportivo La Coruna on Sunday.”

The defender expects couples to celebrate the 6-1 trouncing of Paris Saint-Germain in their own special way, to spark a baby boom nine months from now.

Noah Joel Sarenren Bazee has finally been cleared to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria by FIFA.

Bazee was born to a Nigerian father and a German mother, making him eligible to play for both countries.

The 20-year-old who plays for Hannover 96 in the German Bundesliga 2, was invited by coach Gernot Rohr for this month’s friendly matches against Senegal and Burkina Faso.

The striker met Rohr who was in German on a tour of Europe to see his players and will now get an opportunity to play under him.

With senior strikers like Brown Ideye and Odiong Ighalo absent for the friendlies, Bazee will get the chance to make his debut and impress the national team handlers.

Nigeria will play Senegal March 23, before taking on Burkina Faso four days later.

The Gunners defender feels the fans deserve an apology after yet another underwhelming performance in a big game

Hector Bellerin has offered his apologies in the wake of Arsenal’s humiliating Champions League defeat at the hands of Bayern Munich.

Arsene Wenger’s needed a miracle to reach the quarter-finals after a 5-1 defeat at the Allianz Arena in the first leg, but there would not be such a comeback as they were thrashed by the same scoreline on home turf.

Several Arsenal fans angrily left the stadium well before the final whistle and Bellerin admits the exodus affected Arsene Wenger’s side.

“I am really hurt because to see the fans leave the stadium so early,” the Spanish defender is quoted by the club’s official website.

“At the end of the day we play for them, want them to be happy, to be behind us, and it hurts to see them leave so early.

“We have to say sorry to the fans because we want to do better than that. We just need to try to make them happy with the rest of our season.

“We know we have got the players and the potential to do well, we just need to play every game the same way that we started on Tuesday. If we play that kind of football, we can be up there.

“We knew it was very hard for us to come back after that, and we just need to look at ourselves, learn from this situation and focus on Saturday. We have another game, another competition which we know we can do well in and we need to prepare for it.”

Tuesday’s defeat further piled the pressure on Arsene Wenger after Saturday’s 3-1 loss against Liverpool, with the Frenchman’s future at the club still unclear as his contract is due to expire at the end of the season.

Arsenal will look to return to winning ways when they meet Lincoln City in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday.

Gareth Bale heaped praise on Real Madrid team-mate Cristiano Ronaldo for being able to change his game and remain the best in the world.

Aged 32, the clock is slowly but surely ticking on Ronaldo’s illustrious career and the Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer and four-time Ballon d’Or winner has adapted accordingly.

No longer the tricky speedster down the wing at the Santiago Bernabeu, Ronaldo has assumed a central forward role up front for European champions Madrid, scoring 18 La Liga goals this season.

And Bale is impressed with how Ronaldo has been able to evolve throughout his time in the Spanish capital.

“We’ve always got on well. We’ve scored a lot of goals, given a lot of assists to each other, we’ve won two Champions Leagues,” Bale said via the Daily Mail, “So it hasn’t gone too bad.

“He’s in great shape but his role has changed. He’s more of a striker now. When he was younger at Manchester United you’d see him running from deep.

“He’s changed his game slightly. He’s very effective in the box, scoring goals, making assists. As you get older, even I’m starting to change my game a little bit. He knows what he’s doing and he’s doing it very well.”

Ronaldo and Bale face Napoli on Tuesday, with Madrid leading 3-1 from the first leg of the Champions League last-16 fixture.

While Madrid are looking to secure their spot in the quarter-finals, it will also be a chance for Ronaldo to end his run of five games without a goal in the European competition.

A fan in Tanzania has incredibly lost his wife in a bet on the Dar es Salaam derby.

Two supporters bet on the match between Simba and Young Africans SC (commonly known as Yanga).

The wager specified that the winner would get to spend the night with the loser’s spouse.

And a contract was even signed to make it legally binding.

