Smouha coach Helmy Toulan insists Sunday’s 0-1 loss to Enyimba is not a bad result. . The “Blue Wave” lost narrowly to the People’s Elephants who struck via Raphael Boumsong in the 56th minute of the first leg, first round Caf Champions League contest. . Toulan said he prosecuted Sunday’s game with reserve players as he was forced to make do without the services of no less than ten of his first team players. . “I am satisfied because I did not play this game with ten of my first team players. . “I am talking about extremely outstanding players…
Author: David Folami
Brown Ideye and Anthony Ujah have been recalled to the Nigerian men’s national team, the Super Eagles, for two international friendly matches after recent snubs by the selectors. . The two strikers were part of the Nigerian squad to the 2013 Fifa Confederations Cup in Brazil but were excluded from the team to the 2014 World Cup in which the Super Eagles were eliminated in the second round by France. . Ideye last featured in an international for Nigeria in the 2-2 draw against Italy in November 2013 when he came on as substitute for Victor Moses. . But his…
Super Eagles goalkeeper and captain Vincent Enyeama will most likely win his 100th senior cap for Nigeria with his inclusion in the 28-man squad for the friendly ties against Bolivia and South Africa. . The three-time Fifa World Cup star presently on 99 caps heads a list that also includes Godfrey Oboabona, Kenneth Omeruo, Ogenyi Onazi and Ahmed Musa. . In-form England-based duo Odion Ighalo and Brown Ideye, Germany-based Anthony Ujah and Leon Balogun as well as China-based Aaron Samuel, who scored two goals in the futile campaign for a place at the 30th Africa Cup of Nations in Equatorial…
El-Kanemi Warriors captain Bamai Bukar is confident his side will improve as the 2014/15 season progresses. . Bukar was busy in the midfield when his side travelled to Kwara United, but ended on the losing side. . “We have new players in the team and we’re working to play as a team. The team will make progress,” he told supersport.com. . Mustapha Ibrahim reduced the tally with a beautiful goal from outside the box after Kwara United led 2-0 during the break. . Top stars like Reuben Ogbonnaya, Emmanuel Ajia, Obioma Arinze and Joel Djondang, among others, left El-Kanemi for…
Carlos Tevez scored twice and set up another as Juventus crushed Borussia Dortmund 3-0 on Wednesday to advance to the Champions League quarterfinals for only the second time since 2006 with a 5-1 aggregate victory. . The Argentine forward drilled in from distance after three minutes and then set up Alvaro Moratafor their second goal 20 minutes from time. Tevez added his second late in the game with the Germans well beaten. . Serie A leaders Juventus, unbeaten in their last 12 matches away from home in all competitions, were never threatened by toothless Dortmund who had high hopes of…
A Lionel Messi-inspired Barcelona completely outclassed Manchester City as an Ivan Rakitic strike secured a 1-0 win on Wednesday that sent the Spanish giants into the Champions League quarterfinals 3-1 on aggregate. . Messi has been in blistering form for the Catalan side and he delighted the home fans in a packed Nou Camp as he relentlessly teased the City players with his party tricks. . Holding the advantage from the first leg, Barca could afford to sit back and hit the Premier League side on the break. . City struggled badly in defence against Barca’s pace and movement, with…
A first-half goal by Ivan Rakitic was enough to see Barcelona end English interest in the Champions League on Wednesday as they beat Manchester City 1-0 in their last 16 second leg clash for a 3-1 aggregate win and a place in the quarterfinals. . Former Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez scored a double in the night’s other game as Juventus pulled off an impressive 3-0 win away at 2013 finalists Borussia Dortmund to win 5-1 on aggregate. . For Tevez it represents quite a turnaround in fortunes in the competition, having gone six seasons without a Champions League goal,he…
Ghana coach Sellas Tetteh expects a tougher test from Zambia when the Black Satellites play their second game at the 2015 African Youth Championship. . The young Chipolopolo come into the second Group B encounter wounded after an opening day defeat to mali and will fight it all for their survival in the Caf U-20 Championship. . The Black Satellites did well to brush South Africa aside with two goals but their second half performance against the Amajita has been well-criticized by officials and fans. This, coach Tetteh is demanding improvement from his lads as ensuing games will prove tougher.…
Former Nigerian captain and winger, Henry Nwosu, has called for caution as Flying Eagles confront Ghana’s Black Satellites. . Flying Eagles will engage the Ghanaian opposite in the semifinals of the ongoing Orange African Under-20 Championship in Senegal on Wednesday at the Leopold Sedar Senghor Stadium, Dakar. . Nwosu who acknowledged the age long rivalry between both countries insisted that Flying Eagles must avoid complacency to win the expected difficult clash against Ghana. . “The AYC semis clash between Nigeria and Ghana is certain to be tough as both countries know each other inside out, the rivalry is as old…
Treble-chasing Barcelona are exactly where they want to be as they prepare for two matches this week that could make or break coach Luis Enrique’s first season in charge. . Barca have won 16 of their 18 matches in 2015, their only blemishes defeats to Real Sociedad and Malaga in La Liga, and are in with a chance of repeating 2009’s historic haul of Champions League and Spanish League and Cup. . Enrique’s men take a 2-1 lead into Wednesday’s Champions League last 16, second leg at home to Manchester City, and will be at least a point clear of…
