Balotelli poses with new babe, Fanny Roberts

 

AC Milan and Italy striker Mario Balotelli has posed for the first time with new girlfriend Fanny Robert Neguesha for a photo shoot in the latest edition of Italy's Vanity Fair magazine.

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Zenith Womens' basketball League

Results of the day three of the 9th Zenith Bank National
Women's Basketball league.

Game 9.) Delta Force (Asaba)        47  Nig. Immigrations (Abuja)  29
Game 10.) Nig. Customs (Lagos)      39  AHIP Queens (Kano)          23
Game 11.) Benue Princess (Makurdi)  41  IGP Queens (Lagos)          36
Game 12.) Sunshine Angels (Akure)  64  GT-2000 (Kaduna)            36
Game 13.) Plateau Rock (Jos)        50  Oluyole Babes (Oyo)        42
Game 14.) 1st Deepwater(Lagos)      94  Taraba Hurricanes (Jalingo) 10
Game 15.) Dolphins(Lagos)          63  1st Bank(Lagos)            83
Game 16.) FCT Angels(Abuja)        70  Coal City Queens(Enugu)    19
game 25.) 1st Deepwater(Lagos)  107    Coal City Queens(Enugu)  28
Game 26.) Delta Force(Asaba)    44      Plateau Rocks          50
Game 27.) GT-2000 (Kaduna)      43        Nig .Customs        37

Sunday Mba : NFF orders Wolves, Rangers to agree on transfer fee by Thursday

The Nigeria Football Federation has ordered Nigeria Premier League
clubs, Warri Wolves and Enugu Rangers to agree on a transfer fee for
Super Eagles’ attacking midfielder Sunday Mba before the close of work
on Thursday, 28th March, 2013.

Tiger Woods, Elin Nordegren’s New Billionaire Boyfriend

Elin Nordegren has a new man in her life.

The former Mrs. Tiger Woods, 33, is reportedly dating billionaire coal magnate Chris Cline, a neighbor in her upscale North Palm Beach, Florida, community called Seminole Landing.
"Elin was introduced to Chris by a local friend because they seem to have a lot in common," a source told People, noting that they've been dating casually and non-exclusively since the holidays. "They both have children, like to keep their personal lives quiet, believe in philanthropy, and enjoy leisure outdoor activity."
Just who is this guy? Here are five facts about Cline:

23 Eagles Battle For Shirts Against Harambee Stars

…As Ajah Replaces Injured Zango

All 23 invited home based professionals save for injured Kano Pillars central defender, Zango Umar opened training Tuesday morning at the Practice Pitch of the Abuja National Stadium in preparation for the March 23 World Cup qualifier against Harambee Stars of Kenya.

Before training commenced, Head Coach Stephen Keshi, told the players to forget about the triumph of the team at the Nations Cup and concentrate on picking a ticket for the World Cup, coming up next year in Brazil. To the new players he said if they show enough readiness to break into the team they will be given the chance.

The training itself was intense, Spartan and very physical, with emphasis on quick and simple play. It lasted for about two hours with all the five coaches of the team playing their assigned roles.

Meanwhile, the coaching crew have decided to replace injured Umar with First Bank of Lagos central defender, Festus Ajah. Ajah is said to have impressed national team scouts in some of his club’s games and now has an opportunity to make an impression at the national team level. He was expected in camp by Tuesday evening on time for Wednesday’s morning training session.

NFF announces Super Eagles, Mexico clash

African champions Nigeria will clash with the champions of North and
Central America, Mexico in a high-profile international friendly match
in Houston, Texas, United States of America on May 31.

“The Nigeria Football Federation and its Match Agent, Eurodata Sport
Marketing Sportivo e Culturale, are pleased to announce that the Super
Eagles will play against Mexico’s Senior Team in a friendly match at
the Reliant Stadium, Houston, Texas on Friday, May 31, starting from
9pm Texas time,” NFF General Secretary, Barrister Musa Amadu said on
Wednesday.

West Brom boss Steve Clarke has asked the home fans to welcome Osaze Odemwingie back if he is included against Swansea on Saturday.

