Out-of-contract Nigeria manager, Stephen Keshi, is now one step away from clinching the head coach job of Burkina Faso, supersport.com can report. . Keshi has been shortlisted among the final three for the coaching job of the Stallions. . The Burkina Faso Football Federation (FBF), on Tuesday, released a three-man shortlist that also include Serbian Milovan Rajevac and German coach, Gernot Rohr. . “The Burkinabe Football Federation has just taken the first step in selecting a national coach, producing the shortlist that includes the names of the top three contenders for the post,” the FBF announced. . Keshi and the…
Author: David F.
Super Falcons head coach, Edwin Okon has said top grade warm-up matches are quite key to the side successful campaign at upcoming Fifa Women’s World Cup in Canada. . The African champions are expected to open camp on Sunday, February 22 in Abuja to commence preparations for the All Africa Games (AAG), Olympic Games qualifiers as well as World Cup campaign in June. . Falcons are pitched in Group D at the World Cup together with former champions, USA, Sweden and Australia. . Okon said he discovered that the All Africa Games and Olympic qualifying matches against mali are inadequate…
Paris St Germain sustained their hopes of reaching the Champions League quarterfinals when Edinson Cavani’s powerful second-half header salvaged a 1-1 home draw against Chelsea in their last-16 first leg on Tuesday. . Cavani struck early in the second half to cancel out Branislav Ivanovic’s first-half header, which was scored against the run of play after the French champions had dominated from the start at the Parc des Princes. . Chelsea, who won last year’s quarterfinal with PSG on away goals, scored with their only chance while the hosts had several opportunities to take a lead into the second leg…
Jose Mourinho conceded his Chelsea side ‘got away with it’ in a 1-1 draw at Paris St Germain in their Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday and had one man to thank for a flattering result — Thibaut Courtois. . The Belgium keeper made several brilliant saves, including one to deny PSG’s Sweden striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic in added time at the Parc des Princes, to keep his team afloat ahead of the March 11 return leg at Stamford Bridge. . “The 1-1 reflects one half for Chelsea, one half for Paris but on chances created and goalkeepers’ performances we…
Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho admitted his side were fortunate to come away with a draw in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday as he hailed goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. . PSG had the better of the game but only had a second-half Edinson Cavani goal to show for their efforts, with Courtois producing half a dozen vital saves to help Chelsea claim a 1-1 draw in the French capital. . As a result, Branislav Ivanovic’s precious away goal in the first half – from Chelsea’s only chance of the game – gives the…
Enyimba’s new centre back Chima Uluocha has said his side will go for an outright win at the Beninese side Buffles du Borgou. . The former Abia Warriors captain was sidelined by slight knee injury in the side’s 3-0 win against the West African foes in Sunday’s Caf Champions League first leg clash at the Aba Township Stadium. . Uluocha said he is positive to regain 100% fitness before the side head to Parakou, Benin Republic, for the decisive clash. . “We won’t defend the 3-0 win advantage in Benin Republic but go all out for another convincing victory. .…
Head coach of Nigeria’s Under-23 tean, Samson Siasia says he is not building his side around any individual as he prepares for this weekend’s All Africa Games qualifying match against Gabon in Libreville. . Siasia has also warned the five overseas-based players called up for the game against Gabon not to rest on their laurels as any dip in standards will see the affected individual instantly dropped. “There is no automatic shirt in this team. Anybody who does not work hard or meet our standards will be dropped immediately,” Siasia told supersport.com shortly after he named a squad of 21…
Aoubabacar Toure in action Caf Seemingly there are so many gifted Toure’s from Guinea that one needs a calculator to keep track of them. All also are mostly related . The latest one is Aoubabacar Toure whose 25th minute strike proved decisive at the U-17 AYC in Niger against Zambia. Toure fired home from close range as the two sides contested a hard fought encounter. . Zambia now face the hosts Niger on 18th January while Guinea take on Nigeria on the same day . The Nigerians true to competition form and being led by the Ex Super Eagle Emmnauel…
Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets will go into Wednesday’s match with the Young Syli of Guinea with the hope of garnering three points that will see them qualify for the 2015 Fifa Under-17 World Cup in Chile. . The Golden Eaglets were up and running in their first game of the 2015 Caf Africa Junior Championship with a 2-0 win over hosts Niger, thanks to two first half goals by Victor Osimhen and a sumptuous free-kick by skipper Kelechi Nwakali. . Same can be said of the Guineans who also need a win to ease passage to Chile, which guarantees a potentially…
Basle’s Champions League tie against Porto on Wednesday pits two clubs who have mastered the art of nurturing the talent of little-known footballers and selling them on to Europe’s top teams. . Unable to compete with the financial power of the biggest clubs, both have instead been happy to accept a role as stepping-stones for players hoping to make their way to one of the leading five leagues. . Both have been highly successful at what they do and have managed to remain competitive despite allowing a succession of top footballers to walk through the exit door. . Twice European…
