Fabrice Muamba says he fled the DR Congo to England for fearful retribution

He fled the Democratic Republic of Congo, fearful of retribution during the bloody civil war as his father was allied to President Mobutu.

He arrived in a snowstorm at Heathrow, a political refugee soon enrolled at a school in north-east London. He was 11 and couldn’t speak a word of English.

But Muamba could play football and on Sunday his journey takes him into a European Under-21 match against the talented youth of Spain at Herning, here in Denmark.

KESHI MAY NOT GET NEW CONTRACT

Coach Stephen Keshi is not likely to be given a new contract by the newly elected NFF executive committee, AfricanFootball.com has scooped.


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A majority of the new NFF leadership does not believe in the coach and even though he will supervise the two AFCON qualifiers against Sudan later this month, he will not be offered a new deal.

EMENIKE FIRES BACK AT KESHI - YOU CAN DROP ME

Fenerbahce star Emmanuel Emenike has told AfricanFootball.com he is prepared to stay out of the Super Eagles if coach Stephen Keshi believed he is the problem of the team.



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Keshi has been quoted as saying he is unhappy with the AFCON 2013 top scorer, who he sensationally benched in last month’s AFCON qualifier against Congo in Calabar.

Manchester United to play International friendlies

Not involved in European competition and knocked out of the League Cup, Manchester United are considering playing midweek friendlies abroad to help manager Louis van Gaal prepare for Premier League matches.

Van Gaal has used an astonishing 29 different players in the club's opening six league games of the season but a potential lack of competitive matches to keep a large squad match fit is causing concern.

Bacary Sagna pictured with his wife, Ludivine at the beach

Ludivine Sagna looked as gorgeous as ever today, posting this picture on social media website Instagram. The ex-Arsenal WAG is now adapting to life in Manchester, with her husband and City player Bacary Sagna.

Images after the cut

Does Aminu Maigari deserve National award?

Opinion by Romanus Chukwunonso


PHOTOCREDIT


It did not come to many as surprise when the list of the nominees for National Honours award was released two weeks ago with the erstwhile President of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), Alhaji Aminu Maigari, conspicuously missing.


For some, it would have been more surprising if he had made the list considering the reprehensible roles he played in the whole saga surrounding the crisis engulfing Nigerian football. Yet, for others, there was no gainsaying that he actually merited the award.

Nigerians in the 2014 Champions League

In this feature, goal.com profiledthe four Nigerian players contesting the Champions League this season

EDITORIAL
By Ed Dove

The Champions League returns tonight with the beginning of the first series of group-stage games. Both fans of the teams involved and neutral observers alike are excited at the prospect of another terrific season of elite European competition.

Hopefully this year’s tournament can cumulate with a final as dramatic as last season’s showpiece between Madrid rivals Real and Athletic.

But will there be a Nigerian player involved?

Godfrey Oboabona pictured with wife and daughter

Godfrey Oboabona, a Super Eagles and Rizespor Defender added a year today.

All intending girls should keep off, this one has been taken!


Picture after the cut

Serena Williams Is America’s Greatest Athlete

Serena Williams’s victory over Caroline Wozniacki puts her in rarefied company in the history of women’s tennis. It was her eighteenth Grand Slam singles title

This week, as the sports world repays our slavish attention with more lousy, grotesque news, it’s worth noting that, on Sunday, the greatest American athlete in a generation won the U.S. Open, again, for the sixth time and the third year in a row.

NFF/FIFA Security officer retires

Nigeria’s FIFA Security Officer retires from Police Force

The Nigeria Football Federation has praised the energy and uncommon commitment of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Elder Gideon Akinsola for his duties around and away from the Nigeria Police Force, as the renowned officer marked his retirement from the Force with a thanksgiving service in Lagos on Sunday.

Nigerian Football: NFF to hold 2014 Extra-Ordinary Congress in Warri

After a two-month long seemingly unending crisis in the Nigerian Football Family, there seem to be peace at the valley as Chris Giwa step aside and the NFF arranged a congress which will determine a new date for an election.

Aderonke Ogunleye denies romance with Tunde Aderibigbe of the NFF

A respected and award winning investigative Nigerian sports writer, Aderonke Ogunleye has denied cooked-up reports from a blog allnigeriasoccer.com popular for maligning and blackmailing footballers and top sport writers.

