Nigerian President assures players

Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has assured the country's senior players at the World Cup that the squad will be paid their bonus money.
The president's guarantee comes a day after after the Super Eagles players boycotted training on Thursday.
BBC Sport understands Nigeria's players fear they will not be paid after the tournament - a situation that occurred after last year's Confederations Cup.
Nigeria play France in the last 16 of the tournament on Monday.
While the players have demanded they receive their money now, the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) is not in a position to make that payment until it receives its prize money from Fifa.
It is that impasse that has led President Jonathan to intervene.

Luis Suarez bite: Reaction to Fifa's four-month ban from world football

Fifa's decision to give Uruguay striker Luis Suarez a four-month ban from world football for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini has made headlines around the globe.

Uruguay's Luis Suarez grabs his teeth after biting Italy's Giorgio Chiellini

He will now miss nine international matches and the first nine games of the Premier League season for Liverpool, as well as three Champions League matches.The World Cup ban is the third he has been handed for biting someone during his career.
Here BBC Sport rounds up reaction to Thursday's ruling and the possible repercussions for club and country.

Luis Suarez's controversies
July 2010: Handles the ball on the line to deny Ghana a winner in the last minute of extra time in the World Cup quarter-finals. Asamoah Gyan misses the resulting penalty and Uruguay win the shootout to reach the semi-finals.
November 2010: Given seven-match ban for biting PSV Eindhoven's Otman Bakkal on the shoulder while playing for Ajax.
December 2011: Given eight-match suspension and fined £40,000 for racially abusing Manchester United's Patrice Evra.
February 2012: Refuses to shake hands with Evra at Old Trafford and is described as a "disgrace" by United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
April 2013 : Suarez apologises for biting Chelsea defender Branislav Ivanovic. Gets 10-game ban.
June 2014: Given nine-match international ban and four-month suspension from all football-related activity for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.

FIFA bans Suarez for four months

Uruguay striker also fined $112,000 and banned for nine international games after biting Italy defender in Brazil.

Uruguay striker Luis Suarez was banned for nine matches by FIFA after being found guilty of biting Italian defender Giorgio Chiellini.

Suarez was also suspended from any football-related activity for four months and fined 100,000 Swiss francs ($112,000).

"Such behaviour cannot be tolerated on any football pitch, and in particular not at a FIFA World Cup when the eyes of millions of people are on the stars on the field," Claudio Sulser, chairman of the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, said in a statement.

World Cup 2014: Brazil v Croatia referee scandalous - Dejan Lovren

Brazil vs Croatia

The referee who awarded Brazil a controversial penalty should not be officiating at the World Cup, says Croatia defender Dejan Lovren.
The hosts won 3-1, but, with 20 minutes left and the score 1-1, Japan's Yuichi Nishimura ruled that Lovren had pulled down striker Fred.
Neymar scored from the spot before Oscar added a late third.
“If that's a penalty, we don't need to play football anymore... let's play basketball instead”
Croatia coach Niko Kovac.

Uzoenyi Lands In Brazil

Ejike Uzoenyi, Super Eagles winger

Ejike Uzoenyi, the Rangers International winger who was named by Super Eagles head coach Stephen Keshi as replacement for injured left back, Elderson Echiejile arrived Brazil yesterday around 4pm Brazil time.

As reported by Complete Sports yesterday,the player flew out of Murtala Mohammed International airport in Lagos aboard a South African Airways flight and arrived at the Oliver Thambo international airport in Johannesburg on Wednesday morning where he connected a flight to Sao Paulo.

Uzoenyi’s Brazil trip had become a major news report in Nigeria with some quoting Rangers officials that they will not release the player for the World Cup because there was no correspondent between the club and the Nigeria Football Federation. Meanwhile Eagles administrator cum secretary,Dayo Enebi Achor revealed all logistics to reintegrate Uzoenyi into the team quickly have been made.

“I guess when he arrives and start training Nigerians will finally come to the reality that we will miss Echejile in this World Cup”.

Source: Complete Sport

I didn’t insist on Echejile –Keshi

Elderson Echejile

Super Eagles coach Stephen Keshi has denied he insisted on keeping injured Elderson Echiejile in camp against medical advice.

Keshi says although he is not happy that Echiejile, who is a very key member of the squad, will miss the World Cup, he will not put the player’s career at risk.

