Stephen Okechukwu Keshi has signed a contract with the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) as head coach of the Nigerian men’s senior national team, the Super Eagles. . Keshi, who first took charge of the Super Eagles in 2011, led the side to unexpected success at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa. . He also guided the team to a round of 16 finish at the 2014 Fifa World Cup finals in Brazil before his contract lapsed. . The ‘Big Boss’ then masterminded Nigeria’s ultimately futile bid to reach the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial Guinea…
Author: David Folami
Legendary Former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has insisted he wants another boss to surpass his fantastic record of silverware at Old Trafford. . The Scot oversaw the arrival of 38 trophies in his 27 years in charge of United before retiring in 2013 and, having also won 11 more competitions during his preceding career in Scotland, Ferguson is the most successful manager in British football history. . But Ferguson insisted he wanted to see his United record eclipsed, telling the Sunday People: “We had a wonderful run of success when I was here and we won a lot of…
Manchester United’s top-four aspirations suffered a setback as Louis van Gaal’s side were blown away 3-0 by clinical Everton in the Premier League on Sunday. First-half goals from James McCarthy and John Stones put hosts Everton in control at Goodison Park and substitute Kevin Mirallas sealed victory late on to push Everton into the top half of the table for the first time this season. Fourth-placed United enjoyed 65 percent of possession but lacked any real cutting edge with striker Radamel Falcao’s frustration complete when he had a well-taken consolation goal disallowed for offside. Defeat, following last week’s reverse against…
Chelsea midfielder Oscar was rushed to the hospital for scans after hurting himself in a collision with Gunners goalkeeper David Ospina during Sunday’s 0-0 draw, manager Jose Mourinho revealed. . Ospina clattered into Oscar after the Brazil playmaker had lobbed a shot over him mid-way through the first half at the Emirates Stadium, leaving the Chelsea player flat on his back. . After receiving treatment he returned to the fray, but was taken off at halftime, with Didier Drogba going on. . “He went to the hospital at halftime. So we are waiting,” Mourinho told his post-game press conference. .…
Louis van Gaal accused his Manchester United players of being out-fought in a 3-0 scandalous defeat at Everton on Sunday that left the Premier League top-four door slightly open for Liverpool. . Victory at Goodison Park would have all but guaranteed a return to the Champions League for United after this season’s absence from Europe but they were picked off by a clinical Everton side despite hogging possession. . A breakaway goal after five minutes by James McCarthy put Everton ahead and they doubled their lead before halftime with a glancing header from John Stones. . Kevin Mirallas fired Everton’s…
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal may still have a mathematical chance of lifting the Premier League but he himself conceded it was now “impossible” for Chelsea not to finish as champions following the London rivals’ 0-0 stalemate on Sunday. . The result at the Emirates Stadium leaves Chelsea, who have five games remaining, top on 77 points, 10 clear of champions Manchester City, who have four games left, and Arsenal, who also have five to play. . If Chelsea win at Leicester City on Wednesday, the only team that can still theoretically catch the leaders are Arsenal, but Wenger admitted he did…
Bayern Munich were pronounced German champions for the 25th time on Sunday as Wolfsburg’s 1-0 defeat at Borussia Moenchengladbach meant Pep Guardiola’s Bavarians can no longer be reached. . Gladbach’s Germany striker Max Kruse sent the title to Munich as his 90th-minute winning goal at Borussia Park saw Bayern finish the weekend with an unassailable 15 point-lead with four games left. . Bayern had picked up their 24th victory in 30 league games on Saturday when Bastian Schweinsteiger’s late goal sealed a 1-0 home win over Hertha Berlin at the Allianz Arena. . “It’s already something just to have defended…
Chicharito a.k.a Javier Hernandez scored a brace as Real Madrid came from behind to beat Celta Vigo 4-2 away and keep the pressure on Barcelona at the top of La Liga on Sunday. . The Mexican forward is only in the side due to a Real injury crisis but followed up the goal that knocked Atletico Madrid out of the Champions League last Wednesday with a strike in both halves. . Toni Kroos slotted in the equaliser after 16 minutes following the opener by Celta winger Nolito and then Hernandez finished clinically after 24 minutes. . In a pulsating game,…
Chelsea FC will have to save the champagne for later after their seemingly inevitable progress towards the Premier League title was hampered by a goalless draw away to Arsenal on Sunday. . Had they beaten their London rivals at the Emirates Stadium, Jose Mourinho’s men would have travelled to Leicester City on Wednesday knowing that victory over the resurgent Foxes would have been enough to secure Chelsea’s first English title since 2010. . However, a win on Wednesday will set Chelsea up to take the Premier League trophy in front of their own fans should they also beat Crystal Palace…
Englishman Ashley Young says Manchester United will aim to secure second spot in the Premier League with five “cup final” displays in their remaining games. . United are a point behind second-placed Arsenal, who have played one match fewer, but Young is confident Louis van Gaal’s third placed side can overtake the Gunners and finish as runners-up behind likely champions Chelsea. . “Everybody is confident in the team that we can finish as high as we can,” Young said ahead of United’s trip to Everton on Sunday. . “Second place is still there for us to take and we just…