Keshi picks Yobo, Enyeama, Mikel, 20 others for World Cup

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

World Cup 2014: NFF perfects Eagles’ Brazil 2014 run-in

The Nigeria Football Federation has perfected all arrangements that have to do with the Super Eagles’ run-in to the 20th FIFA World Cup finals, according to Nigeria football spokesman Ademola Olajire.

World Cup 2014:'Nigeria will shock the world' Ladipo

Chairman of the Nigerian supporters club, Rafiu Ladipo in an interview with SPORTDIVA.NETon Tuesday in Abuja has revealed that a total number of 800 supporters will support the Super Eagles in Brazil.

AFRICA YOUTH GAMES 2014: TEAM NIGERIA WINS FIVE GOLD MEDALS

Team Nigeria has recorded five gold medals at the ongoing African Youth Games (AYG) in Gaborone, Botswana.

The latest gold medals came in courtesy of Esther Etim in the Girls 52kg category Judo event and Ogini Olasunkanmi in the Boys Singles Quarter-finals Table Tennis event.

Ancelotti backs Inzaghi as AC Milan coach

Real Madrid's Champions League winning coach, Carlo Ancelotti, has backed former player Filippo Inzaghi as the ideal candidate to take over as manager of AC Milan.

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid face Uefa charges

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid are facing disciplinary action over their behaviour during the Champions League final in Lisbon, Uefa said on Tuesday.

World Cup 2014: Maigari demands winning mentality from Eagles

President Jonathan makes Brazil plan

Nigeria leader, President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR will travel to the FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil once the Super Eagles earn a place in the last eight.

Super Eagles beg Dangote and Tony Elumelu to redeem $1milion and $500000 pledge respectively

African champions Nigeria have urged business magnate Aliko Dangote to redeem the $1million he promised them for winning the Africa Cup of Nations last year.

“We understand the busy schedule of Alhaji Dangote, we are just reminding him and his aides to help remind him,” skipper Vincent Enyeama said on the team’s behalf.

Also yet to redeem his pledge to the team is Tony Elumelu, who promised the team $500,000, after their AFCON 2013 conquest.

“It’s just a reminder to patriots who are very busy and may not have been prompted after they made their pledges, because the players are determined to bring more honours to fatherland at the forthcoming World Cup,” the Lille goalkeeper added.

Enyeama was full of praise for Cross River State government, particularly Governor Liyel Imoke, for redeeming his promise to give members of the victorious Super Eagles team at the last Nations Cup in South Africa, one plot of land each in the state capital, Calabar.

Last week, NFF president Aminu Maigari, delivered the land papers fresh from Government House in Calabar, to team administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor, who has since commenced their distribution to all the players and officials.

“We want to thank Governor Imoke and the good people of Cross River state for redeeming his pledge to us as a team, we promise that we will not disappoint him anytime we return to Calabar to play any game,”Enyeama said.

The plots of land are in the choice area of Calabar and State Sports Commissioner Patrick Ugbe has assured that most of the players and officials have already said they will build in the city and live in their properties

The Cross River state capital is generally regarded as one of the cleanest cities in Africa and Nigeria’s number one tourism destination.





Mtnfootball.com

Nigerian Premier League: Fans, Officials welcome presence of Civil Defense

The League Management Company's (LMC) pact with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense 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 amonst others.
 
"The presence of the Civil Defense Corps is a good development", remarked Hon. Emeka Nwosu, a former Political desk Editor at the defunct Daily Times newspaper. "We have always been worried about the security at match venues but with the presence of these chaps, I will keep coming to cheer Abia Warriors", he added

Garba Lawal, the General Manager of the visiting Kaduna United described the presence of the Civil Defense Corps members as "very reassuring because we simply had to focus on the game and not worry about our safety"

Abia Warriors center back, Wasiu Sowemimo also commended the enhanced security situation at the stadium, saying, "everyone is at risk when security us not adequate because as a home team, you may be attacked by the home fan when you disappoint them. But seeing these officers is very good even though we didn't wish to disappoint the fans and thank God we also won well in our first game".