Barcelona’s Belgium defender Thomas Vermaelen is on track to return to action next month after being unable to make his debut for the club due to a hamstring tear that needed surgery. . Vermaelen got injured at last year’s World Cup in Brazil, before he signed for Barca, prompting some to question why the club completed the deal to sign the 29-year-old from Arsenal. . In a message on his Facebook page, Vermaelen said on Tuesday that he had recently started running again and urged Barcelona fans to be patient. . “Everything is going according to plan, therefore I am…
Hull have until next Tuesday to answer a charge by the Football Association for failing to control their players in Saturday’s stormy Premier League goalless draw with bottom side Leicester. . The club is being held to account for several Hull players objecting angrily to referee Jon Ross booking Alex Bruce for a physical tackle on Riyad Mahrez. . “Hull City have been charged by The FA for failing to ensure their players conducted themselves in an orderly fashion,” read the FA statement. . “The allegation relates to an incident which occurred in or around the 68th minute of their…
Nigeria’s Under-20 football team, the Flying Eagles, beat their Ghana counterparts 2-0 on Wednesday to reach the final of the 2015 Africa Under-20 football championship in Senegal. . Ghana started well, creating chances at will and denying the Nigerians any space. . However, it was the Flying Eagles who drew first blood in the 23rd minute through a set piece. . Captain Musa Muhammed whipped in an excellent corner kick from the left and Obinna Nwobodo did well to connect with a header when backpedaling from the goal, exemplifying pin-point accuracy as the Nigerians took the lead, somewhat against the…
Real Madrid will need to play with intensity for 90 minutes and not just the first half if they are to have a chance of beating Barcelona in Sunday’s La Liga ‘Clasico’, according to Real coach Carlo Ancelotti. . Ancelotti praised his side for their performance before the break in Sunday’s 2-0 win at home to Levante but said he was concerned by the way his players relaxed and let the visitors off the hook in the second period. . A Gareth Bale double, his first goals in 10 matches, had put Real in control by halftime and they appeared…
Gareth Bale ended a nine-game goal drought by scoring twice as Real Madrid moved back to within a point of Barcelona at the top of La Liga with a 2-0 win over Levante on Sunday . The Welshman silenced his critics as Madrid snapped a three-game winless streak to ensure they go into next weekend’s El Clasico at the Camp Nou on Barcelona’s tails. . However, Cristiano Ronaldo didn’t appear overjoyed to see his teammate get back on the scoresheet as he cut a frustrated figure having seen his initial efforts lead to both Bale’s goals. . “I saw a…
Premier League strugglers Sunderland announced on Wednesday that winger Adam Johnson is to return to training following his arrest on suspicion of sexual activity with an under-age girl. . The 27-year-old England international, arrested two weeks ago, had his bail extended by five weeks on Tuesday and does not need to report back to police until April 23. . Sunderland suspended Johnson pending the outcome of the police investigation, but following consultation with players’ union the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), he has been allowed to resume training. . “The club has discussed the current position in detail with both the…
Chelsea’s tally of two penalties in 28 Premier League games this season “seems abnormally low”, the runaway leaders said on Wednesday. . Appearing to back up manager Jose Mourinho’s belief that there is a ‘campaign’ against his players, the Stamford Bridge outfit said the spot-kick count “unquestionably bucks the recent trend”. . “Our position as clear league leaders and second highest scorers suggests we can’t be labelled anything other than an attacking side, spending plenty of time in the opposition box,” the club said on their website (www.chelseafc.com). . “Our two closest challengers in the Premier League this season, Manchester…
Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone admitted to having “goose bumps” after his side overturned a first-leg deficit and knocked Bayer Leverkusen out of the Champions League on penalties to claim a berth in the last eight on Tuesday. . Atletico lost 1-0 at Leverkusen in the first leg but a first-half goal from Mario Suarez left the rivals locked at 1-1 after extra time in the return match at a typically vibrant Calderon stadium. . Each side failed with two spot kicks in the shootout before Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling sent a wild effort over the crossbar with the Bundesliga…
Borussia Dortmund will need to play an “exceptional game” if they are to end their recent scoring difficulties and advance past Juventus into the Champions League last eight, coach Juergen Kloppsaid on Tuesday. . Dortmund, who won the trophy against Italy’s Juve in 1997, lost the first leg 2-1 in Turin and have not scored in the last two league games, raising concerns of another goal drought after a bad first half to the Bundesliga season. . “We face the greatest challenge there is in football, to score against an Italian team which will advance with a 0-0 draw,” Klopp…
Borussia Dortmund will need to play an “exceptional game” if they are to end their recent scoring difficulties and advance past Juventus into the Champions League last eight, coach Juergen Kloppsaid on Tuesday. . Dortmund, who won the trophy against Italy’s Juve in 1997, lost the first leg 2-1 in Turin and have not scored in the last two league games, raising concerns of another goal drought after a bad first half to the Bundesliga season. . “We face the greatest challenge there is in football, to score against an Italian team which will advance with a 0-0 draw,” Klopp…