Odemwingie was booed when he appeared as a late substitute against visiting Sunderland a fortnight ago.
 

It was his first appearance since his Twitter rants against the club in January after a transfer request was rejected and hopes of a move to QPR were dashed.

Obuh picks Ajagun, 20 others to defend AYC trophy

Nigeria has picked a final list of 21 players to fly the country’s
flag at the 2013 African Youth Championship holding in Algeria between
16th – 30th March, 2013. The Flying Eagles are the defending
champions.


On Wednesday, Head Coach Sam John Obuh, who also led the team to
triumph in South Africa two years ago, picked three goalkeepers, seven
defenders, six midfielders and five strikers as the team intensified
its final preparations in Tunis.

Oyo State sport commisioner charge Shooting Stars

Dapo Lam Adesina, the sport commissioner of Oyo State has charged the team to do well ahead the 2012/2013 football league season that will start tomorrow.

In his words to the team Mr Dapo said "You promised to win the league and make a continental ticket last season, but you failed to accomplish it despite our motivation for you,” Dapo Lam told the players.

Mr Dapo holding the ball, pictured with the State Governor

AHEAD 2013 CAF U-I7 CHAMPIONSHIP

Four-midable Matthew Eyes Cup Glory

Four-goal hero in the 12-0 aggregate win over the Diamond Zebras in two international friendlies in Calabar, Ifeanyi Matthew, has vowed to score the goals to fire the Golden Eaglets to win the CAF Under-17 trophy in Morocco.

 Nigeria last won the continental cadet competition in 2007 en route to global acclaim at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Korea but Matthew is bullish about the prospect of the current set, adding that he and his colleagues are equally determined to write their names in gold.

 

 “I’m so happy that I was able to score four goals in the two matches against Botswana,” stated Matthew, the junior brother of erstwhile Abuja Road Safety’s player, Chukwuma Matthew and a great admirer of Barcelona’s star midfielder, Xavi. “All the four goals were very good and importantly, it helped us achieved our goal of winning the matches against Botswana.

CAS rejects the appeal of M. Jacques Anouma for the CAF Presidency

The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has dismissed the appeal filed by Jacques Anouma against the African Football Confederation (CAF) regarding his candidacy for the CAF presidency. The Ivorian Football Federation (FIF) had proposed the candidature of Mr Anouma for the presidential election of 10 March 2013, a nomination which was declared inadmissible by the CAF Executive Committee.


The CAS has confirmed that the CAF Executive Committee had jurisdiction to refuse the candidature of Jacques Anouma, that the CAF Statutes adopted in September 2012 were applicable in assessing the validity of the candidates in the presidential election and that Jacques Anouma did not meet these criteria because he had never been a member the CAF Executive Committee.

Nigeria: Soccerex commends sport Minister on award

The world’s leading sports consulting and management firm, Soccerex has congratulated the Honourable Minister of Sports and Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi on being conferred with the African Sports Minister of the Year Award.

In a letter to the Honourable Minister, Daniel Krebs, a director at Soccerex stated that the body was pleased to learn of the award to the minister. “The Soccerex team would like to congratulate you for this achievement,” he stated.Krebs further stated that "we from Soccerex would like to sincerely thank you again for the support you have shown us and thank you for all your work in developing sports in Nigeria."The Honourable Minister was honoured recently by the Institute of Leadership and Management in Nairobi, Kenya as the African Sports Minister of the Year. The body said it honored the minister because of the on-going reforms in the sports sector and his effort to build an enduring governance system in the sector.

The award to the Minister has enunciated praises from several sport stakeholders.

Aminu Maigari, the President of the Nigeria Football Federation said, “the Honourable Minister greatly deserves the award and we at the NFF are happy to congratulate him.

“We are very happy for him.

He is a dynamic person with positive intentions for Nigeria sports and we pray that God will continue be with him and guide him.”

Maigari further added that,

“awards reward excellence and this one has come at the right time for a man in love with hard work and always committed to achieving excellence.”