Vice Chairman of  the Imo State Football Association, Sir Emmanuel Ochiagha who was in Umuahia to see the game promised to personally liaise with the officers at the Imo State command to ensure that the partnership continued. "We are all too happy to work with the LMC to improve security at games and make it convenient for fans to turn out and in the process raise the FA share of the gate takings".

Towards ensuring safety at Glo Premier League venues, the League Management Company (LMC) had made overtures to the command headquarters of NSCDC to compliment the efforts of the Nigeria Police as Security Stewards.

This move was easily embraced by the Commandant of NSCDC, Dr. Ade Abolurin who received a delegation of the LMC led by the Chief Operating Officer, Salihu Abubakar, and promised to deploy his officers to venues of the Match Day One games as a test run operation.
 
Abolurin had told the delegation, "We are very happy to support the LMC and our clubs to provide security for Match officials, players and more importantly, fans, declared Abolurin and added, “I have followed the league keenly and believe that the civil defense will be part of the innovations the LMC is bringing to the game".

No more surgery for Leon Balogun

No Surgery For Injured Leon Balogun

…Player Excited At Medics Verdict

Fortuna Dusseldorf and new Super Eagles right back, Leon Balogun, will afterall not undergo surgery on his injured right foot, German medics ruled at the weekend.

An excited Balogun said from his German base on Sunday that when he went for a second check on his injury he was told by doctors that the injury he sustained in the friendly against Mexico last Wednesday in Atlanta, Georgia, United States is not as serious as previously envisaged hence there will be no need for surgery.

“They told me that the two bones broken are in the base of my foot, which will heal on their own and will not require me to undergo any surgical operation. I was also told that within six weeks I should be in good condition and another two or four weeks for rehabilitation. Overall I should be back kicking the ball by the time the national team returns to camp”, he declared.

Already, treatment for the 25 year defence ace has already began in German and the Nigerian medics are also keeping a close tab on his treatment. “Yes, I have been in touch with Dr Ibrahim Gyaran, team administrator, Dayo Enebi Achor and I must say I am totally overwhelmed by the show of love by Nigerians and fans across the world. I remain committed to overcome this initial setback and return quickly for the World Cup preparations”, he said.

He said he will keep fit while recuperating by visiting the gym regularly. “I just hope I don’t look to muscular when I resume training, but I will keep fit while I try to get myself ready for future challenges”, he said laughing.

Flying Eagles: 12 uninvited players progress in screening

Flying Eagles coach Manu Garba has picked 12 uninvited players for his next phase of training camp, while retaining 17 of the 35 players he called up.

How Belgium Pressured Me To Dump Eagles- Ezekiel Imoh

Newly capped Super Eagles and Standard Liege of Belgium striker, Ezekiel Imoh, has revealed that but for his father he would have been playing for Belgium instead of Nigeria at the international level.

Eagles Get Conduct Code Booklet

The Nigeria Football Federation is taken nothing to chance as it seeks a decent performance at this year’s World Cup in Brazil and better conduct by players and officials of all national team in the future.

Webb, FIFA VP, backs Eagles to fly high in Brazil

President of the Confederation of Central American and Caribbeans Football Associations (CONCACAF), Mr Jeffrey Webb, on Wednesday expressed belief that the Super Eagles of Nigeria will dazzle theworld at the 20th FIFA World Cup finals in Brazil this summer.

Loud in Atlanta as Nigeria played Mexico in a Pre-world cup friendly

Loud In Atlanta!

From Nigeria, Europe and from all over the United States of America,
they came. Football administrators of note, members of the National
Assembly, diplomats in high offices, former Nigerian international
players, football agents and managers, coaches, authors and fans.

Nigerian League: LMC Approves 18 Clubs, Drops Nembe City, Giwa FC

The League Management Company (LMC) has certified 18 Clubs as fit to participate in the 2013/14 Glo Premier League while all the fixtures involving Giwa FC and Nembe City FC have been dropped from the schedule as both teams failed to substantially comply with the minimum registration requirements.

Aderonke Ogunleye a dogged Award winning Investigative Journalist

Aderonke Ogunleye is a Nigerian based Sports journalist with biased in using Sports for development. On the 9th of December Precisely in the year 2013 somewhere in Lagos state, she was honoured by the Wole Soyinka centre for investigative journalism (Sports category); Her story on how the sports ministry cheated paramypians won her the award amongst other submissions. the award winning story