“We have spoken to the medical team and the NFF and we have agreed, so I was a bit shocked when I got a call from some of my friends back home that I insisted on keeping an injured player. It’s a fallacy because I never spoke to anyone about Echiejile,” the former Nigeria captain was quoted by the team’s Media Officer Ben Alaiya as saying on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Enugu Rangers forward Ejike Uzoenyi, who was invited by Keshi to replace Echiejile, was scheduled to arrive in Brazil to join the team on Wednesday.

Ejike Uzoenyi

Source: The Punch

World Cup begins

Super Eagles arrive in Brazil

Despite widespread protests and violence the 20th edition of the FIFA World Cup begins in Brazil on Thursday with the hosts taking on Croatia in the opening match in Sao Paulo.

It is the second time Brazil will be hosting the competition, the previous being in 1950, when they endured a heartbreaking defeat to Uruguay in the final.

After winning last year’s FIFA Confederations Cup, the hosts, who have won the World Cup five times, are the major favourites to reclaim the trophy won by Spain four years ago in South Africa. However, perennial contenders Germany, Italy and Argentina will be waiting to spoil the party for the Brazilians.

Brazil are hoping to become the first nation to win the World Cup on home soil since France did it in 1998.

World Cup history

In 1930, FIFA held the first World Cup tournament in Montevideo, Uruguay with the hosts emerging winners of the inaugural tournament.

Nigeria Super Eagles Odemwingie & Emenike

After another two events in 1934 (Italy) and 1938 (France), there was a 12-year break due to the World War, before recommencing in 1950 in Brazil. Since then, the World Cup has been held every four with Brazil, the most successful team, the only country to have competed in every finals series.

African representatives

African champions Nigeria, who are in Group F alongside two-time champions Argentina, Iran and debutants Bosnia, lead four other countries namely Cameroon, Ghana, Ivory Coast and Algeria as the continent’s representatives at this edition of the Mundial.

Nigeria will open their tournament campaign against Iran on Monday.

Super Eagles coach, Stephen Keshi, has kept faith with the majority of the players that won the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, bringing in the experienced striker Osaze Odemwingie and Joseph Yobo, who returns as team captain.

Nigeria Super Eagles Emenike & Yobo

Youngsters Uche Nwofor and Ramon Azeez have also been brought in as Keshi aims to blend experience and youth in the squad while best player at January’s African Nations Championship, Ejike Uzoenyi, was a late replacement for injured Monaco left-back, Elderson Echiejie.

Cameroon are making a record seventh appearance while captain Samuel Eto’o will be making his fifth appearance at the finals.

Group A

Brazil, who were eliminated in the quarter-finals of the last two tournaments, have won 15 of their last 16 matches, but a below par outing against Serbia in their last preparatory game before the World Cup, has raised questions about the ability of Felipe Scolari’s squad to deliver when the chips are down.
Barcelona 22-year-old forward Neymar has the huge burden of leading the squad to a sixth triumph on home soil. He would be complemented by other youthful players Oscar, Willian, while captain Thiago Silva will lead from behind.

Peter Odemwingie & his teammates

Croatia, led by Real Madrid playmaker Luka Modric, will hope to pull off a monumental upset today but coach Niko Kovac’s side won’t be at full strength against the hosts.

Forward Mario Mandzukic, who was red-carded in the team’s final qualifier, will miss the crucial opener while the experienced Niko Kranjcar was dropped from the squad because of a late hamstring injury.

The other teams in the group Cameroon and Mexico will take to the field in Friday’s only game but while the hosts are huge favourites, it would be difficult to pick who joins them in the next round of the competition.

Group B

Defending champions Spain will play Holland in a replay of the 2010 final. Both sides are favoured to advance ahead of Chile and Australia.

Group C
Colombia and Greece will open hostilities in Group C on Saturday before Ivory Coast and Japan take to the field next day. This is probably the last chance for the underperforming golden generation of Ivory Coast footballers like Didier Drogba, Emmanuel Eboue, the Toure brothers Kolo and Yaya, and others to create a positive impact on the international scene

Group D

This is a very tough group with all the four teams standing a chance of moving ahead to the Round of 16. The group promises to be explosive as three-time champions Italy, two-time champions Uruguay, 1966 champions England and Costa Rica all jostle for a knockout ticket.

Group E

Peter Odemwingie & his teammates

France are overwhelming favourites here but Switzerland and Ecuador are two teams that can test the might of Les Bleus. Honduras are the outsiders.