Bayern Munich’s attacking ambitions were curtailed by an organised Shakhtar Donetsk who held them to a goalless draw in their Champions league last-16 first leg on Tuesday with Xabi Alonso sent off for the Germans in the second half. . Alonso, who was making his 100th Champions League appearance, was dismissed with 25 minutes remaining following a second booking from Spanish referee Alberto Undiano Mallenco. . Bayern, who trounced Hamburg 8-0 in the Bundesliga on Saturday, were stifled by a Shakhtar side, playing their first competitive game in two months. . Shakhtar’s solid rearguard display maintained their chances of reaching…
FC Basel coach Paulo Sousa promised that his team will take risks and show the same courage and ambition which helped them eliminate Liverpool in the group stage when they face Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday. . Sousa insisted that his side, attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1973/74 would not be overawed against the twice former champions, who are unbeaten in eight Champions League games this season. . “For us, it’s an extraordinary challenge and I like these challenges,” the Portuguese told reporters as he prepared to face his countrymen in Wednesday’s last-16…
FC Basel coach Paulo Sousa promised that his team will take risks and show the same courage and ambition which helped them eliminate Liverpool in the group stage when they face Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday. . Sousa insisted that his side, attempting to reach the quarterfinals for the first time since 1973/74 would not be overawed against the twice former champions, who are unbeaten in eight Champions League games this season. . “For us, it’s an extraordinary challenge and I like these challenges,” the Portuguese told reporters as he prepared to face his countrymen in Wednesday’s last-16…
Real Madrid are turning the corner after a stuttering start to the year and Wednesday’s Champions League Round of 16 first leg at Schalke 04 will prove it, coach Carlo Ancelotti said. . The title holders, aiming to become the first team to retain the Champions League crown, will have defender Pepe fit for the game, the Italian said. . Real, chasing their 11th European Cup, have struggled this year, having been knocked out of the King’s Cup by Atletico Madrid while a 4-0 drubbing at their city rivals in La Liga this month cut their lead over second-placed Barcelona…
The Black Stars are set to play the Super Eagles in an international friendly on March 29 in London. . The announcement was made by the Nigerian Football Federation on Friday, after stating the Eagles will also play against Bolivia at the Akwa Ibom Stadium three days before this tie. . Ghana last locked horns with the Super Eagles four years ago in a 0-0 encounter. The NFF says this much-awaited game will be part of preps for the 2017 Afcon qualifiers which start in mid-year. . Nigeria are looking for a continental resurgence after a loud absence from the…
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is considering opening talks to convince Liverpool winger, Jordon Ibe, to play for the country’s national team, supersport.com can report. . Ibe has already represented England at Under-18, 19 and 20 levels since 2012, but the Nigerian FA has in the past weeks discussed the matter of approaching the 19-year-old of possibly featuring for the Super Eagles. . A member of the NFF Technical and Development Committee, Victor Ikepba, this week, revealed the football federation is mulling over offering Ibe a full international career. . Ikpeba, a former Nigerian international, explained why he believes that…
Paris Saint-Germain coach Laurent Blanc took a gamble on Tuesday by selecting David Luiz in midfield for the Champions League last 16, first leg against Chelsea at the Parc des Princes. . The Brazilian, who scored an own-goal as a Chelsea player in a 3-1 win for PSG when the clubs met in the French capital in the first leg of the quarterfinals last season, steps forward from his usual position in central defence. . He will play in the holding role with both Thiago Motta and Yohan Cabaye missing due to injury, with Blanc gambling on the fitness of…
Struggling Mainz 05 parted ways with coach Kasper Hjulmand on Tuesday after the Dane managed just four wins in 21 league games this season, the club said. . One point above the relegation spot, Mainz, in 14th place on 22 after losing 4-2 to Borussia Dortmund on Friday, appointed youth coach Martin Schmidt as his successor. . “This relegation struggle now changes the criteria which have led to a change in coach,” Mainz manager Christian Heidel said in a statement. . Swiss Schmidt had steered their youth team to promotion into the third division last season. . The 42-year-old Hjulmand,…
Tim Sherwood on Monday said his decision to take the job as manager of struggling English Premier League side Aston Villa was a “no-brainer”. . The 46-year-old was unveiled at Villa Park on Monday after signing a deal until 2018 to replace the sacked Paul Lambert. . He takes over a side who languish in the relegation zone in the league, although his halftime team-talk helped inspire Villa to a 2-1 win against Leicester City on Sunday that took them into the quarterfinals of the FA Cup. . When asked what he said to his new players at the interval…
Louis van Gaal says he is relishing the chance to battle Arsenal at Old Trafford after Manchester United earned a showdown with the holders in the FA Cup quarterfinals. . Goals from Ander Herrera, Marouane Fellaini and Wayne Rooney booked United’s place in the last eight with a 3-1 win at Preston North End in the fifth round on Monday. . The third tier team took the lead early in the second half through Scott Laird but van Gaal’s side ultimately proved too strong. . Their reward is a potentially classic home tie against Arsenal on the weekend of March…