Simba ran out 2-1 winners in the match, which meant that the Yanga fan was technically supposed to give up his wife.

But it is believed that the pair eventually reached a financial agreement instead.

Nevertheless, the Simba general secretary confirmed that fans of both teams often lose their wives in bets.

He also offered the BBC World Football podcast an insight into his passion for the club, and its history.

At one point Simba were actually named Dar Sunderland.

And to this day they still wear the Black Cats’ red and white colours.

The club’s general secretary also confirmed that his house is decorated from top to bottom in red and white.

And he added that his wife is forbidden to wear anything in Yanga’s green and yellow.

Derbies between the two teams average crowds of around 60,000 fans and a match in October saw seats ripped up by rioting fans.

Madagascar FA boss, Ahmad Ahmad, has revealed that the president of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Amaju Pinnick, was among those who convinced him to contest for the presidency of the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Ahmad said this on a whistle-stop visit to Nigeria, to canvas support as he challenges incumbent Issa Hayatou in the March 16 elections.

“I think many things have to change in African football,” he told reporters in Abuja.

“We need change in refereeing, officiating, the way we train our coaches. We can’t organise a coaching licence course in 15, 10 days. The certificate is just to help you get a work. Our technical development must change.

“It was not my ambition to become the president of CAF, but colleagues like you (president of the Nigeria Football Federation, Amaju Pinnick) after the FIFA congress in Mexico (last year) called on me and told me it was time for change.

“Some people tried before (to unseat Hayatou), but they failed.”

Brown Ideye has admitted that he decided to join Tianjin TEDA, after speaking with Super Eagles captain John Obi Mikel about the Chinese Super League outfit.

Ideye joined TEDA this week and is set to make his debut against Shandong Luneng on Saturday.

The 28-year-old has already been handed the No. 39 shirt and will compete with Gabon striker Malick Evouna for a place in the starting line-up.

“Mikel has told me about the whole team, and I will put my best into training and I will follow the coach’s instruction and get through the training team.

“I watched the Super League and I believe that with my current physical condition, I can make my debut at any time, I will strive for a position in the starting lineup”, Ideye stated in a chat with sports.enorth.com.cn.

Arsenal’s Mesut Ozil, has revealed that he snubbed a move to Barcelona in 2010, because their manager at the time, Pep Guardiola, showed lack of interest.

The German playmaker became one of the hottest players in Europe after playing for his country at the 2010 World Cup.

Barca were among the big European teams keen on Ozil, along with Real Madrid, Manchester United and Arsenal.

The player himself was leaning towards a move to the Camp Nou, before eventually signing for their rivals – Real Madrid.

“Arsenal were interested in signing me after the 2010 World Cup, as were Manchester United, Bayern Munich, Barcelona and Real Madrid,” an extract from Ozil’s new book ‘Die Magie des Spiels’, published by Bild, reads.

“My agent sat down with Bayern to discuss a move. The club told him about their plans with me and how they intended to use me. He had similar talks with the other clubs that wanted me.

“Before I travelled to Barcelona, I was convinced that was my next club. I was leaning toward joining Barcelona. There was no team in the world that played more beautiful football.

“But Guardiola did not attend talks and he did not call me either the days after. He did not even send me a text. He did not show me that he wanted to sign me as well. My interest in a move to Barcelona quickly decreased.”

Arsenal midfielder, Mesut Ozil, has revealed that Jose Mourinho called him a “coward” and a “cry baby,” during an angry half-time bust-up while they were both at Real Madrid.

Ozil spent three seasons playing under Mourinho at the Santiago Bernabeu.

The Germany international recalls one time the current Manchester United boss questioned his work ethic.

“Mourinho screamed at me ‘Do you think two nice passes are enough? You think you are too good to enter a duel. You think you are so good that you can play at 50 per cent. Do you know what it looks like when you enter a duel? Let me show you.’ He then tiptoed around the dressing room with his hands close to his body and pursed lips,” read an extract from Ozil’s book ‘Die Magie des Spiels’, which is being serialised in Bild.