Group F

Once again the Super Eagles are drawn against Argentina. Both teams have met thrice in the competition (1994, 2002 and 2010) and the South Americans triumphed on all occasions. Nigeria begin their campaign on Monday against Iran while Bosnia Herzegovina engage the Argentines in the other group game.

Group G

Tagged the Group of Death, analysts pick Germany and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal as the two teams who will advance to the next stage of the competition while Ghana and USA, despite their fighting spirits, will battle for the scraps.

Group H

Belgium are the hottest team going into the World Cup. The group, which also parades South Korea, Russia and Algeria, looks relatively soft, with Russia as the main competition for the Belgians but South Korea could be the banana skin in this group though.
Past winners
 Year        Winners
1930          Uruguay
1934          Italy
1938          Italy
1950          Uruguay
1954          W’Germany
1958          Brazil
1962          Brazil
1966          England
1970          Brazil
1974          W’ Germany
1978          Argentina
1982          Italy
1986          Argentina
1990          W’ Germany
1994          Brazil
1998          France
2002         Brazil
2006         Italy
2010          Spain
2014          ???

Nigeria Super Eagles arrive in Brazil

Nigeria Super Eagles

Source: The Punch

Eagles set for Greek test

THANK YOU ALL . . . Super Eagles’ striker Peter Odemwingie
(2ndL) thanks the fans after their international friendly match
against Scotland at Craven Cottage in London ahead of the
FIFA World Cup . Photo: AFP

Nigeria’s preparation for the Brazil 2014 Fifa World Cup will step up a notch when the Super Eagles take on the Greek national team in an international friendly in Pennsylvania, United States at the PPL Park, Chester 12 am tonight.
Coach Stephen Keshi has pruned down his 30-man squad to the final 23 that will wear Nigeria’s colours at the prestigious tournament.

It is expected that Keshi will use this game to test the core of his squad after reliables like John Obi Mikel, Vincent Enyeama and Kenneth Omeruo were left out of the 2-2 with Scotland at Craven Cottage last week.
Like the proverbial shepherd tending his flock, Keshi will look to lead his charges into the game to see how far the team have come and what he needs to do in time for Nigeria’s opening Group F fixture against Iran on June 16.

Brazil 2014: Nigeria Picks Yobo, Osaze, 21 Others; Drops Nsofor, Mba-PREMIUM TIMES

Joseph Yobo
Super Eagles Captain

Nigeria’s captain, Joseph Yobo, will play in his third FIFA World Cup finals and has the opportunity to become Nigeria’s first ever player to have 100 international caps after he was named in the African champions’ final list of 23 for Brazil 2014.

Also going to their third World Cup are goalkeepers Vincent Enyeama and Austin Ejide.

Midfield anchorman, John Mikel Obi, will only be attending his first finals after Nigeria narrowly missed qualifying for Germany 2006 and he was omitted from South Africa 2010 due to injury.

Former junior international defender, Elderson Echiejile, and Olympic silver medalist, Osaze Odemwingie, who were also in South Africa four years ago, make the cut for the biggest showpiece in football, which starts on June 12.

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations top scorer, Emmanuel Emenike, is joined in the attack by England-based duo of Victor Moses and Shola Ameobi, as well as former junior international, Uche Nwofor. But there is no place for Olympic silver medalist, Obinna Nsofor, and nimble–footed Nnamdi Oduamadi.

Home based goalkeeper, Daniel Akpeyi; ex-Inter Milan midfielder, Joel Obi; South Africa 2013 hero, Sunday Mba; former U-23 star, Nosa Igiebor; and 2014 CHAN most valuable player, Ejike Uzoenyi; also miss out on the trip to South America.

NIGERIA’S FINAL 23 FOR BRAZIL 2014

GOALKEEPERS: Vincent Enyeama, Austin Ejide, Chigozie Agbim

DEFENDERS: Joseph Yobo, Elderson Echiejile, Juwon Oshaniwa, Godfrey Oboabona, Azubuike Egwuekwe, Kenneth Omeruo, Efe Ambrose, Kunle Odunlami

MIDFIELDERS: John Mikel Obi, Ogenyi Onazi, Ramon Azeez, Michael Uchebo, Reuben Gabriel

FORWARDS: Osaze Odemwingie, Ahmed Musa, Shola Ameobi, Emmanuel Emenike, Babatunde Michael, Victor Moses, Uche Nwofor

