Head coach of Nigeria’s Under-23 team, Samson Siasia believes his team have improved with each game at the ongoing Africa Under-23 Cup of Nations (Afcon) in Senegal. Nigeria’s Dream Team VI put up shaky performances in their opening two games of the Under-23 Afcon where they conceded four goals despite defeating Mali and drawing with Egypt. A 0-0 draw with Algeria in their final group game has however suitably impressed Siasia who believes things are getting better with his side. “First I want to congratulate the boys for qualifying for the semifinals because it is not an easy thing to…
Author: David F.
Victor Moses had a good match on Saturday as West Ham held Manchester United to a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. The Nigeria forward had the first glaring chance to score in the match, but he saw David De Gea make a big save when one-on-one with the Spain goalkeeper. Moses was lively for the visitors but he limped off with an injury after 36 minutes as West Ham forced Manchester United to Louis van Gaal side’s fifth goalless draw in 10 matches. Meanwhile, Arsenal returned to winning ways after a run of poor results with a 3-1 win against…
Nigeria forward Odion Ighalo insists the side deserved their 2-0 win against Norwich City in Saturday’s English Premier League fixture, Theinfostride.com can report. The Hornets won the tie courtesy of goals by Troy Deeney and Ighalo. Though Norwich City fought hard in the game to earn a share of the spoils, to no avail, the former Granada player believes his side were worthy winners. “We really deserved the win because we played really well from the first minute until the last,” Ighalo told BBC Sport. “We are going to push higher up the table, but Saturday is gone. “I was…
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez has been rightfully named Player of the Year by the Football Supporters’ Federation. The 26-year-old forward, who joined Arsenal from Barcelona in 2014, and who is currently injured, scored 20 goals in 2015. Sanchez topped the fans’ vote ahead of runner-up Jamie Vardy, with Sergio Aguero, David De Gea, Harry Kane and John Stones also on the shortlist. Reacting to the award, the Chilean said: “I’m delighted to receive the FSF Player of the Year award. Personally, it’s been a great 2015 for me on the pitch with both my club and country. “Arsenal have enjoyed a…
Uefa president Michel Platini will find out this week whether his 90-day Fifa ban will be lifted for now. Platini, 60, was suspended with Fifa president Sepp Blatter in October while corruption claims are investigated. They deny any wrongdoing. His lawyers will attend a preliminary hearing with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) on Tuesday. Cas said a decision over Platini’s ban appeal will be made by Friday, 11 December. The former France midfielder wants to run for the Fifa leadership but is banned from any football-related activity. Platini and Blatter have been suspended over allegations that a “disloyal…
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich would be “foolish” to dismiss manager Jose Mourinho, says former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. The reigning champions are 14th in the Premier League having lost eight of their 15 matches this season. It has been reported that Mourinho could be sacked should the Blues fail to win their next two games. “There is no point in sacking one of the best coaches of all time,” said Ferguson. “He has sacked so many coaches in the last 10 years. I am sure he has learned by it. “He has to trust and have confidence that…
Manchester United must prove they deserve a place in the Champions League last 16 by beating Wolfsburg in their crucial group tie, says boss Louis van Gaal. The Red Devils will qualify with a win in Tuesday’s final Group B game, or if PSV Eindhoven lose to CSKA Moscow. But PSV will advance if they better United’s result in Germany. “It is very important for the club to continue in the Champions League,” said Van Gaal. “We can’t rely on the result of the other game.” United are targetting the knockout phase in their first appearance back in the Champions…
Real madrid Forward Gareth Bale will be rested for Real Madrid’s final Champions League group game against Malmo on Tuesday. Real have qualified for the last 16 as Group A winners. Bale’s name has been left off the 19-man squad as boss Rafael Benitez rotates his players before Sunday’s league match at Villarreal. “This isn’t an ordinary match but while we respect Malmo we’ll also be thinking ahead to beating Villarreal,” said Benitez. Third-placed Real are without La Liga leaders Barcelona by four points and last week were expelled from the Copa del Rey for fielding an ineligible player. Cristiano…
Paris St-Germain will rest captain Thiago Silva for their final Champions League Group A game against Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday. The French champions have already reached the last 16 and will finish second behind Real Madrid in the table. “Thiago Silva has played a lot, and well, recently so he deserves a rest,” said boss Laurent Blanc. Blanc said he would make late decisions about several other players for the match. “We have a lot of players with minor knocks – Gregory van der Wiel, Marco Verratti, Thiago Motta notably,” added Blanc. Verratti, however, is highly likely be left out.…
Captain Vincent Kompany will miss Manchester City’s final Champions League group game – against Borussia Monchengladbach – with a calf injury. The 29-year-old has been out of football with the problem since early November. Striker Sergio Aguero, defender Martin Demichelis and midfielder Samir Nasri are all injured too. City have already ensured their place in the last 16, but could overtake Italian side Juventus at the top of the group with victory. Juventus – two points clear of City and with a better head-to-head record – play Sevilla away in their final group game. As it stands, second-placed City risk…
FA Cup holders Arsenal will start the defence of their trophy at home to Sunderland in the third round. Premier League Liverpool face a trip to League Two Exeter, while the top flight’s bottom club Aston Villa also go to a League Two side in Wycombe. There are five all-Premier League ties, with Spurs hosting leaders Leicester. Non-league Eastleigh are at home to Bolton, while fellow part-timers Whitehawk will go to Everton if they can overcome Dagenham & Redbridge.
Midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger can provide the leadership Manchester United need in their Champions League clash against VfL Wolfsburg on Tuesday as they want to qualify for the knockout stages, manager Louis Van Gaal has said. United will be without captain Wayne Rooney, who is still with an injured ankle, and need to at least match PSV Eindhoven’s result at home to CSKA Moscow to progress. Van Gaal’s team have found goals hard to come by this season and their often listless displays have drawn the ire of their fans, but the Dutchman is counting on Schweinsteiger to guide his team…
Manchester United striker Anthony Martial needs enough time to find his scoring touch again and will have enough chances to get back in form, manager Louis van Gaal has said. Martial made a stunning start to life in a United shirt, scoring four goals in his first four games in all competitions since making his big-money move to the club during the off-season. However, the France international has not found the back of the net in over 11 hours of football since scoring in the 1-1 draw with CSKA Moscow in the Champions League on October 21. “I think he…
Bayer Leverkusen must end their six-match losing streak against reigning champions Barcelona on Wednesday if they are to have any chance of reaching the Champions League’s knock-out stages. Leverkusen lost 2-1 at the Camp Nou in October, despite earning a shock lead, and want to avoid a repeat of the 6-1 pounding Barcelona dished out to Roma a fortnight ago when Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi ran riot in the home match. Roger Schmidt’s Leverkusen face the uphill task of having to beat Barcelona and hope Roma drop points at home to BATE in Wednesday’s other game in order to…
Manager Roberto Martinez was heard molesting Romelu Lukaku with appreciation as the belgian scored his sixth goal in five consecutive Premier League games to rescue a point for Everton against Crystal Palace on Monday. Lukaku marked his 100th appearance for Everton by scoring his 50th goal for the club with a trademark header from close range in the 81st minute to level the tie at 1-1 after Scott Dann put the visitors ahead from a corner. Before his goal, the powerful Belgian twice hit the woodwork and tormented Palace’s defence all evening with his pace and trickery. The point was…
Manager Manuel Pellegrini insists Manchester City are not over reliant on captain Vincent Kompany, who has missed the last five games with a calf injury, despite the side’s terrible form when their captain is missing. In the 10 games Kompany has started in all competitions this season, City have kept seven clean sheets and only lost once but they have failed to keep out the opposition in 13 matches without the Belgian, losing five of them. Pellegrini was keen to highlight Manchester City’s form towards the end of last campaign as proof that too much is made of Kompany’s absence.…
Leicester City could win the Premier League this season if the club’s owners back their coach with money in the January transfer window, former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson has said. They are two points clear of Arsenal at the top of the division with more than a third of the season gone, and Ferguson urged the management to add to their “limited” squad. “What is the manager Claudio Ranieri saying to the owners? Because if I were him I’d want an investment in January because this is a big opportunity,” Ferguson told the Daily Telegraph. “They (Leicester) could win…
Award winning Nollywood movie, ‘Stalker’ will be hitting the cinemas in February, 2016. The movie, which tells the story of a troubled woman and an obsessed male, stars Jim Iyke, Nse Ikpe-Etim, AY, Anthony Monjaro, Emem Inwang and Caroline Danjuma, who is also the producer of the movie. The movie also features cameo appearances from Niyola and Omawumi. Stalker which was written and directed by Moses Inwang won the Best Film at the recently held 2015 edition of GIAMA. Jim Iyke and Nse also won the Best Actor and Best Actress respectively.
Popular OAP, Toke Makinwa has found her way back on the lips of her fans as mixed reactions trail her ‘reunion’ with her estranged hubby, Maje Ayida. The couple stepped out together last night at The Future Awards Africa in Lagos. Their red carpet photo immediately went viral. Social media became sharply divided with some people truly happy with their ‘reunion’ while others are pissed at her for forgiving him.
Drake’s ‘Back To Back’ has earned a nomination at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards scheduled to hold in February 2016. The diss track was out a few months ago in response to Meek Mill’s accusations that Drake uses a ghostwriter. The song got a nod for ‘Best Rap Performance’ at next year’s Grammys, and the reaction on twitter was pretty interesting.