“I lost it and screamed at him to go out there on the pitch and play himself, taking off my jersey and throwing it at his feet. I told him to put it on and go out there.

“Mourinho was just laughing and sniped ‘Are you giving up already? You are such a coward. What do you want to do? Get in the warm shower and wash your hair? Do you want to be alone? Or would you rather show your team-mates, the fans and me what you can do? You know what Mesut, why don’t you start crying! You are such a crybaby, get in the shower. We do not need you.’

“I grabbed my towel and walked past him into the showers without saying a word to him.

“I later apologised for my behaviour to captain Sergio Ramos and the rest of the team.”

Super Eagles Technical Director, Gernot Rohr, has picked a 25-man squad for the upcoming friendlies against Senegal and Burkina Faso in London.


Goalkeepers: Carl Ikeme (Wolverhampton Wanderers, England); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (FC IfeanyiUbah)

Defenders: Leon Balogun (FSV Mainz 05, Germany); William Paul Ekong (KAA Gent, Belgium); Kenneth Omeruo (Alanyaspor FC, Turkey); Uche Henry Agbo (Granada FC, Spain); Abdullahi Shehu (Anorthosis Famagusta, Cyprus); Musa Muhammed (FC Zeljeznicar, Bosnia-Herzegovina); Tyronne Ebuehi (ADO Den Haag, The Netherlands); Elderson Echiejile (Sporting Gijon, Spain); Kingsley Madu (Zulte Waregem, Belgium); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal)

Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (CD Feirense, Portugal); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel)

Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Leicester City, England); Kelechi Iheanacho (Manchester City, England); Moses Simon (KAA Gent, Belgium); Victor Moses (Chelsea FC, England); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England); Noah Joel Bazee (Hannover 96, Germany); Victor Osimhen (Wolfsburg FC, Germany)

Parents of Tottenham star, Dele Alli, are currently pleading to reconcile with the player after he was abandoned by them.

Alli, now earning $60,000 a week in London, was allegedly a product of a short relationship between Kehinde Alli and his mother, Denise.

Kehinde Alli, later split from Denise and took Dele with him to Lagos, where Dele grew till he was about 11 years old before returning to England.

Alli, reportedly married a new woman in 2006.

With the recent success of Dele Alli, things have taken a new turn as Kehinde Alli has dumped his new wife to reconcile with Dele Alli’s mother in a frantic effort to get “his family” back together.

Both Kehinde and Denise are reportedly begging Dele Alli to let them back into his life after he has refused to speak with them since 3 years, a family source told newsmen.

The source revealed Dele does not feel connected to them at the moment and that he could consider their request after much consideration.

Jose Mourinho has criticized the Leicester City players for putting themselves first and letting down manager Claudio Ranieri before he was sacked just nine months after winning the Premier League title.

Mourinho turned up for his weekly press conference on Friday with the initials ‘CR’ printed on the front of his training top in dedication to Ranieri after posting a picture of the two men on social media.

The Portuguese coach also experienced being sacked by Chelsea in December 2015, the season after leading them to the title, but said that was ‘peanuts’ compared to the way Ranieri has been treated by Leicester.

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Jose Mourinho wore a shirt with the letters ‘CR’ on it in tribute to sacked boss Claudio Ranieri

But Mourinho saved his most scathing criticism for the Leicester players who are understood to have turned against their Italian manager as the fairy tale turned sour.

‘If some of the stories I am reading are true or are a little bit true, it’s hard to find words to justify that,’ he said. ‘As managers we have to be ready to cope with that.

‘Probably the season started with the typical selfishness of others, people thinking about new contracts, leaving, more money, forgetting who helped them to reach a certain level.

‘This is not just football it’s a bit of our world. Some principles are going away a little bit. I’m really sorry about it but I lived a similar experience. I thought last season when I was sacked as a champion it was a giant negative thing, now I realise it was peanuts to what happened with Claudio.’