Chelsea’s trip to east london this Sunday is being billed as a Premier League title decider, but in reality it is likely to have more of a bearing next season. . With 11 wins and two defeats since the turn of the year, Arsenal have amassed more points per game in 2015 than any other team in Europe’s top five leagues, but still they trail Chelsea by 10 points. . Chelsea will be champions if they beat Arsenal and win at Leicester City on Wednesday, but even though defeat on Sunday would probably only delay their coronation, it could herald…
Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City are still heading in the right direction under his tutorship despite surrendering the Premier League title without even fighting. . Pellegrini’s side have limply allowed the English crown to slip from their grasp after falling 12 points behind leaders Chelsea with only five games remaining. . City also struggled once again in the Champions League, barely making it out of the group stages before bowing out in tame fashion against Barcelona. . After slumping down to fourth place, they must focus on securing enough points to hold off fifth placed Liverpool in the race to…
Liverpool are in need of a top-level striker who can play every week as Daniel Sturridge could lose his role as the club’s leading man after an injury-hit season, manager Brendan Rodgers has said. . Liverpool scored 101 Premier League goals last season, with Sturridge and Luis Suarez netting 52 between them to help Rodgers’s side finished runners-up to Manchester City. . However, Rodgers failed to replace Suarez following his move to Barcelona and forwards Sturridge, Mario Balotelli, Rickie Lambert and Fabio Borini have scored eight league goals between them as Liverpool have slipped out of contention for Champions League…
Manchester United’s Marouane Fellaini thought about leaving the club after a terrible debut season but the ‘now fantastic’ Belgian believes he is currently reaping the rewards of fighting for his place at Old Trafford. . The 27-year-old Fellaini joined United in a £27 million deal from Everton in 2013 to become David Moyes’s first signing as manager. . But Fellaini, along with Moyes, struggled to adapt to life at Old Trafford as United finished seventh, 22 points behind champions Manchester City. . “It was a difficult season for everyone, not just me, but the criticism was on me because I…
Swansea City came from behind to inflict a record seventh straight defeat on Newcastle United on Saturday, winning 3-2 on another day taken over by protests at St James’ Park. . Ayoze Perez put the home side in front in the first half but Nelson Oliveira, Gylfi Sigurdsson and Jack Cork turned the game around before Siem de Jong grabbed a late consolation for Newcastle. . The Magpies are now on their worst run of consecutive defeats in the history of the Premier League and have won just twice in 16 matches since John Carver replaced Alan Pardew as manager.…
Charlie Austin missed a first-half penalty as Queens Park Rangers remained in the grasp of relegation from the Premier League following a stalemate at home to London rivals West Ham on Saturday. . Both sides had chances to win at Loftus Road but the best fell to QPR striker Austin after James Collins handled the ball in the box but his spot-kick was blocked by the legs of Hammers goalkeeper Adrian, who made several key saves. . QPR defender Richard Dunne thought he had scored in the second half but his header was ruled out for a foul on Adrian…
Brazil sensation Fernandinho scored a dramatic 89th-minute winning goal for Manchester City to earn a 3-2 victory over Aston Villa on Saturday, a result which could have major ramifications at both ends of the Premier League. . It was the second goal in four minutes at Eastlands after Carlos Sanchez appeared to have earned FA Cup finalists Villa a priceless point when he was on hand to skilfully hook the ball into the goal from 12 yards after City goalkeeper Joe Hart had failed to deal with a Charles N’Zogbia corner. . But with normal time running out, Aleksandar Kolarov’s…
Bayern Munich can be guaranteed their 25th German league title after Bastian Schweinsteiger’s late goal sealed their 1-0 home win over Hertha Berlin on Saturday. . Schweinsteiger’s 80th-minute winner leaves Bayern 15 points clear in the league table with only four games left and Pep Guardiola’s side poised to finish the weekend with a third straight Bundesliga title. . But Munich’s champagne must wait on ice until second-placed VfL Wolfsburg play at Borussia Moenchengladbach on Sunday, when a Wolves’ defeat or draw would remove all mathematical doubt and confirm Bayern as champions. . After Bayern’s stunning 6-1 Champions League quarterfinal…
Liverpool’s outside chance of staying in the hunt for Champions League qualification suffered another major setback after a 0-0 draw at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday put an end to their hopes of a top-four finish. . Stalemate at the Hawthorns left Liverpool six points adrift of Manchester City, who could be nine points clear were they to beat Aston Villa in Saturday’s late kick-off. . Liverpool were looking to bounce back from the disappointment of their FA Cup semifinal defeat by Villa, but they squandered the chances to celebrate Steven Gerrard’s 500th Premier League appearance with a much-needed victory.
Burnley, Queens Park Rangers and Sunderland slipped closer to the relegation trapdoor in the Premier League on Saturday as Leicester City and Hull City recorded extremely crucial victories. . Bottom club Burnley lost 1-0 at home to Leicester in agonising circumstances, with Jamie Vardy notching a 60th-minute winner for the visitors just seconds after Burnley’s Matt Taylor had hit the post with a penalty. . Vardy poked the ball over the line after Michael Duff had turned a Marc Albrighton cross towards his own goal to give Leicester a fourth successive win, which took Nigel Pearson’s side out of the…