FOOTBALL MEET NOLLYWOOD IN NIGERIA

The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke is
top of the list of personalities to be honoured at the first-ever
Night of Stars, preceeding the inaugural Nigeria Pitch Awards, which
hold at the Conference Hall of Tinapa Lakeside Hotel and Resort,
Calabar on Saturday, March 23.

Nigeria Football, NFF holds Match Commissioners’ seminar

NFF holds Match Commissioners’ seminar

The annual, all-inclusive seminar for all qualified and aspiring Match
Commissioners in Nigeria will hold on Wednesday at the Federal Capital
Territory, Abuja.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Alhaji Aminu Maigari
will declare the event open at the Conference Hall of the National
Institute for Sports, inside the National Stadium Complex.

A list of not more than 20 prospective Match Commissioners has been
received from each of the 36 States of the Federation and the FCT. The
lists are inclusive of CAF Match Commissioners from each of the
States.

Registration for the seminar will hold at the same venue between 8am
and 10am on Wednesday, before the opening ceremony, at which NFF
President Aminu Maigari will charge the Match Commissioners to be
alive to their responsibilities and to always be aware of the
sensitivity of their duties.

CAF General Coordinator, Etubom Paul Bassey and Dr. Abu Mallam of the
University of Abuja are the two resource persons for the day.

Mba, Oboabona, 22 Others Listed For Harambee Stars War

....Ajiboye In, Foreign List Out Thursday

Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, has unveiled a list of 24 home based professional players who will be joined later by their foreign based counterparts for the all-important World Cup qualifier against the Harambee Stars of Kenya, scheduled for March 23 in Calabar, Cross River State.

Team’s Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes Scribe of the team, Dayo Enebi Achor, as saying that the full list of foreign based professionals will be unveiled on Thuirsday morning by the team’s technical crew, as Keshi has mapped out plans to ensure that only fit and ready players will be invited for the clash against Harambee Stars of Kenya.

On the 24-man list is Eagles home-based skipper, Chigozie Agbim, Sunday Mba, who was one of the heroes of Nigeria’s 2013 Afcon win, Godfrey Oboabona, the Sunshine Stars skipper, who featured in all games of the tournament in South Africa, Gabriel Reuben, Papa Idris and goalkeeper Daniel Akpeyi all make a return to the team.

But the surprise package in the team is Shooting Stars of Ibadan goaltender, Dele Ajiboye, who started with the U-17 and has been with the Flying Eagles, U23s and now the Super Eagles. A young and agile goalie, Ajiboye, is expected to bring his wealth of experience through the ranks to bear in the battle for gloves for the national team.

The team will as usual encamp at Bolton White Apartment, Zone 7 in Abuja from Sunday, March 10, from where they will be joined by foreign based players next week for the trip to Calabar, venue of the encounter. Below is the full list of invited players for the game against Kenya in Calabar.

Goalkeepers: 1. AGBIM Chigozie (Rangers)., 2 AKPEYI Daniel (Heartland), 3.  AJIBOYE Dele (3SC)

Defenders 4.  Egwueke Azubuike (Warri Wolves), 5. Papa Idris (Kano Pillars), 6 .Zango Umar (Kano Pillars) 7. Oboabona Godfrey (Sunshine Stars) 8. Kwambe Solomon (Sunshine Stars) 9. Chibuzo Okonkwo (Rangers) 10. Ezekiel bassey (Lobi Stars) 11. Benjamin Francis (Heartland) 12. Zubaru Muhammed (Tornadoes).

Midfielders and Forwards: 13. Mba Sunday (Nigeria) 14. Gabriel Ruben (Kano Pillars) 15. Gambo Muhammed (Kano Pillars) 16. Ubale Mannir (Kano Pillars) 17. Pius Samson (Ranchers Bees) 18. Ohanduku Gomo (Sharks) 19. Obinna Nwanchukwu (Heartland) 20. Saka Ayo (Enyimba) 21. Jiya Muhammed (Bayelsa Fc) 22. Emeka Ezeh (Rangers) 23. Anthony Okputu (Lobi Stars) 24. Adepoju Taofeek (3SC)