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Mourinho lines up alongside Ranieri in the tunnel ahead of this season’s Community Shield

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Ranieri led relegation tipped Leicester to a hugely unexpected Premier League title last season

Asked about his tributes to Ranieri, Mourinho added: ‘It is my little homage to somebody that write the most beautiful history of the Premier League. Somebody that deserves the Leicester stadium to be named Claudio Ranieri (Stadium) and he is sacked.

‘Leicester made history two years in a row – one year because they did the most beautiful thing in the Premier League and one of most beautiful things in football history, now they are also in the highlights with the decision that I think has everyone in football united because it is something very very difficult to accept. It is good to realise how football is, and we need to adapt to it

‘My Instagram and shirt are homage. I don’t think he needs more homages because no-one can believe what he did. No one can do anything about it. No one can delete history.

‘I think it’s Claudio’s fault because if last season instead of being champion he finished 12th, it would be amazing and he would still be in a job because Leicester play not to be relegated. He’s paying for his success, it’s his fault.’

Read More: www.dailymail.co.uk

Former Chairman, Board of Trustees of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Tony Anenih, has recalled how God saved him after six overseas doctors told him that his illness was incurable.

Speaking at the 52nd birthday celebration of former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Nduli Elumelu in Abuja, Anenih said God proved doctors’ reports wrong and saved his life.

He explained that if he had accepted the report of the medical doctors, by now, he would have been a forgotten issue.

He said: “Life belongs to God and it is only God that has the power to take another man’s life. What happened to me in the hospital is enough proof. Imagine being declared impossible to live by six different medical doctors and surviving such reports.

“The truth is that no one has the power to take another man’s life unless God wills it. It is my pleasure to witness this life celebration because it’s a worthy celebration.

“It has been a long time I attended a public event and I had my personal reasons for taking that decision. But I am happy to be here as it has given me the opportunity to see people I have not seen for a very long time.

The elder statesman also expressed his concern for the peaceful co-existence of the Nigerians and urged the government not to sacrifice anything for peace and security of live of the citizens.

Wayne Rooney said Thursday he was staying with Manchester United following persistent speculation he could make a lucrative move to the Chinese Super League.

British media reports said Rooney’s agent, Paul Stretford, had been in China speaking to interested clubs but the United and England captain insisted he was staying put at Old Trafford.

“Despite the interest which has been shown from other clubs, for which I’m grateful, I want to end recent speculation and say that I am staying at Manchester United,” the 31-year-old Rooney said in a statement released to Britain’s Press Association.

“I hope I will play a full part in helping the team in its fight for success on four fronts.

“It’s an exciting time at the club and I want to remain a part of it.”

AFP

The Manchester United manager, who was also dismissed a year after winning the title while at Chelsea, has words of encouragement for the Italian

Jose Mourinho has posted a classy tribute message to Claudio Ranieri after the Italian was sacked by Leicester City.

The Premier League champions made the announcement on Thursday evening, a day after the Foxes were beaten 2-1 by Sevilla in the Champions League.

After their quite extraordinary title win, Ranieri’s side have struggled in the 2016-17 season and find themselves in 17th place in the table with just five league wins from 25 matches.

Ranieri’s success last season, that saw him crowned FIFA’s Best Coach of the Year, has not been forgotten about, however, with United boss Mourinho sending on a message of support.

The 54-year-old, who, like Ranieri, was also sacked the season after claiming the Premier League title, posted on his Instagram page to remind the Italian that no one can delete his achievements.

He wrote: “CHAMPION OF ENGLAND and FIFA MANAGER of THE YEAR.sacked. Thats the new football claudio.keep smiling AMICO.nobody can delete the history you wrote.”

Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has blasted the organizers of the FA Cup, for announcing the date of their quarter-final clash at Chelsea before Europa league draws.