Manchester City: Yaya Toure 'angered by birthday efforts'

Yaya Toure's agent has criticised Manchester City's attempts to mark the midfielder's birthday with a tweet, describing their efforts as "a joke".
City gave Toure a birthday cake as they flew to Abu Dhabi and tweeted their congratulations after he turned 31.
“If they don't respect him then easy - Yaya will leave”
Dimitri Seluk Toure's agent
But Dimitri Seluk says Toure is "very upset" the club's owners failed to acknowledge him personally and says he may leave over their lack of respect.
"None of them shook his hand on his birthday. It's really sick," he said.
City declined to comment officially but BBC Sport understands club officials are not too alarmed by Seluk's claims.

Manchester United: Can Louis van Gaal be the club's saviour?

Netherlands coach Louis van Gaal has been appointed as the new Manchester United manager following the sacking of David Moyes in April.
The 62-year-old was keen to return to club football after the 2014 World Cup and will take up his post then as he attempts to get the Red Devils back challenging for major honours after a woeful season.
The Dutchman was poised to take over from Sir Alex Ferguson in 2002,  but does he have the credentials to fill one of the hottest seats in football?

Tim Sherwood sacked as Tottenham manager

Tottenham have parted company with manager Tim Sherwood after the club finished sixth in the Premier League.
Sherwood, 45, took over from Andre Villas-Boas in December and signed a deal to the end of the 2014-15 season.

"We agreed an 18-month contract with a break clause at the end of the season and we have now exercised that option," said Spurs chairman Daniel Levy.

Man City won Premier League Title

Manchester City secured their second Premier League title in three seasons after goals from Samir Nasri and captain Vincent Kompany saw them stroll to victory over West Ham.
Manuel Pellegrini's side knew a point would confirm they had regained the crown - but goals either side of the interval from Nasri and Kompany ensured the formalities were completed with barely an anxious moment in front an ecstatic packed house at Etihad Stadium.Liverpool's home defeat to Chelsea and the late collapse at Crystal Palace opened the door for City and they took advantage ruthlessly by winning their last five games.

Glo Premier League: Civil Defence presence excites Fans, Officials

THE League Management Company’s (LMC) pact with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) got off to a good start in Umuahia where Abia Warriors hosted Kaduna United in one of the opening games of the 2013/14 Glo Premier League season.

  The ‘Red side of Abia,’ as Abia Warriors are now known, won 2-0 with goals from Uluocha Chima and Bishop Onyeudo. And fans, club officials, players and football administrators in separate comments commended the added security measures introduced by the LMC in conjunction with the NSCDC.

  Abia Warriors were having their initiation game in the Glo Premier League, but left no one in doubt of their intentions to retain a place in top flight league with the recruitment of seasoned campaigners such as Ogbonna Okemiri, Wasiu Sowemimo, Emmanuel Fabiyi, Chidozie Johnson and Onyekachi Okoye, amongst others.

PRESIDENT JONATHAN'S SPEECH AT GOLDEN EAGLETS RECEPTION

Remarks by

His Excellency, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR

On the

Occasion of the Reception for the Victorious Golden Eaglets of Nigeria

State House, Presidential Villa Abuja

Sunday 10th November, 2013

PROTOCOLS 1.         I am very pleased to host this special reception, in honour of our victorious Golden Eaglets, who by their outstanding performance and victory at the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates, have brought great pride and honour to our country and our continent.

Nigeria’s Falconets struggle into World Cup semi

Nigeria’s Under 20 Female team, the Falconets, have qualified for the semi-final of the FIFA world cup taking place in Japan.
They defeated Mexico 1-0 in the quarter final of Japan 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup and progressed to the semi final stage of the competition.
The Edwin Okon-tutored side scored the only goal of the pulsating match in the 109th minute through Desire Oparanozie, who nodded the back breaking winner beyond goalkeeper Cecilia Santiago.

Man United agree Van Persie deal

Manchester United have confirmed they have agreed a deal to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal.

The announcement comes after an intense period of negotiations and is subject to Dutch striker Van Persie passing a medical test and agreeing personal terms.

“Manchester United is pleased to announce it has reached agreement with Arsenal Football Club for the transfer of Robin Van Persie,” said a club statement.

“The deal is subject to a medical and the agreement of personal terms. A further announcement will be made in due course.”

It is not anticipated there will be any problems with either remaining part of the deal.