United sealed their passage into the last 16 of the Europa League with a 1-0 win over St Etienne on Wednesday.

They face a hectic fixture list over the next few weeks and their game at Stamford Bridge will be played on March 13, sandwiched between their Europa League last-16 first and second legs.

Mourinho is angry that the date was announced before the Europa League draws are conducted this Friday.

“Of course and I feel really surprised that the decision is made before our draw in Europe,” he said.

“Because in this moment nobody knows where we play, nobody knows where the first and second matches are. Imagine we play Chelsea on Monday and then we have to go to the second match in Europe in Russia, Turkey or Greece.

“I think once more the interests, they go in front of the clubs and English football’s interests, and nobody cares about it. But this is what I have.

“I cannot play against Chelsea with the second team. I cannot play against Chelsea with the U21s like Manchester City did last year. I cannot do that – we are Manchester United.

“I don’t do that as Manchester United manager. I don’t do that to the FA Cup because the FA Cup is not guilty of these decisions. The FA Cup is beautiful, the competition is historical. I have to treat Manchester United supporters and the FA Cup in the right way.

“I cannot go there with U21s. Probably they would deserve it, but I don’t do that, so what is going to happen is an accumulation of matches.

“People playing a lot of matches, I have to make some rotation but some of the boys will have to play in all these consecutive matches”, he said.

Arsenal legend Liam Brady has told Eamon Dunphy’s Stand podcast that Arsene Wenger continues to deliver what the ownership requires and warned fans calling for his exit: “Be careful what you wish for.”

Wenger’s contract is up in the summer and with Arsenal currently 10 points behind Premier League leaders Chelsea and facing another Champions League exit in the round of 16 after losing the first leg 5-1 at Bayern Munich, he is facing serious questions over his future.

Brady, who played for Arsenal between 1971 and 1980, worked as head of their youth academy under Wenger until 2014 and he said: “There’s a lot of uncertainty around the club.

“There’s a lot of the fanbase would be unhappy to see Arsene Wenger in charge next year, but then are clubs always going to listen to what the fans want to say? You ask every fan to pick a team and they’d probably pick a different team each and every one of them. They all have their own views.”

He said Wenger, who took charge at Arsenal in 1996 and has secured a top-four finish every season, is “like the CEO of a big business and he’s delivered year in, year out as regards to the results the owners are looking for.”

He acknowledged that many fans are disappointed with the lack of a league title since 2003-04 but said: “It’s only two years ago that he won the FA Cup, and the year before he won the FA Cup and [they have been] consistently in the top four of the Premiership, so to sack a man who has a record like that would seem unfair.”

Wenger revolutionised Arsenal, who had developed a reputation for dour football even during their successful years under George Graham, and Brady said: “Lots of fans have been brought up on the team he created, with players like Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit.

“They are craving those days again, but it’s easier said than done. Be careful what you wish for.”

Brady said Arsenal had struggled to match their rivals largely because of a financial shift, highlighting the arrival of Roman Abramovich at Chelsea in 2003 and the Abu Dhabi United Group at Manchester City in 2008.

He added: “Even Tottenham were a poor shadow of what they are now. Liverpool have invested a lot of money. Man United are a money machine.

“To keep the team consistently in the last 10 years in the top four, without having the money to spend … I know he’s spent money, but nothing compared to [what] the likes of Chelsea, Man City and Man United have been able to afford. I think you have to take all that into consideration.”

He said Wenger would reflect on his future and hold talks with majority shareholder Stan Kroenke but warned: “A new manager doesn’t guarantee you success.

“I’m not living in the past. He’s a victim of his own success.”

Super Eagles Coach, Gernot Rohr, has warned Nigeria players moving to Chinese Super League, CSL, that those playing in Europe would be considered ahead of them during selection.

Brown Ideye is close to joining Super Eagles duo of captain John Obi Mikel and Odion Ighalo in the CSL, which will bring to five the number of Nigerian players who have moved to the Far East since January.

Overall, there are now seven Nigerian players playing in the league and Rohr says he will consider less players from there.

He told journalists, ”The Chinese League is not as backward as many thought, or it has moved forward from what it use to be.

“But Europe is still where I feel is best for players as the level is very high.

”We have to consider the players in competitive leagues before looking at the players in less competitive league, maybe three players from China would be ideal for our squad.”

Argentine striker, Sergio Aguero, said pressure was on him to impress Manchester City Manager, Josep Guardiola.

Aguero led the club’s Champions League to fight-back against Monaco on Tuesday, scoring two goals in the process.

Speculation had mounted over the former Atletico Madrid striker’s future at the Etihad after he lost his place to Brazilian, Gabriel Jesus last month.

But following Jesus’ foot injury, which will rule him out for much of the season, Aguero has been recalled to the starting line-up by the Manager.

Aguero scored a brace and set up Leroy Sane for the last goal in the 5-3 victory over Monaco in the round-of-16 first leg.

He said afterwards, “The truth is that those things are for the manager to decide, the only thing I can do is keep fighting to be able to play.

“Fortunately he counted on me, now I have to help the team and show what I can do.

“As I’ve always said I want to be here at the club, I’ve always said that at the end of the season it won’t be my decision. The truth is that with these things it’s the club that handles everything, and obviously it’s always my intention to stay.

“The truth is we get on very well. What he wants, above everything, from all the players is that we push a little more. He’s always asking me for more, more, more!

“Obviously it’s a sacrifice I have to make, that we all have to make, and fortunately tonight it worked and we’ll see if it keeps working in the next game.”

The Frenchman has played down the Catalans’ recent poor form and has also given updates on the futures of Isco, Pepe and James Rodriguez

Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane insists rivals Barcelona are not in crisis after a Champions League thrashing by PSG was followed by an unconvincing win over struggling Leganes.

The Catalan giants’ hopes of winning the European Cup look over after being beaten 4-0 in the first leg by Unai Emery’s men while they struggled to respond at the weekend needing a late penalty to win 2-1.

However, Zidane has played down talk Barca are struggling, despite huge pressure on Luis Enrique’s side following their recent poor form.

“Barcelona in crisis? No, I do not think so,” Zidane said in a press conference.

The Madrid boss also took time to address the futures of Isco, Pepe and James Rodriguez, praising all three.

Read more:www.goal.com

Head coach of the Argentina national team, Edgardo Bauza, has said Lionel Messi is not celebrating his goals at Barcelona because he is very angry with criticisms that came after their 4-0 loss to Paris Saint-Germain.

Messi scored twice including a 90th-minute winner from the penalty spot, as Barca narrowly defeated Leganes 2-1 in La Liga on Sunday.

But he refused to celebrate the goal with the team, as the team had been jeered during the game.

“I think he reacted to the criticism he may have received after PSG,” Bauza told radio show, Joga Bonito.

“I noticed he was very angry when he scored the goals.”

Barca coach Luis Enrique, has already said he is not interested in if the 29-year-old celebrated or not.

Their win saw them move within a point of league leaders, Real Madrid, who have two games in hand.

Brown Ideye is set to leave Olympiakos for Chinese Super League side, Tianjin TEDA, before the close of the transfer window.

Sources close to the player have told ESPN FC, that Ideye is likely to be lining up along with his international team-mate, John Obi Mikel, soon.

The transfer window in China closes later this week ahead of the new season next month and TEDA are in the market for a new striker to add to their squad.

Ideye has been at Olympiakos since 2015, after joining the Greek club following a miserable one-year stint in the Premier League with West Brom.

The 28-year-old scored seven goals in 31 appearances in all competitions for the Baggies before leaving. He went on to net 13 times in his debut season in the Greek Super League and already has 15 goals this term.

It is understood that personal terms have been agreed with the player and the move is at an advanced stage.